!
Further thoughts:
The rain seemed of almost Biblical proportions, but apart from the permanently squelchy feeling in my shoes it wasn't actually that uncomfortable (not pleasant of course, but...). I don't think overshoes are designed to cope with three or four hours of such saturated rainfall. My gloves, shoes and overshoes are going to be damp for a day or two I think...
Rather more troubling was my front light problem. What I use is a Cateye EL320 (my regular commute light) for the first part of the ride on better-lit roads, then I switch to the Hope Vision 1 for the sticks. The Cateye, as on the ride to Whitstable last time, decided to flake out and go very faint, though there should have been plenty of life in the (recently charged) batteries. Not a problem, I went to the Hope earlier on. Until it too decided to play up. It flashes once before powering down straight off. Time and again. Aaargh! I switch the Cateye back on, and it promptly leaps out of its mounting, to be smashed and run over. So I have no front light at all at this point....fortunately Hummers lent me a head mount light, which proved for than sufficient for the remaining darkness. I tried swapping over the Hope's batteries with the ones that had been in the Cateye, and my spares, no dice. I can only assume the wet and cold had an effect- might have left the battery cap just a fraction loose, it might have been as simple as that. Fortunately, back at home it now seems to be back to full health, and I'm going to give all the somewhat problematic Duracell rechargeables (the Camlink ones in the Hope have been A1 before this morning) a complete charge/burn cycle to hopefully bring them up to proper operating performance. Already bought a new EL320 ready for Monday's commute.
Apart from that, despite the weather (those who bailed early were perfectly justified) it was yet another splendid night/morning, though I can't say I enjoyed the standing around necessitated by the numerous mechanicals (or my own chain drops..). Still more lovely people to meet (nice to see Hummers and the others from the Pompey area, amongst others). The Madeira and the Cabin Cafe both did excellent work, again. And as ever, sterling work from Simon, Adrian, TECs and wayfinders (didn't do any myself this time, but I must confess my enthusiasm last night was dampened somewhat, pun intended). Despite so many regulars being absent, it went as smoothly as it could under the circumstances.
Edit: Whoops. Forgot, excellent route, though some of those climbs were rather hard work (the Beacon would of course have been worse....).
