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@Bernie
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To commorate the 346th anniversary of the birth of Jonathan Swift, were are riding to his college, Hertford, in Oxford, staying over, and returning by bike the following day.
The above mentioned work started with the tale of Gulliver's misadventure and travails, at the hands of the tiny people of Lilliput.
6 inches tall, avid readers of the Daily Mail, and distrustful of foreigns and cyclists in equal measure.
Gulliver himself was charged with treason, for "making water" in the capital. His excuse of putting out a raging fire, should stand as the best excuse for any bike rider caught short on a chilly day.
The words of the Dean, more than 300 years old, still ring true.
***"This made me reflect how vain an attempt it is for a man to endeavour doing himself honour amongst those who are out of all degree of equality or comparison with him. And yet, I have seen the moral of my own behaviour very frequent in England since my return, where a little contemptable varlet, without the least title to birth, person, wit, or common sense, shall presume to look with importance, and put himself upon a foot with the greatest persons of the kingdom." ***
Some will be meeting at Tooting Broadway, 9:00am, for the 19 miles to West Drayton station for 11:30am rendevous.
Others will catch the 11:12am from Paddington, arriving West Drayton 11:36am.
We will then ride via Iver, Pinewood Studios, Marlow, Christmas Common, Wattlington, and into Oxford, collecting various locals on the way, aiming to ride into the city centre around 4:30- 5:15pm.
Festivities will commence at the Turf, behind Hertford, and then move on to the Head of the River Inn.
I have reserved two rooms at the Holiday Inn Express, Kassam Stadium, a 6 mile ride from the centre, with breakfast included for a very reasonable £47.50 each, two sharing twin bedded rooms. This compares favourably with the cost of the train home, not to mention the shouting and arguments with beligerant jobs-worth rail guards.
We will then be leaving prompt the following morning at 9am, and following the A40 rather than the Christmas Common route home to hopefully be back in central London around 1pm.
But the main reason for the ride, as well as the cammeraderie, and a few foaming pints at our destination, is to experience the russet colours and wind blown glories of the Chilterns.
And as Gulliver said, whilst imprisoned by the intellectual pigmies
"Imagine with thyself, dear reader, how often I then wished for the tongue of Demosthenese or Cicero, that might have enabled me to celebrate the praises of my own dear native country, in a style equal to its merits and felicity."
Oh, and a list.