For those of you who didn't read the Guardian this week, and missed yet another feature on my bike ride (thanks to Shaun O'Neill for his interest in this venture) I was much encouraged by a donation from my good friend Dessie Marshall, which came all the way from Tanzania! Yes. Tanzania.
This morning, Saturday 31st March I decided to head out on my now usual route. Just before setting off the postman delivered a letter from my friends, Jim and Margaret Crawford in Hamilton, New Zealand. Apart from the lovely Easter Card, there was an even more lovely Bank of England £20 note. So sorry Dessie you've been out-miled by the Crawfords!
My boss was so right when he said (from his own experience) that I would be suprised by the generosity of some, and disappointed by others. Still, the fundraising is going well.
Today, I took my aunt Sylvia's suggestion and headed over the crossroads at the Dreen Road, Cullybackey and on to the Garvaghy Road. Didn't see a concerned resident anywhere!
Knowing that a hill climb awaited me I took refuge in Portglenone Forest for a pit stop and to take a few minutes in the glorious sunshine. Never before has a toilet block been so welcome! Suitably refreshed it was up the hill, which proved rather tame, once the correct gear was found and I kept my rythm. The headwind however was anything but tame as I headed towards Ahoghill.
Both sets of relations being absent from their abodes I headed tealess into Ballymena where some numpty in a black Volkswagen decided that he had no need to check his blindspot as he drove round a parked car at the Protestant Hall, opposite the police station. He became aware of me, who had taken to the offside lane (as there was a large queue of cars in the inside lane) as I drew alongside his driver's door. I must say that I didn't catch his answer to my query as to the extent of his blindness!
It was an incident free ride out past Eaton Park.
From Ahoghill to Broughshane I counted six drivers using their mobile phones, one who was entering a roundabout. Clever girl. And guess what....all six where female. Multi-tasking. Bless them.
Stats: Distance - 56.87km : Time 2.50.32 : Max speed 49 kph : Avg speed 19.9 kph
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