Oh, and my helmet decided to fall apart at Keele services - the flip front hinge became unscrewed, so I had to swap with Clare so that I could get my glasses on.
By the time we reached the outskirts of London, rush hour traffic was preferable to the wind, and the welcome we were given by the good folk of Beating Bowel Cancer made it all worthwhile. By eight o'clock we were at home with fish and chips, Lidl champagne and University Challenge. We know how to live.
Today, the pain in my arms and shoulders is testament to how much I had to wrestle with the bike yesterday, while the stiffness in my left ankle is just Hank (as I call him) reminding me what bikes can do to the human body.
And still the money comes in: many thanks to our latest sponsors - Sam Tesch, Tricia, Nick H, and Liz and Richard Pugh (and the team at Lyndon Design).
Still to come over the next few days - the winner of our 'estimate the fuel' competition, a full gallery of pics, possibly some video of the departure, and of course the final total raised. So keep logging on.
Clare: Very, very nice not to have to sit on anything with two wheels today, though I can still hear, and feel, the humm of the engine. Yes, by the end, I was seriously becoming 'Half Woman, Half Bike'.... Have to say the last four days have proved a real experience. I feel really lucky to have taken part in it and to have helped raise money at the same time. Lucky to have seen the changing landscape, to have heard the changes of accent along the way and to have met some great people. So many of us have got a connection with cancer and been affected by it. Even our landlady in Stranraer, shared the fact that she had recovered from breast cancer and, along with other local ladies, had organised a fundraising Ladies and Tractors Day, when they decked out their tractors with pink ribbons. How brilliant is that!
On a less serious note, my leaning skills as a pillion have definitely improved (well, I think they have!!). I have also learnt that it is possible to be 99% asleep and not fall off the back and that in moments of extreme terror, such as on really windy motorways, I have a tendency to squeak. I think R must have thought he had a demented gerbil behind him - not a becoming feature! I think I may even have swallowed the mouthpiece from the intercom as it seems to have disappeared... I also learned that it's best not to over wave out of enthusiasm when you see other riders otherwise you could be taken for a fluorescent windmill!
Thank you everyone once again for all your support in memory of Kath and for raising funds for Beating Bowel Cancer. I'll leave you with a couple of pics....
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| Base layers - you're not dressed without them |
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| Beating Bowel Cancer loaned us this banner to prove that we've done it! |
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