A few weeks ago Mrs. Hall and I had a "frank exchange of views" over
several things, including the fact that I bugger off on the
occassional Audax leaving her at home. The natural culmination of
such a discussion was that we ride one together. Time passed and
weekends had been busy. Then last Thursday I noticed we were free this
weekend and The Autumn Assortment was happening. I rang the organiser
who agreed to let us enter on the line. All set.
Cut to Sunday morning. 7 o'clock and Mrs. Hall is still in bed. A bit
of coaxing and we're up and ready. Then she decides it's time to do
her legs. I tut, remain calm and we're off.
Nine o'clock and we get to Ruislip, with a height barrier at the car
park. Unload bike, _then_ park car. Sign in, cup of coffee, looks of
amazement from the other entrants at the Pino and we're off.
Fairly soon we're the lanterne rouge - we can't rush these things. A
bit of plodding on, under the M25 and up into the Chilterns. Not
massive hills, but some short sharp buggers. We grit teeth, change
down and get up them without bursting any blood vessels. This
perservence pays off and we eventually catch a father and son team
from Willesden CC. We play tag with them and a pair of late starters
for the rest of the morning. A bit more undulating (1) countryside and
we find ourselves on top Ivinghoe Beacon. We scream(ish) down the
other side and then grovel the last bit to the halfway control at
Aldbury tea room. I remembered this from doing the 200 a couple of
years ago and it was as still as slow as ever. We get more food and
drink at village shop and set off again.
Up, down, along, up and "descend grotty lane" where the p*nct*re fairy
strikes. Bum. Remembering HDV's advice, I scoff an energy bar before
fixing the puncture. We get passed by those we have left in the tea
room and regain our lanterne rouge. Setting off again we manage about
10 yards before the _other_ thorn in the tyre reminds us of its
prescence. Bad words and tools out again. Eventually we're off again,
struggling a bit in the scenery. Then a good flat bit and the spectre
of running out of time recedes. We stop near Coleshill for breather
and watch some Red Kites.
A final bit of scenery near Chalfont St Giles and back over the M25.
We're going well but counting every kilometer. And then we've
finished.
Squash, tinned rice pud and peaches, a quick natter with a former
Tandem Club RO and back to the car park. I load the roof rack and
BUGGER, forget about the height barrier, fortunately before I've
attempted to drive out of the car park. Unload, move car, reload and
off home. Mrs. Hall sleeps most of the way.
Those stats in full:
Distance: 103km
Time: ooh ages. Somwhere in excess of 7 hours.
Badgers: 0
Red kites: 3
Minutes at tea stop: 40
Tim
(1) Is flat ground "dulating"?