Departing to Daventry

Nottingham to Daventry:

5 of us convened at Chez Jackson at 10.30am for the Grand Departe. Alex, Dave H, Kev, Neil & I were treated to a Champagne Breakfast. A very pleasant treat of Carva, pork pie, tomatoes & coissants (so not really Champagne........or breakfast for that matter, but no less tasty) served up by a selection of rather attractive wenches 😛 (thanks Dee, Fiona & Emma). 

A nod to Dave M, who joins us at Portsmouth on Monday. 

 

But first we had to weigh the bikes. This was necessary in order to implement the correct 'Boule' penalty system. This requires that the lighter bikes carry one or more of the 6 boule set to bring them up to weight:

Neil:        28kg

Andy:      26 kg

Alex:       24kg

Kevin:     23kg

Dave:       15kg!!!!!!!!! FFS!!

So Dave gets all the balls!

 

So, a final ensemble and madness begins

 

Our concerns about the weather thankfully proved unfounded. The thunderstorms (mostly) passed us by and the day turned out to be rather pleasant. A nice steady ride up and over Charnwood, before descending through the pleasant villages of West Leicestershire and arriving at Desford for our first coffee stop. Uneventful apart from a couple of minor mechanicals (Neil & Dave slipping chains due to hamfisted, amateur changes) & a massive crash. Approaching a minor junction just before the coffee stop, Neil, exhausted, failed to successfully unclip and, at a speed in excess of 1mph, he threw himself sideways in a desperate attempt to feign sympathetic injury. Unfortunately, for Neil, Dave was there to break his fall. Both sustained devastatingly small injuries & were able to continue. 😂

The coffee & cakes at Desford powered us onwards, and we were soon ripping into Northamptonshire. Slicing between Floats, Scouts & Girl Guides at jolly village fetes and generally giving cycling a good name 🤔

We descended on a McD's for a snack (Kev's face was a picture) and then sped on towards Daventry. Having negotiated a couple of 'lumps' just prior to rolling into the town, we located our apartments for the night & set about relaxing. Read beer (several) & food (lots). 

62 miles or so from Chez Jackson. 

 

The Daventry digs. Rather nice. It's 11pm & the room is empty.........😴😴😴😴

Me, I feel as fresh as a...💤💤💤💤💤