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| New saddle...?? |
| Best turn away, I think I'm about to sneeze... |
| Whaddya mean, another 80 miles....!! |
| St Saens square and church |
| Stage 2 - Torcy to St Saens |
| Hedge Convenience |
| Tortoises and Hares part company... |
| I never could get to grips with those SPD pedals - well, that's not true - the trouble was I couldn't get free of them! I know a few people who have the same trouble as well. In fact one of the more recent of those people is Tony. We'd come to a convenient gap in a hedge along our route, about the time a cyclist wants his first stop to answer nature's call. For most involved, this was an uneventful interlude - all that is, except one. Tony glided slowly towards the gap that had signalled this event, stopped, and then cascaded Del-boy style through it while still astride his bike (to everyone's amazement). No need to ask what caused this unexpected event. |
| By the time we reached Saint Saens, we were already in two distinct groups. The 'Marmites' (bar the representative on the left) were already steaming ahead to finally complete the100-mile circuit in 5 hours and 40 minutes. We preferred more leisurely pace - more rabbit than hare! St Saens also represented the defining point for those who would take the 50 mile route as opposed to the 100 miler. Aynsley (pictured below) was suffering badly from a chest infection so sensibly opted for the shorter route. A stalwart band of five of us opted for the longer route. This despite the fact that we had only so far completed about 20 or so odd miles - it's amazing how you can find yourself caught up in illogical enthusiasm at times such as these, isn't it? There must be some psychological explanation for it - it's just that it wasn't available at the time it was really needed! |
| Tony and Lee also formed a part of our five strong rabbit warren, This in spite of the fact they had been adamant that there was no way that they would entertain the 100 miles. Saint Saens was to have been their point of departure for the shorter option. That it didn't happen must represent some minor level of miracle. Lee had only decided to join the ride some 48 hours earlier, as a result of father Tony's original partner dropping out at the last minute. Lee agreed to take his place, even though he hadn't done any cycling for months - maybe that was years, on second thoughts. Alongside of Lee, Tony, although being a more regular rider, was still nursing a bruised and bloodied arm following his unusual dismounting technique an hour earlier... You just can't tell with some people, can you....? |
| And so we proceeded to pedal our prophetic path (no plodding ploughmen, we) out of Saint Saens, ever southwards, and on to Buchy - the next town and objective. So far the route had been kind - no major hills to speak of and the weather was also glorious - ideal for cycling. The temperature edged towards 70F (about 20C) and would top out around 75F. On high the sun was a bright yellow duster polishing a blue, blue sky. With white fluffy clouds in a cluster hanging on the breeze to dry. (All together now) say what you will, the countryside was still, and mother nature wore her finest gown. I guess we were definitely (by now anyway) well out of town...!! (sorry Max!) It was all turning out to be a lot less gruelling than we thought it would - Ooops! I shouldn't have said that.... |