What a fabulous way to spend an evening.
I was in work at 5am on Friday morning so that I could get home early to pack the car with bikes and coffee making kit so that Family Hatler could get on the way to Streat before the evening rush hour. That way I could also get a proper lie down before the off. Needless to say a thousand and one chores got in the way and I sat down to an ENORMOUS bowl of left over curry at about 8pm. By the time that was finished and cleared away and final prep had been done I managed to lie down at 9pm with the alarm set for 10.15.
A gentle pootle up to HPC with that wonderful final leg across Westminster Bridge, around Parliament Square and along Birdcage Walk.
Standard round of hellos, bike inspections, the pre-ride lecture and we were away.
As we set off from the bottom of Portnalls Road a chap (Shadow) I didn't recognise (but should have) introduced himself. He had spotted me in a pub wearing an FNRttC jersey when I was half way along the South Downs Way earlier this year. We chatted around a huge diversity of subjects, and descended Reigate Hill alongside each other still chatting.
Lonesome Lane was glorious.
Scout Hut Spread was, as ever, stupendous.
We texted ahead to Mrs hatler to confirm our ETA at Streat as 7am, which meant the planned 6.15 start for her would be enough to get four thermoses of coffee brewed and two children up, dressed and fed with porridge and hot chocloate.
I love that bit from the top of Turners Hill to Lindfield.
At Lindfield we were a little ahead of schedule and had to ring ahead to wake Mrs hatler up with a new ETA of 6.45.
The little kick at the end of Slugwash Lane always comes as a surprise.
I carried on past the gathering crowd at the end of Slugwash Lane and went as fast as I could to get to the van and help out with coffee and kiddy duties. I love that stretch along Hundred Acre Lane and Streat Lane, but I recognise that I am terribly biased. The sky was lightening, though the colours weren't as vivid as the October run along here last year. Still, very special to have these lanes to myself.
Lu had worked her regular miracle and everything was in place. All I had to do was fix lights to the bikes, load coffee into my panniers and we were off. I sent Family Hatler up the road and waited for the peleton to appear.
Coffee dispensing worked like clockwork and we ran out with the last requested cup.
Little Miss hatler and mini-hatler had set off well before the coffee supplies were exhausted and for Little Miss Hatler in particular this proved a great success. For the first time she got to the top when there was still a sizeable crowd left. She was really really chuffed with the cheer she got, so thank you everyone who cheered her on.
I have no idea who accompanied mini-hatler up the hill (if anyone at all), so thank you, whoever you are, if you did.
Breakfast was as slick and as welcome as ever, and the minis got to go on the Hall's tandem which was a real bonus. Mini used the last 10 minutes to see how fast he could go on his bike on the flat, back and forth along Madeira Drive. He claims to have clocked 25.
Train back to Hassocks, deposit the family in the pet shop (free range kittens and rabbits), and then I headed back to Streat across the 'French Fields' which is a tarmacked bridleway that runs parallel to and north of Underhill Lane. The sun was up, it was more than mild, there was not a human in sight, I was suffused with a warm glow and a deep sense of inner peace.
Perfection on two wheels.