Well the tri training is happening. As ususal with me it starts late. Im never gonna do it by the book. I dont think Ive done anything by the book. Im not sure I have the book. All I know is that I have to now swim and cycle as well as run. Running is obviously my comfort zone. I have this book. I could probably even help add to this book. Im probably OK also with the cycling book. When I was 15 my mum packed me a lunch and said godbye as I set off on a cycle adventure to get from Glastonbury to my dads in Haslemere. I set off at about 7am on a childs bike. She had bought me some paniers...bags to carry my clothes etc. I didnt really know what paniers were, but they were sure useful! The bike was actually my brothers bike. It had mudguards. My Raleigh Europa had no mudguards and also had a puncture or two. My brother was away so I borrowed his bike. It was blue and had mudguards and 5 gears. I set off from Hartlake Farm near Coxley. Ive plotted a route. The route goes from Glastonbury to Shepton Mallet to Warminster to Salisbury and then up the 303 to eventually find Haslemere. Ive just looked at the route planner on the Auto Mobile association and it says 108 miles. Through Andover and Basingstoke. I went wrong on many occasions. So maybe its 120 miles. 120 miles seems about right. Mum comes to the end of the drive to the farmhouse on the busy road between Glastonbury and Somerset and sees me off on another of her sons little adventures. She knows I must do this because I want to do this. Im a teenager...eager to prove to my father that I am capable of grand endeavour. She wishes me good fortune and has given e £6 to buy what I need. £6 to get me to my dads with his current wife. (Actually a really lovely woman.) She has never done this before and I have never done this before. I set off...my little legs...strong through swimming and x-country at school turn the pedals and crank which turns the wheels of this little fragile machine borne down somewhat by the weight of the panniers. She waves me off. In my mind I am excited and frightened. The roads are busy and at times dangerous and there are some strange people on the roads. I get to Warminster, possibly by around 11am. She has given me many 2 pence pieces to phone and to update my progress. Im in Warminster mum!. I cant stop for a huge chat but she says...well done!. I have to get on. Salisbury next. I get to Salisbury. But between Warminster and Salisbury, if I recall, there is a Little Chef. A friendly hippy biker called Catweasle chats to me and asks what Im doing. I think he buys me a tea. I am wary. Hes a biker and tells me some biker stories of danger. He doesnt try and molest me. Im grateful and actually think back now and he was a pretty good guy. I plough on to Salisbury. Things are going well and I stop for a coffee in Salisbury. And possibly a French pastry. On the way from Salisbury to Andover Im overtaken by a touring cyclist. He also has panniers. But hes much older. He asks so how are you finding it on that bike?. I guess he is suggesting that my little bike may not be the most efficient machine to be doing what Im doing. I reply its fine....which it is to me. I have no other reference points after all. Its my big brothers bike...which Ive borrowed. It may have wide wheels but its got me here to Andover so Im doing fine and its doing fine. He wishes me well and sails on. I get to Basingstoke. Between Basingstoke and Haslemere I get lost much and do extra miles. My little body is tired. Always in the back of my mind I have the thought that I can phone mum if I need. I dont neeed but the thought is assuring. I dont want to phone my dad. I see this as failure. I need to show him that Im a warrior like him. Eventually, and just as its dark, some 14 hours later, I arrive. He says, the first thing he says is boy...you stink. I dont care. Ive just ridden 120 miles on a shitty bike with baggage. My bum is sore as hell and I can hardly walk. I phone my mum. Im here mum...I did it. She is happy and will now sleep well. Her little hunter gatherer has completed another of his little missions. She is happy for me and will sleep well.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 21:58:50 +0000
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