Day 7 – To Glasgow

Carlisle to Glasgeeeee

F**k me that was a tough day.  More rain and a headwind most of the way.  Some lovely scenery and not a hope in hell of seeing too much of it as we flew through at top speed.  Today I didn’t seem to be able to eat enough to keep pace with what I was burning and at the end of the day had managed to shovel 5 gel packs down my throat in addition to the 3 energy bars, six sandwiches, 4 mini flapjacks and a couscous lunch.  Our guest riders for the day were Paul and Kevin.  Both of them are nuclear physicists (boffins) and it was amusing to overhear Kevin trying to explain something to Greg as we were cruising along in the early part of the morning, needles to say, they were both confused at the end of the conversation but for very different reasons.  

We left a few minutes late from the hotel in Carlisle and very soon were joined by some of the kids we had met last night.  They did the first 20 miles with us but very soon after, and after a few wrong turns, we found ourselves about 30 minutes late for the lunchstop.  In addition to that, the main road to Glasgow had been shut and so a detour was necessary which meant about 6 more hills and about 8 extra miles. Nigel, Leo & Greg splintered off at lunch in an attempt to make up some time, leaving Maggy & Me with TP and the two guest riders Paul & Kevin to play catch up.  Catch up we did at Maggy pace with us all lined out astern and hence the initial expression.  We caught the Mansai after about 15 miles and promptly got lost again.  After a regroup we found a cycle track that lead us to the centre of Glasgow so a Team TT  was in order for the remaining 25 miles.  Arrival in Glasgow…. Or not quite.  Lost again .  We seemed to circumnavigated the city to find the park where a magnificent Bike Club event had been organised.  Trick bikes, BMX, assault course and lots of other things bike related to entertain the kids.  A brief ride through the city’s rush hour traffic to the hotel followed.  Premier Inn don’t seem to do a budget menu for the individual hotel so it was caesar salad followed by gammon – again.

As you may have guessed by the shortness of the last two blogs, I am feeling a bit tired at the end of the days.  We are 7 days done and now over half way as far as time goes.  Tomorrow is an easier day and the intention is to have a brief lie in before we set off to O2 in Glasgow, Endura in Livingstone and then check into the hotel before 1400 if we are on time.

Clyde has joined us tonight to ride for the next two or three days. It has been said that a certain lady friend is the reason he is not staying till the end.  Clyde you appear to be whipped already, oh and you really do need to learn how to take your wheels on and off and how to blow the tyres up.

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• July 30, 2010
• BY Ian Williams
• IN