A messy day today. The “original plan”, dreamed up last night, was to wake up super early and blast (yes that might be also a slight issue when riding the bicycle equivalent of a super tanker) down the “empty” main roads. Lights charged, all set for it. Slept in! So that utterly went out the window. Eventually got going and decided on the lovely cycle path down the canal…It was a foot wide single-track! Think next time I’ll use the Marathon Touring Plus tyres as they have some side knobblies and deeper tread which could of been handy today. With the weight of my kit it was a very dicey ride and it was nice to get onto National Route 6. Wow, it’s amazing (well this bit was but later learned it was just a good bit of it) wide, smooth, lines of trees both sides of the route perfectly placed. While a beautiful ride it was really destroying my progress and I needed to get on with things. Although the whole getting going thing wasn’t wanting to happen much as felt very fatigued. Although it may of been more related to the next issue.

Eventually got going and decided on the lovely cycle path down the canal…It was a foot wide single-track! Think next time I’ll use the Marathon Touring Plus tyres as they have some side knobblies and deeper tread which could of been handy today. With the weight of my kit it was a very dicey ride and it was nice to get onto National Route 6. Wow, it’s amazing (well this bit was but later learned it was just a good bit of it) wide, smooth, lines of trees both sides of the route perfectly placed. While a beautiful ride it was really destroying my progress and I needed to get on with things. Although the whole getting going thing wasn’t wanting to happen much as felt very fatigued. Although it may of been more related to the next issue. Bloods decided to play silly things, sky high all day and throwing insulin at it to no avail. Became more a case of wack-a-mole with BGs. 2x, 3x, 4x the insulin and the sods wouldn’t get into single figures. Not even needing to throw any food into the mix, I knew I needed food, but couldn’t with the

Bloods decided to play silly things, sky high all day and throwing insulin at it to no avail. Became more a case of whack-a-mole with BGs. 2x, 3x, 4x the insulin and the sods wouldn’t get into single figures. Not even needing to throw any food into the mix, I knew I needed food, but couldn’t with the bloods up there. So find a nice spot for a roadside infusion set change. Sorted!

Next problem, food! Saw a pub so thought great. Pubs seem to be a huge rarity down here. Seen more closed ones, for sale ones, or looking for lease ones than open pubs! So dropped in and out was packed, huge beer garden, barbecue bar (think a shed that had been creatively modified to cook food outside with a good selection of drinks), or the bar itself which had beams which scraped my head on! The barman was huge, well over 6 foot and was crawling around the place. Great lunch! Back on with the afternoon I may have got involved in a Sportive somehow. Was clattering my way downhill and got on the back of a small group just add we went through the camera… So somewhere there’s going to be pics of a loon on the back of this group… Will have to work out which it was!

Back on with the afternoon I may have got involved in a Sportive somehow. Was clattering my way downhill and got on the back of a small group just add we went through the camera… So somewhere there’s going to be pics of a loon on the back of this group… Will have to work out which it was! Interesting thing (and yes very odd to comment on) for the day, the drains in Windsor are recessed into the kerbs. Not into the road at all. Very American in style and not sure if they do it for the horses here, lots of deposits left by them on the roads, but it makes for a car better road surface for everyone, cars, and bikes as there’s no sinking wheel breaking death pits in the road. Wish all our roads used them.

The interesting thing (and yes very odd to comment on) for the day, the drains in Windsor are recessed into the kerbs. Not into the road at all. Very American in style and not sure if they do it for the horses here, lots of deposits left by them on the roads, but it makes for a car better road surface for everyone, cars, and bikes as there’s no sinking wheel breaking death pits in the road. Wish all our roads used them. Had some nice chats with people, was this old grandad Sikh

Had some nice chats with people, was this old grandad Sikh with with niece in Slough. We got chatting about the ride and all the tech. He was fascinated by a bike having a “Tomtom” and was amazed by the radar. I skipped on the other bits as I could still be there. Also met another Chris. This one came alongside while riding through a forest and had a chat about the kit and the charity. Tomorrow is

Tomorrow is rest day…Yay! By that I mean I only have to ride 48 miles and have to get to the ferry for 11pm. So should have plenty of time to have a mooch in the Evans I saw nearby (if it’s like the one in Glasgow I spent 15mins roaming the place and no one even said hello), this is totally out of checking out the competition you understand, and also get a good breakfast in I also noticed nearby. Then off to Brighton to nose around for the afternoon, early evening before the boat and leaving Blighty.