Ahhhh - what a ride, what a weekend. Thank you
@redfalo.
A great (and completely new to me) ride out from Hackney. I never realised it was so near the green stuff. I had been terrified the pace would be too fast for me but as we galloped along at speeds I only normally do downhill I felt very comfortable. Whether it was the company or the tailwind - all was very well apart from a little faffage with my pannier. (Thank you
@Tim Hall , purveyor of cable ties to the gentry). Indeed the crew were polite enough to let me lead the pelaton into Great Dunmow. And on through the last balmy night of the year to the Sudbury McDonalds. So far, so stellar.
Here things started to go wrong. I'm blaming MaccyD's excuse for a bacon sarnie. Whilst others fortified themselves with porridge, this porcine apology from a parallel universe was no more than an anti-matter wormhole. It sucked energy from my body, it even sucked air from my tyre as we pressed on to the coast. As dawn arrived it transformed Suffolk into a succession of mighty cols soaring as much as 10m into the sky. I hung on. First to the rider in front, then the tail lights and eventually to
@Flying Dodo who was playing sweeper for the ride Thank you FD - sorry I didn't feel too chatty. We caught up with
@redfalo as he paused for brie and arrived in Dunwich in a personal time I would have thought impossible. So while this part of the ride was not so stellar it was still very satisfying.
But then it got even better after breakfast. Having dispatched the the Diss Dashers and the Darsham Dawdlers I repaired to the bar to await my carer who arrived simultaneously with the detached section of the ride. I was fed and watered and conveyed to a bed and oblivion for the next 16 hours. Sunday was the most wonderful sunny Suffolk day. We visited castles, churches, country pubs, got entangled in a Cycleswarm Sportive who, in turn, got entangled in a nasty little accident. But despite this another stellar day.
Monday, in contrast was cold, windy with rain forecast. A day to be inside. And if you have to be inside in Southwold - what better place than a brewery? Great tour of Adnams. The only significant climb was at the end to their private bar to be tutored in beer tasting. What more could one want in life? Hence a 99% stellar weekend. No, make that 150%.
Now back in London I am beginning to realise that at heart I am still a utility cyclist. Arriving should be the start, not be the end. The journey is but a means. Cycling is just the most satisfying means.
