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@The_Seldom_Killer
Left home at about 5.30 and after finding a new way to circumvent Worksop the ride got really good. The anticipated cross wind was a tail cross and despite a hefty downpour about an hour earlier it was sunny and the roads were pretty dry.
I had a good run through Clumber Park and across the Sherwood Forest before picking up the quietish main road down to the Trent Levels and Newark. As usual I'd not started off with much food to popped into Waitrose to load up on supplies and water. After that it was back up the hill eastbound and onto the A17. I'd been worried that this was going to be a bad road but there was almost no traffic, a brilliant surface and lovely views combined with the nurturing warmth of the setting sun. I diverted briefly through picturesque Leadenham before pulling into the Little Chef outside Sleaford for coffee, cake and extra layers of clothing before the temperature drop. Not a big fan of Little Chef but staff here were really nice and encouraging.
After that the real main road work began as the light faded and the commercial traffic was on the increase again. Feeling quite vulnerable near pub traffic and high velocity logistical behemoths I took a handful of short diversions. Quite cold being low down on fens as well. I ran into the usual night service at a petrol station in Long Sutton. No we don't do coffee at night, nor do we use the microwave. Packed a can of coke and a sausage roll in my jersey pockets to warm up until I found a nice sheltered bus stop in Clenchwarton.
Unsure of fueling options ahead I popped into a garage in King's Lynn for more food and water.
"I suppose a coffee is out of question"
"Not a problem, I can give it to you through the night shute"
"I'll take a big black one please" (Oh dear).
Very happy to huddle up and enjoy a warm drink.
Finally the last stretch of main road along the A47 where I kept getting buzzed by emergency service vehicles before bailing out in Swaffham. Picked my way down to Watton where, as I left town, someone called out a car window "It's bloody three in the morning". After that the light started to creep up slowly, taking ages until I cold distinguish colours. A bad time of the morning for me as I often feel sleepy around this time. Also some navigational paranoia but miraculously I never set a foot more than 20m wrong.
Peaceul sleepy Norfolk melted into peaceful sleepy Suffolk and I enjoyed having the microcosm all to myself, giving me exclusive close sights of heron, deer, rabbits, a tawny owl, gargantuan hare, some late bats and a couple of stoat. Finally I came down the back road through the heath to the beach arriving at aout 7am, 13.5 hours and 160 miles after starting. Naturally I completed my ride a bit later by dipping my feet in the water and toasting Barry with a dram of whiskey.
Good to met a few new faces and much kudos to jaitch, katie, econodog for legendary efforts. My return trip was too much solo tacking in and out of a headwind so I ended up bailing at Thetford and getting the train home in time to see the Tour highlights. However, despite a few low moments, that was a really enjoyable ride.