It’s 9pm and I’m shattered so it’s not going to be the longest or most coherent post in the world.
We set off from Kingston at around 9.30 this morning after a certain Mr Daley Thompson arrived a little behind shcedule. we’ll forgive him. Anyway, the group gathered and everyone was in high spirits particularly as the skies were blue and the sun was shining.
The Team
Our friends from Tall Stories split us into a fast and slow group (though these would later prove to be misnomers) and we left towards Surrey and the North Downs.
Unfortunately, after about half an hour of riding, the ‘fast’ group’s guide, James, had a puncture, which was remarkable considering he was the only man on a mountain bike. As the fast group waited for the puncture to be fixed, the slow group duly cycled past with big grins on their faces. The fast group wouldn’t see the lead for the rest of the day. No sooner had the puncture been fixed and the group left, than the big South African, Kenny, also got a puncture. In fact, over the rest of the morning, the group experienced another three punctures and a broken chain which had to be taken to a bike shop to be fixed.
This happened a lot.
Daley Thompson
We reconvened at 7pm for a fantastic carvery in the Travelodge Portsmouth. A lot of food was eaten.
5.15 start tomorrow to catch a 7am ferry to Ouisterham followed by 60 miles to Bernay.
The participants:
Helen Cane, Malcolm McClean, Felicity Wood, Gaynor Macaulay, Chantal Trigg, Caroline Taylor, Ken Jones, Daley Thompson, Jake Jones, Kelvin Hackett, Kate Roberts, Rebecca Malcolm, Nick Garside, Tom Soper and Marcus Littlejohns, Toby Sullivan.
Right, my legs are tired and I’m going to bed.
