July - Suncream and Gore-tex?!

Did the magic 50miles yesterday, half the distance in under 7 hours, went out along the Downs as far as Alfriston and then came back along the wet weather route. Was burning from the sun on the way out, and got caught in a couple of downpours on the way home.

Best bit was up on top on Firle Beacon with 360' panoramic views across the Weald, the English Channel, the Newhaven Incinerator (OK not that pretty) with my legs feeling pretty strong. Picture below looking back towards Lewes.

The worst bit was having 'bonked' or 'hit the wall' at 42 miles sat on the verge considering the nutritional and energy value of daisies, inner tubes when the rain started. Managed to get going and hurrah for the Half Moon at Plumpton, Coke and peanuts not perfect but better than foraging in the verges without Ray Mears handy.

Forgot the suncream so have a rather red-neck (yee har) today, but was very pleased to have gore-tex on my feet. Dry socks considering the rather large puddles around some of the gates on the Way (for puddle read pond/small lakes) are a good thing, a runner was very impressed to see me ride up to the gate, open the gate, ride through and latch the gate again without putting my foot down, in a 4-6" puddle, he would have been less impressed earlier on, but that time there were no witnesses! After he'd climbed over further along to avoid the wetness.

So 2 weeks left, all the miles that can reasonably be got in, have been, now for some quality tapering, at least that's what they call it. Sounds a bit flash to me, but basically it means early nights, eating sensibly, light exercise to arrive on the day in tippity-top condition. Have you even seen me!?!

Oh yeah and I'm going to look again at the wet alternative route, too much slogging along the side of a-roads at the moment, from the bits i've tested over the last couple of weeks.

ttfn