Ready for anything?!

Our Bank Holiday Monday continued with beautiful weather. I didn't get to West Moors or Verwood as planned because I went shopping in Christchurch first. I got as far north up to the west end of Hurn Airport, and returned to Bransgore to complete household jobs that always need doing.

For the May Fair, Sue and I took the tandem out for our first ride together since it was overhauled with its original livery! It is so heavy to steer after riding a hybrid bike, and our co-ordination means that we wobble left and right at the same time at different ends of the 2-person bike, giving the movement quite a swing. We circumnavigated the village, and really enjoyed the fete. the Community Church's band "Disfunction" were superb, and the Bournemouth Brass Band men were amazing in their Spidermen outfits in their various shapes and sizes. Catching a glimpse of 3 more active ones at the top of the mobile climbing wall was a sight for sore eyes!

The bike with its handlebar mirror removed fitted into Sue's MPV, and came back to Eaton Bray. On Tuesday I went over to Wendover Hill which was an amazing circuit of Hale Road, Hale Lane and Aston Hill. 14% hill with poor surface needed me to dismount, and I had the head camera videoing 10 minutes of the best bit. The Wednesday I took the A4146 road down to Hemel Hempstead, cut acros the north of HH to A4147 to St Albans, and had soup and bread with Hannah & grand-daughter Josie. I returned via Harpenden and Caddington. All in all the Garmin informs me that I have managed 220 miles in the last week. thursday's weather is wind followed by rain, so I'm anticipating rest days.

i spent the sunny morning weeding the patio and front drive as the wind began to pick up. in the afternoon the gusts were impressive, and I was glad not to be on the EndtoEnd trip already!
On Friday Janes, my local cycle shop, had it's keen cyclist repairer, Marcus, back in action, and I took the Raleigh Urban 5 in for a service, thinking nothing was wrong.

At the end of the day the bike bill was £164! 4,000 miles of commuting on the bike has saved me lots of petrol and parking bills! that's my way to view that expense! The chain set on the back wheel had worn out after 4,000 miles in the last 2 years, and had welded solid to the back wheel. The chain was so loose the measure device almost fell into the next link hole! The brake cables were replaced, along with back wheel and chain set and chain, and I have those spare inner tubes.

In Thursday morning's post, the fixing kit from Evans cycles had arrived so I now have a detachable front pannier secured on my handlebars, which I can take off when at stop-overs. So all I need now is to be at Paddington Station for the midday train to Penzance, and then be taken across the Cornish peninsular to St Just where we will be billetted on Saturday night.

Sunday will begin with a 6-mile ride to Land's End, team photos and the Set-off. The weather looks good for the first three days till rain might catch us in Bristol area.

Thanks for reading this far. Please keep journeying with me. Remeber Sue as she has the fortnight without me.

Michael