Missing friends aside, that was one of the best night rides I've done.
The highlight for me has always been the road from Goole with the Trent on the left and above with the navigation lights stretching out ahead. Awesome.
The rest isn't bad either.
Despite the predicted train doom, I got to York pretty much on time and there was none of the expected argy-bargy trying to get the bike into the bike space. Not remembering my headphones was a big mistake though; I had to listen to the drivel spouted by fellow passengers. It made the journey seem much longer than it actually was.
The train didn't terminate at Leeds so my contingency plan to ride from there to Goole (thankfully) wasn't needed.
Instead, I got to ride through a partially blacked out York to spend time at the Den with the ever lovely Crinkly Lion and the (much bigger than last time I'd seen them) cubs. It had also been a while since I'd last seen Ruth so it was good to meet up with her again. A further bonus was seeing fboab again and meeting her parents (happy birthday Father fboab).
The rest of the evening was just fabulous. From the puddles and debris on the road, it was obvious that we'd missed some proper weather. I suspect, in certain places, by not much time at all. Phew !
The food stop was as good as I remembered it and I hope that we can generate enough interest next year to make it worth their while to cater for us again.. I broke my golden rule for buffets; go up once, get a plate full then only go back once more and get less than half the original plate. I felt the over-indulgence later on but, on the positive side, I wasn't hungry in Wetherspoons so I didn't feel the need for breakfast. Or at least the solid part of breakfast........
As ever, the bridge didn't disappoint and the run in to Hull proved to me again that all rides are 10km too long; by that stage, I just want to get there.
Strangely, Gordon P and I were the only ones to get a beer when the bar opened at 09.00. I say "the only ones". More accurately, we were the only riders to get drinks; most of the rest of the pub's occupants were very eager to have something........
Gordon and I were, of course, only drinking out of a sense of duty, to toast the much missed wanda2010, a victim of bike issues on the way to the train to York. I have to confess that we didn't manage to drink them dry (as on previous occasions with wanda present) but, since they only had Guinness and not some more esoteric stouts as they've had in the past, that's probably a good thing.
My train home had been cancelled (shortage of guards) so I was advised to get the next service "No bike reservations that I'm aware of" said the nice man in the ticket office. Hhhmmm. Was he just trying to make me someone else's problem ? From experiences on the recent recces and the actual Manchester-Blackpool FNRttC, that would seem to be the usual MO.
To fill the time in, I bought a paper, looked at Trip Advisor for nearby pubs and found a gem, the Hop and Vine. It too was running late so I sat outside in the sun until they opened and I had a very pleasant hour with a beer.
There were no other bikes on the train and again, I managed to pile on and get the bike space before it was filled with huge suitcases (train terminated at MCR airport). Not for the first time, I regretted the lack of headphones.......
On the approach to MCR the weather was typically Mancunican with a capital M but it was dry when I got off and for the ride home.
Result.
Again.
The rest of Saturday was spent watching the TdeF time trial before an early night.
Sunday consisted of a trip out for coffee and breakfast before steak and chips with Champagne for our traditional last day of Le Tour celebration.
It was a great way to finish a terrific weekend with the FNRttC being the highlight.
Many, many thanks to mmmmartin for keeping the ride going this year. It is, I think, my favourite FNRttC, Thanks also to mcshroom for looking after the back of the ride and to everyone else for their fabulous company.
Loved it.
