Well..that was (yet another) hell of a night/morning. I must have been quite tired afterwards as the afternoon nap was four hours.. somewhat reinforcing the point that for me, sadly, joining the Southwold ride would not be a good idea...but anyway...
As per recent rides, current role (dealing with damaged/vaguely addressed mail and getting it out for despatch/off to the designated places) and duty time at work (9.30 finish) meant it was a case of bringing the gear in with me, and if need be going straight from there to Portsmouth & Southsea station (which is directly over the road). So, all packed up in the rucksack, ready for the off, all set...then at five (after my meal break) I suddenly realised that my railcard & ticket were still sitting on the shelf at home. ****!!! So, one way or another I'd have to nip home first. If need be, there is a plan B train (getting into Clapham just before midnight) but that involves a connection and assorted potential bother, so certainly not ideal. Fortunately, all the sections that have an unfortunate tendency to dump lots of work on me just when I least want failed to do so, finishing early and leaving little enough for me. By the time I'd dealt with the last of the repairs the sorters were tying up for the despatch (and some of that was already on its way) so I'd done all I could for the day. I could have spent five or ten minutes getting some of those few remaining letters on their way, I do most nights, but not tonight. Made home in ten minutes, changed, out the door again, and at the nearest station (two stops up the line from P&S) with three minutes to spare. Phew! And for once, the train was in early (smelling salts not required).
At HPC, with a hint of moisture in the air, I asked User10571 which forecaster we should shoot. Fortunately, a hint was all it was and that didn't last. So off we went. Sarf Lunnon passed by without incident, and Chutney rapidily (in multiple senses) proved a most capable steed for the night. Comfortable, smooth, no annoying rattles (apart from the longer cables required for the fold tapping against the frame), and surprisingly (to others) quick. A DualDrive hub is not the lightest bit of kit, but it is quite handy being able to (in effect) drop two chainring sizes at a standstill. And the turn of speed is impaired by the rider, not the bike. The little folder that could, did. At no point was I wishing I'd brought one of the other three instead. The hedge was merely a parking space, Rich
And great to see you back on a FNR at last.
Oh yes, the Cabin's bread pudding. Ever since I first tried Mark's splendid version, that last stretch to the caf has been The Race For The Bread Pudding. Even when, as last night, I've already had some of my own supply (the bakery down the road does an excellent one), I want some of Mark's and getting to the counter to find it's all gone is not good. Fortunately, the good man had prepared what looked like a bumper batch, and in any case I must have been one of the first fifteen or twenty peeps there (and like most of us, I'm never going to beat the skaters!!). Which was a good job, as I needed the calories after that little time-trial- hard work, but it felt good (sort of).
The off-roading isn't really to my taste, but then neither is the dreadful monotonous grind that is Bury Hill. After the fuzz incident (upon which I can only agree with Adrian), on we went to the Lobster Pot, who once again excelled themselves. Top-notch breakfast, splendid cake, generous pot of tea. Much to like. I joined the pub peloton when they left, before continuing west. The Garmin said 69 miles since HPC, home by my usual straightish route was 25 miles or so. 95 miles? Nope, not having that. So I took a slight detour via Nyetimber before heading up to Chichester, and added a few more miles with another slight diversion. Job done, made home just before 12.30, 100.46 on the clock. Chutney's first century. Then lunch, nap, up again in time for Doctor Who.
As ever, thanks one and all. And for those who will be on their way to Southwold next week, have fun you lucky people.
