The previous post in this blog is Album - Les Gets 2003.
The next post in this blog is Album - South Downs Way.
Sport : South Downs Way
This weekend was the first of many long training rides in preparation for The CAPE EPIC that takes place on the 28th Feb-6th March 2004.
Grant and Anne Henry, Ian Franken and I left London at 7:00am on the train for Winchester and started riding at about 8:45am on the first 40km leg of the trip. The route linked several villages via the Downs and after 40km we met up with Greg Guye Dion Hatting and Andrew ..., The next 40km were more scenic than the first so it went past fairly qiuickly and by 4:00pm we were at our B&B in Amberly. We all went for well deserved showers and then met in the local pub for a few beers and some excellent grub. Needless to say I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow and didn't move until my alarm went off at 6:45 the next morning.
After a tasty full English breakfast (questionable decision considering the hill facing us at the start of the ride) the four of us - the others were social rides so did not join us for the next 80km - hopped on our metal steeds and powered up the first, of many, hills of the South Downs Way. (aka "South Ups Way" for good reason!!)
After a photographic session at one of the many gates, I stooped down to pack away my camera while the others continued on their way. To my surprise, my camera case was no longer where I had left it and 5 minutes of searching I finally found it in the long grass next to a fence post. I simply assumed it was the wind that had blown it there, packed up and eventually caught up to the others... It was only on viewing my photos of the day that I discovered the true culprit!
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The day, although a bit cold in the morning, was gloriously sunny and we had blue skies and sunshine the whole day. The second days scenery was spectacular and even though a lot of the day was spent looking at the ground in front of my tyre, I did manage to soak in the surrounding countryside. There were plenty of horse riders and walkers out, all presumably enjoying the last few weekends of autumn before the winter kicks in, so at places it was slow going as we had to wait our turn at the gates. The last last 15km was really tough and this was were I was cursing every downhill as I knew I would just have to climb up on the other side but we eventually made it to Eastbourne (on the coast near Hastings) and jumped aboard the train for London!
Got home at about 7:00pm and after a hot muscle relaxing shower, relaxed in front of TV for a while before hitting the sack... hard!
October 6, 2003
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