Saturday 27 October

Yes, I know I said I'd do it and .............. I did!!!

Set off at 11 a.m. on route to London.

Two words.

NEVER (that's one)
AGAIN (that's the other)

I don't really now what possessed me to think that somehow between the South Downs and the Cairngorms, the entire British Isles are FLAT! Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but anyway ...

I didn't take cycle routes - I used Google Maps and simply went the A roads. Partly because I was terrified of getting completely lost on some wild cycle cross-country route - so I opted for the direct one. Unfortunately, it didn't say it was uphill all the way to London! At least, that's what it felt like. I'll admit it. I cried!

I did the first 26 miles in great time - over Devil's Dyke, through Henfield and up to Horsham. It was great - hills and all. From there on, unfortunately, I'd like to use the expression 'things went downhill', but I'd be lying! It was definitely an uphill struggle. Not helped by the fact that I'd planned to stop for lunch in a nice pub - but between Horsham and a mere 8 miles from Sutton, I never passed one single bloody pub, petrol station, shop, cafe ... NOT ONE!!!!! Granted, I was too wound up to be hungry, but my body definitely needed energy and there's was nowhere to get anything, so I survived on my snack bar and a handful of fruit and nuts until 4 p.m. when I came across my first pub. Yes, I'd already cried. I was at the end of my tether as I got to Reigate - and then came to an almighty hill that in my eyes (at that moment) would have rivalled Ditchling Beacon! I admit, I had to get off, I had to walk, push and I suppose it was only the fact that there was no alternative available that I HAD to keep going. Got to the top eventually and found a pub.

Amazing. Soon as I had a cuppa in front of me - never mind the food - I already felt so much better. Plus the fact that I only had eight miles to go. And, bless, it was a really easy (and at that point not only welcome but enjoyable, too) eight.

Arrived at Alison's around 5-ish and got a fab welcome. Hot bath awaited - and tea and wine and then Chinese ... just bliss!!! Suzanne from Cycle India 2 came over for dinner- and Leah arrived up from Southampton, so the company was just brilliant.

But still .... NEVER AGAIN!