Got up at 7 and had breakfast. Made up Mike's bed and printed off route round Alton Reservoir. Set off at 8.45 am and arrived at visitor centre at 11. Miserable wet day - persistent rain but reasonably light. Didn't have change for car park but man at cycle centre said they wouldn't be round to check on a day like today with such bad weather. Walked round cycle route, taking road alternative between Black Water Meadow and Birchwood. About 8 miles - took two and a half hours. Got so hot in waterproof jacket I took it off as got less damp from rain than from being too hot. When I got back had humus and olive bread with flask of tea sitting in back of boot with Suki. Had planned to have cat nap but last minute check of itinerary showed me ringing finished at 3 not 3.30 as I had thought. So set off straight away for St Margarets in Ipswich. Got there 20 mins before the end. Succeeded in getting handbike, Penny's bike, wheelchair, Mike, Penny, me and dog into car to drive back to youth hostel to reunite Penny with her car and get Mike's bag from her car. Weather deteriorated into torrential rain from 4 pm onwards, with flooding on roads. Took longer to get back than anticipated - driving slower because of weather and road conditions, and also delays on North Circular. Got home just after 7. Had cup of tea and unpacked the car while Mike had a shower. Very easy as just the bike, a bag and a few bits and pieces. So much nicer than the usual going back and forth lots of times. All unpacked and put away, and mash and pie filling heated up for supper, in time to settle down to watch Lewis with a wheat beer. Really pleased with how I feel after Rovers this year. I really enjoyed it and so did Mike - he got to all 35 towers and cycled over 200 miles. Penny said she enjoyed it too. Peter V sent a nice group photo through. Sat up in bed till midnight updating blog - only to have it hanging (I subsequently lost half of my work and had to uninstall app and reinstall it to get out of it).
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| Roving Ringers 2013 Tour |
