I didn't get to where I am today...

Oh dear, this kinda sums up how I got to where I am today...

Well yes, like CJ's, my life has been full of decisions.  I didn't get to where I am today by writing about all of them.  No.  And I didn't get to where I am today by only cycling.  No not that either.   

I got to where I am today by doing lots and lots of stuff; and by making shed loads of decisions on the way.  See previous blog entries for an ickle bit of it.  And very recently which is why this blog has been a bit lite with content I've been doing lots and lots of the other stuff which has got me to where I am today.  For example, I’ve been in the garden and have brought it back to life.  My blossom wilted.  There's a cream for that apparently.  I've planted my tomatoes and watered my plums (fnar!).  I've also been ordering kitchens and floors and balustrades and and..  and yes, the extension is about to move on in its final phase...  But I’ve also fit in loads of bike rides.  Yes, right here right now, this is where I am today.

There have been many I didn't get to where I am today moments in my life.  The reflective nature of thinking about what one did and being able to be triumphant in declaring what you didn't do to get there is great cos for sure this blog is full of it.  

I didn't get to where I am today because of the lack of riding for sure.  I've done plenty of 30-50 mile rides this spring, a good few of them with my nephew - Brad - who has magically emerged from his chrysalis  of a bedroom after been pupate which started at puberty and is only just ending after some 10 years or so.  Well, he now joins me out on his bike.  

Of course the first ride out was a bit like being slapped in the face with a rather large wet fish but the lad got back on his bike and right now, today, he has me chasing him everywhere.  Oh dear.  He's a fecking wannabe racing snake.  Fer God's sake Brad I'm 59 this year!  

The other day we had a long ride into the hills.  Great fun!  For sure I know my legs are good for tour cycling again.  No worries there.  Some fast stuff on a fully loaded bike chasing the youth up the hills and down the dales.  But boy did I suffer later that day.  Well, it took me over 45 minutes huffin and puffin whilst trying to find just the right angle to get up off the toilet!  Boy did my knees complain and boy was there a loud farting noise as I rose cos I completely forgot to concentrate on the right muscles whilst focussed on not trapping my testicles under the toilet seat should my knees have collapsed half way up.  Sounded something like this...

  

Sorry!  Oh to have 22 year old legs again.  

I didn't get to where I am today by not planning tour cycle rides either.  For a couple of weeks now I've been working on a short run out after chatting with London Alan about an option to ride around North Yorkshire - the North Yorkshire 200 as I call it.  Yeah!  Great!  Super!  Smashing!... says Alan.  Yes, as CJ recommended we're going to take a couple of days off from our sunshine retirements and go for a ride in the country :-)

I hope to get to where I am tomorrow by following a pre planned route.  Alan will be arriving in York on the 13th and I'm sure he'll say I didn't get to where I am today by not driving my Audi, Wayne.  Well he would wouldn't he?...  Monday the 14th I'm sure I'll retort I didn't get to where I am today by not planning all my bike rides cos for sure we wouldn't end up at Hornsea if I didn't.  If we don't then I will say I didn't get to where I am today... and then just stop at that.  

Here's the outbound route...

And the return leg...

Or something like that!  

This route will be just short of 200 miles all done.  We're gonna take 5 days to do it with 4 nights camping and so far the weather forecast is looking promising.  We're all booked in.  Camping is good fun and will be such a freedom.  Out in the fresh air.  Al fresco dining.  Keeping safe in these COVID years.  Doing it all out of season for the schools have not yet shut and the madness that was the late spring bank holiday with billions of folk pressed shoulder to shoulder in the narrow historic streets of York is no more.  A madness which will guarantee a further spike in infections but hopefully without the deaths…

I wouldn't have got to where I am today without a bit of spend either.  Sleeping is the one and only problem with camping.  Simply fat bodies on a hard surface hurt.  So this year I've invested in all manner of ultra lightweight sleeping gadgets to carry on the bike.  New down sleeping bag at £190, kerching!  New lightweight sleeping cot at £195, kapow!  New lightweight sleeping mat at £80..  Oohhh my pet wallet moth is looking rather faint and unwell and is flat on his back....  I'm a bit worried but he keeps on looking up at me through squinty eyes whilst waving a leg and whispering a 'go on, go on... just get on with it...' before collapsing back into his leathery bed with a loud fart.  He's a fighter that one.  Sorry mate.  I didn't get to where I am today by not investing in camping essentials...

And that is it.  We're all set.  I'll be carrying plenty of spanners to make sure I can fettle Alan's bike as it slowly falls to bits again.  I hope to get him through this one without ending up [again] with just a pair of softy southerner eyeballs giving me an angry look whilst stuck to a set of handlebars.  Both London Alan and his bike may disintegrate again in front of my eyes cos for sure there are hills on this journey especially across the North York Moors from Whitby to Stokesley.   I hope not and I do hope he enjoys this ride out...

To use a well worn phrase, used by me and my other Blues Brother, Mark...  We're both vaccinated, we don't smoke, we have panniers half full of food and there's 200 miles to go.  Hit it!

I didn't get to where I am today by saying I didn't get to where I am today...

Did I?

Ciao for now..