3 May – Getting Ready for Departure

I got my last training run in on Saturday with a leisurely cycle down to Dunbar and back. I popped in to say ‘Hi’ to friends Alistair & Lara. Lara is originally from Ukraine, with family still there, and she gave me a badge with ‘I Stand With Ukraine’, which I’ll be proud to wear throughout my journey. I also stopped to have a chat with Robert who is a regular contributor and supporter of my radio show.

I took in one last Spinning class at Pure Gym and thanks to Dan for knocking me into shape in these last 6 months in preparation for my cross-country cycle.

Janey got up at 6am to film me as I set off for a short cycle to Drem train station and I caught the 06:49 train into Edinburgh.

I ‘lorded’ it up in 1^st class on my Edinburgh to London train. After I wolfed down my full English breakie, the very attentive GNER assistant began serving ‘cold drinks’. At 11am I ordered a Gin & Tonic. I was given two double measures!

Whilst this was deliciously refreshing, the resulting faux pas saw me disembarking at Kings Cross and inadvertently taking the tube to Piccadilly. The slight problem here was I should have headed for Paddington. I guess my ‘Gordon’s’ head convinced me it was all the same. These destinations both start with a ‘P’. After a brief detour, I got to the correct train station, reflecting on the wisdom of indulging so early, so far from home.

My (5 hour) connecting train to Penzance was delayed by nearly an hour due to kamikaze swans on the track. I can honestly say, it is the first time that has ever happened to me.

After 9 ½ hours on trains (reason for song choice today!), I was looking forward to stretching my legs. So, on arriving at Penzance train station, I had a relatively short 9-mile cycle to my very novel ‘hotel’ for the night. I finally arrived there at 9.00pm, posted this day’s blog, spoke to Janey, then collapsed into bed – hoping for a restful night – ready to start my Bicycle Across Britain tomorrow.

I admit to feeling a little anxious at what lies ahead of me, but I am also looking forward to the sense of adventure and having to ‘go with the flow’ on a lot of this. But I have been blown away by the messages of encouragement, good will and support I have received – and to be almost half way to my fundraising target before I begin, I find it most humbling.

Today’s trivial facts

NO. OF MILES CYCLED TODAY :    13

MOMENT OF THE DAY:   It’s a toss-up between:

• me getting oil on my only pair of (beige) non-cycling shorts. Doh!
• a slightly deranged woman barracking the Great Western Rail employee for the swans on the track having the audacity to delay her journey. Like it was his fault and he alone could do something about it. Some people! It was entertaining though 🙂
• Me thinking the train conductor was propositioning me when asking ‘Anyone for Nookie?’ as we were, in actual fact, approaching Newquay.

WEATHER:         Dry, cloudy, 15 degrees

FUEL: Everything that was going – on GNER’s 1st class trolley service!

SONG OF THE DAY: Long Train Running – The Doobie Brothers https://youtu.be/m4tJSn0QtME

% of FUNDRAISING TARGET REACHED:  44% (Thank U for sponsoring me)

TOMORROW’S STAGE 1 DESITINATION: Fowey, Cornwall (65 miles)

Thank you for your interest and support.

Scott