I really thought we had got away with it when I arrived at the start of the Upper Thames 200KM Audax on Saturday and the sun was shining. It had rained all night and the forecast was for more, a whole days more to be precise, but I tried to convince myself and anyone else that would listen, that they were wrong. I mean look at it, the suns shining and there's hardly a breath of wind. How bad can it get? 07:20 There's just about time for a quick brew and a chat before the start. 07:29 Route loaded on the Sat Nav, Brevet card in pocket, Pre ride briefing done. 07:30 We're off and the suns still shining. 07:31 Bugger, It's pissing it down and the winds picking up! And that's how it stayed for the first 2 1/2 hours, the rain came down in sheets, driven relentlessly into your face by the strengthening wind as we picked our way from the start at Chosley, through the Chilterns, to the first stop at Waterperry gardens. I'll grant you it did stop before Waterperry and I had almost dried out when I sat down to my second breakfast of the day, courtesy of the lovely cafe staff, but it wasn't looking good. It stayed dry for the second leg to Chipping Norton via Bicester, but, it was still far from ideal cycling weather, with a howling wind that threatened to blow you clean off the road on the exposed hill tops going through the Cotswolds. Not to be put off though, I pushed steadily on, arriving at the second cafe stop for a welcome brew and massive scone with jam and clotted cream by mid afternoon (there are some advantages to this stupidity, cake, biscuits for breakfast and comedy tan lines to name but a few). And that unfortunately is where the good luck ran out. 20 minutes later as I left Chipping Norton the rain returned with a vengeance and continued constantly until I got back to the start some 3 hours later, somewhat putting the dampeners on things as they say! I'm not complaining though, there's something oddly satisfying about being out when the weathers really bad. There's always a great sense of camaraderie at any of these events, and that's even more evident when the going gets tough. Your all in the same boat and a small grin or raised eye brow from a fellow rider when it's lashing it down, starting to hurt and maybe not as much fun as it should be, instantly bond's you together into a pretty exclusive club. It's you and your fellow riders against the worst the weather can throw at you, and the weathers not going to win! When your shoe's have been full of water for 9 hours, the rains running down your sleeves into your gloves, your fingers have gone all wrinkly, it's dark, and you've just nearly broken your wrists by riding into a pot hole you couldn't see as it was full of water, you start to wonder what your doing. 1/2 an hour later though, when your sat in a warm village hall, having a brew, scoffing a bowl of pasta someones taken the time to make you, washed down with a slice of cake someone else has made, chatting though your day and comparing puddles and pot holes with a fellow rider you soon remember what your doing. Your creating memories that will hopefully last a lifetime and having great fun doing it! No matter what the weather this is a great ride, the Chilterns and Cotswolds are beautiful at this time of year, showing some stunning Autumn foliage. The route's great, with a nice mix of little lanes and bigger, quiet country roads helping to keep the pace up, and, like all these events, it just wouldn't be possible without the lovely people that give up their precious time to make them possible. It's only a bit of rain, it's character building stuff and it's a damned site better than sitting at home watching TV. As I was out anyway, it made sense to take advantage and stay out Saturday night, getting an early morning run in somewhere new on Sunday morning. So, microwave curry warmed up on the hob for post Audax tea, and an early night in the van, tucked away in a quite spot in Streatley, set me up nicely for an easy few miles along the Thames on Sunday morning. Up early, breakfast, and a couple of miles of gentle downhill to warm up legs that were feeling more than a bit stiff from yesterdays efforts was a fine way to start the day. And when you've got a view like that at the start of your run it's hard to feel sorry for yourself for long. With the early morning sun peeking through the clouds I soon settled into a steady rhythm, the sound of my feet landing rhythmically in the wet grass and the call of a Red Kite out looking for it's breakfast the only sounds breaking the still morning air. Pausing for a few minutes in Goring, standing on the deserted bridge, admiring the Thames in full flow as it plunges over the weir it's hard not to pity the poor folk who may only get to experience this view from the seat of a car, stuck in traffic as it crawls over the bridge in the middle of summer. Today though it's still too early for the masses and the view belongs to me, a solitary fisherman on one bank and a Heron on the other, both preoccupied in their own pursuit of happiness, with no interest in the runner interloping on their peace. Pushing on along the Thames path I couldn't have been happier, muddy in places at the start, the path churned up by the dog walkers and day trippers who never get past the first half mile from town, conditions soon improved. The path doesn't religiously follow the river bank here, being diverted away and climbing after a couple of miles to run further inland, improving things in my view by offering tantalizing glimpses of the river through the trees as the path follows the contours of the river valley. I only pushed on as far as Pangbourne, where the path crosses over to the other bank, via Whitchurch toll bridge, before turning and retracing my route back to the van. Some days less is more and whilst I'm back to a full running schedule my dodgy ankle that ruined my summer of running is still not 100%. I really don't want to push to far too soon, on tired legs and end up injured again, so in this instance I was more than happy with 12 miles and another run in a new location, courtesy of the van.
As always, it was lovely to be out early, with the riverbank to myself and the time to stop and take in the environment around me. Sometimes it's good to just stop and stand, soaking in the sights and sounds around you, refreshing your soul and recharging your mind. Life's to short to not just stand and stare sometimes.
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
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