A week ago I was in Scotland. Seven days have passed and here I am with some of that great group and another great bunch of peeps at HPC at Midnight. I don't care what anybody says but an FNRttC without TC is incomplete. There is a space. Luckily this doesn't happen very often and I consoled myself that Cardiff/Swansea is only a week away so beersies will be saved for Swansea.
The weather forecast said the temperature would be above 15 degrees and there might be rain at 7am. The bumbag was back but I didn't bother with overshoes or a jacket. I arrived at HPC before DZ - hooray not late! The meetings and greetings were quite frankly, joyous. There were congratulatory comments, kisses and handshakes, hellos to peeps not seen for a while, cheers of enthusiasm for LonJog, appreciative comments about everyones' pics and Cycle Chat narrative. This was a great party and we were still at HPC.
There was an Ianmac62 - not just any Ianmac62 - but The Ianmac62. And no van.Hoorayyyyyy! Ian was back at being an FNRttCer and was fabulously back on his two Brompton wheels - without a suitcase or rucksack in sight (apart from Stuaffs and User1314s, obviously!) And not the only Brompton. This was the ride of the mini-wheel. Costume was essential. Adrian looked like he was a BMX King, Andrij roared from the 20s or was it the 40s on his Moulton, Stuart G was the city commuter, srw was in black tie, GregCollins wore a Kilt, Olav carried home made cake and AKA Bob was at home on his brommie (so to speak!) And Andrij should be banned for letting me try out his lovely Moulton leaving me with thoughts of n+1. As for Greg mentioning Dursley Pedersen, I darent even type it in Google. Or maybe I will......
The TECs and Wayfarers were introduced, Mr Davy Walnutwhips grinning all the way. It doesn't get much cheerier than that. We headed down to Parliament Square, along the Embankment east to Tower Bridge, Commercial Road and through to Dagenham. The mini-wheels were flying through, despite the southerly wind. Chit Chat all the way.
The tandem bombed past like a missile with Lady Julian and Charlotte delivering bad news about a crank. A snapped crank on a Brompton - AKA Bob's. Tim Hall inspected and concurred that nothing could be done, a bus was found and AKA Bob headed west. Extremely unlucky.
The rain tipped down in a fine mist format that leaves you soaked to the skin. But the chat went on, so fab to see those that LonJogged and those that didnt. I heard laughter, lots of it, all night long - some of it was mine - it was a unanimous FNRttC chorus of fun! It was great to compare LonJoG recovery notes, who had been cycling since last weekend, who hadn't, how we felt, what hurt, what a shock, did we really do it, did you really do it. It seems such a long time ago to us all. We marvelled at the ZigZag Mille Alba -even an attempt at it is outstanding - (1000 km in three days) which is a ridiculous distance and fantastic accomplishment. The FNRttCs always knock me sideways with the incredible attitude towards everyone else, even when some of the group are really strong, hardcore in fact supreme cyclists.
We arrived at the motorway services at J31 who provided service with a smile. The smile was a bit startled though, genuine I am sure but definitely startled! Incredibly GregCollins and Adrian were at the front of the queue. They were so stunned that they didn't really know what to do!
Snacks were served, consumed and savoured. An hour or so later the rain eased up, the sun began to rise - a red, red sky. We rode down country lanes, weaving our way east, laughing and chatting all the way to Bread and Cheese Hill. It is a hill. Not the only one, there is another one ahead of it but it didn't feel as bad as it might have done had it not been for Lon JoG.
There were waymarkers I recognised and some I didn't. There were smiles everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. Every time I asked Adrian if we was enjoying riding his Brompton the answer was always "No. I hate it. I have a bike that I would love to ride to Southend and it's not this one"!! Hilarious (for us at least!) Everyone else seemed happy. All the way up to and includingSouthend where the Rose Cafe have perfected efficient service of excellent breakfasts. Back up to the station, after I had been allowed a ride on Andrij's Moulton - that front suspension is incredible - I must desist I must desist..... We worked out our Groupsave and headed to Fenchurch Street where Adrian and TimO headed home, the rest of us to Look Mum No Hands for coffees and beersies. AKA Bob rejoined us, all cranked up and ready for beers, Dynamos and possibly more beers. Somehow I managed to stay awake and clock I was sitting next to someone called Carmen! That made us laugh (that's only funny against my name)! Other peeps that I met doing their first FNRttC were Claire, Tom and Matt. I hope they enjoyed it and that it is not their last.
As with all beersies afternoons after FNRttCs the sleepiness kicks in and it was time to give in. No more lovely cappuccinos (thank you for those, I love them) A few of us retrieved our bicycles and headed homewards. GregCollins and User13710 went to London Bridge. AKA Bob, Martin and I went to Victoria.
A bit odd to do only 61 miles in a day given the LonJog days - but a fabulous way to encourage by tired legs to get over themselves. How Zigzag and LouiseL cope with the lengths of rides they do is truly beyond me.
Thank you DZ and Susie - that was just fab!
I took some pics
https://picasaweb.google.com/108733...&authkey=Gv1sRgCNHfmca5lZzNGQ&feat=directlink
Mice
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