Met the club, but decided to head South and try to meet up with Steve Diesel from the cycling club(who was on his day 5 end to end challenge). Kev got quite irate when I (Steve) couldn't quite get the Sat Nav to navigate out of Ormskirk on the route I'd plotted. After several attempts, I turned it off and relied on Steve Nav. I thought Kev was not happy with me at the start, but his anger built and peaked just after we had crossed the Runcorn Widnes bridge (I thought it was quite funny) as the traffic and main road was very busy and extremely unpleasant. He sounded like Mutley from Wacky Races, cursing me under his breath. His mood totally transformed when I got him to Frodsham and then on beautiful lanes through Delamere Forest. Took a refuel stop at Tarporley, very posh place and a nice cafe.
Headed back onto the A49 towards Whitchurch to meet Steve, who had called a few times. Got several miles up the road, then decided to pull over and wait for him.
Then at the brow of a long climb he appeared, but he had company (two lads from the club). Alongside him were Colin and Pantani (ex famous Italian cyclist) on a tandem. t was no ordinary tandem. It had the Skull and Crossbones flag flying from the back (The real Marco Pantani Christened himself el Pirate) and a white balloon flying high, attached by string. Upon closer inspection, they had insulation tape making allsorts of holders and cages. Sun cream, after sun, tools, tyre glue etc..... We set off with them and had a wonderful ride, which included a stop at a garden centre in Cheshire for fancy deserts and coffee. On to Stockton Heath, Warrington, (where we passed the stadium whilst a game was on), Ashton, Haydock, Billinge and home. Miles clocked today 89. something (not exactly sure, as I turned the Garmin off early on). Picked Steve D's brain and got great advice. Best of it was, "You will have all day to make it to the next B and B, so chill out and take all day if you want". Feel great after a Protein shake, shower and pasta. Scorching day today and so important to drink. Think I used 6 water bottles on the ride. Got 50 miles in yesterday too. Tapering training this week and eating lots of carbohydrates in preparation for the start in 8 days!
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