Day 1

Well I've arrived. Nice and sunny to start with but a little windy. All was going well until, just 10 miles into the ride, when I was attacked by a very nasty ninja squirrel! It shot out from the side of the road hit the bike, yelled something at me, put me in a wobble and then shot back into the bushes. Now I know I've lost weight but a 6ft bloke in Lycra on a bike should be visible even to a squirrel. Clearly Lycra has squirrel camouflage properties I wasn't aware of. Ok moving on as I approach the white swan PH in west end, a  group of ladies wave enthusiastically. How do they know I'm on a Charity ride I wonder to myself? Bottom of the hill is my answer. Mum and dad in the lay-by with a great big union jack with "good luck Nic" written across it. I stop for a chat and put the wet weather gear on ,black clouds appearing and even more chilly. It appears the girls were on a charity walk and mum and dad had told them about waiting for me. Well onwards and stopped off at Salisbury for a coffee and cake, riding much slower than I thought but only a couple of hours left. The last 15 miles were testing the wind was even stronger and the legs were asking "are we there yet dad?" , "no, now shut up" I replied but they kept on. Then with 3miles to go it rained. 2.3 miles I hit the hill! Now someone should have reminded me of the Hovis ad. The hill (not the cobbled one thank god) was brutal nearly 2miles, with my legs now screaming at me. But I did make it...... Just. So let's see what happens tomorrow, bye for now