QI have been debating this trip for days - I know the weather is forecast to be crap: so do I still go.... I don't mind riding in the rain, it's the putting up the tent etc in the rain that I don't like. I knew that I just had to go.. being retired is not easy... eventually you run out of things that need doing, things that you have to do and even things that you don't want to do. The less you do, the more you don't want to do anything. There is a limit to the number of times I can walk into town, buy a newspaper, have a cup of tea at one of the many coffee shops that now infest Ringwood.
So... get off your arse Nigel and get on the bike.... Lands end here we come...
Rode as far as Okehampton today, very relaxed pace, stopped for a tea at a road side burger van, then bypassed Exeter in favour of riding over the moors via Bovey Tracey. I think I was getting in the way has much as the lorrys and the caravans.
I had a bait of a scare on the Dorchester by pass as the truck in front lost one of its big plastic bags off its load (by big I mean about half the size of a car) and I was overtaking at the time.... Bugger I thought as it inflated and presented itself in front of the bike.... then wrapped itself around the screen and headlights... fortunately above the front wheel... I managed to grab it and wrapped it around my left arm until it was all on board.... I stuffed in under my crutch and too a deep breath ; now what.
It was no stopping on the carriage way and I was sure that the driver did not want it back, even if I could stop him, then the decision was made for me as the plastic bag took the opportunity to break for freedom again, it flew into the air and the wind took it over the fence and into a field. I hate to think what would have happened if it had become tangled in my front wheel ....
Arrived at the campsite at Okehampton and pitched the tent. And the weather is still sunny and there is a bit of a breeze blowing. Tomorrow morning is forecast to be awful !!!! Ah well I should be at Lands end by tomorrow afternoon.
Now for some tea and supper - compliments of H M Government ( I still have some 24 hour ration packs left - circa 2006 ).