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@Kurai
My toes have finally nearly recovered from my DIY LeJOG. Started at 5am on the penultimate Sunday in May, I chose to stay in a hostel near the start, pocketing the remaining breakfast bits I had pre-ordered, including the two hard boiled eggs. There was a bit of a breeze but nothing too serious yet, although I rode into the thick fog around Penzance and Hayle and got absolutely soaked. Soon dried out and had to deal with a lot of diverted traffic as the main road in Cornwall was shut. My partner was meant to be meeting me near St Kew Highway around 9am but I was pushing too hard so I was waiting for her for about 20 minutes. I thought I'd crack into a hard boiled egg, only to discover they weren't cooked 🤦. I saw her a few times en route to Sourton Down, where we had lunch together. It was to be the last time we saw each other for a week.
I was finally off the busy roads for a bit, as I picked my way across Devon on the smaller lanes. Most of the ride so far was from memory, temperature was rising though and so was the wind. The levels and the Mendips are bit of a blur, and getting to the Clifton Suspension bridge took a bit more thought because they were setting up a big event in Ashton Court. A couple of posh petrol stations stops later, a setting sun and I was racing to get to Gloucester before the 5guys near the Premier Inn shut. A burger, fries and milkshake later I was asleep.
Not such an early start, 6am, aiming for Penrith. The wind was really up, right on the nose and the long straight roads I had picked were straight into it. The corridor between Manchester and Warrington sucked to navigate, so much traffic and so many temporary lights. Going through cities really knocked my speed right back and I knew it was going to be a late one today. Was treated to a stunning sunset as I approached Lancaster. I was in good spirits climbing Shap Fell in the dark, and felt like I flew down the other side. Into the Travelodge at 1 I think, where I polished off one packet of the instant mash I had with me.
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