two days in a row

Well my faithful few readers you'll be keen to learn that I managed almost forty miles on Sunday 14th October 2007, and didn't get lost! 'Shame' I hear some of you cry.

Today's route took me up Tullymore Road out of Broughshane which is a great training road. Today was 23.08 minutes from my house to the top with the junction of the Knowehead Road.

Then it was on the "big dipper" that is the Glens Brae Road down to Martinstown chapel, and over to the Tuftarney Road which is another long pull. Then along through Newtowncrommelin (Joe - I was wearing the Mortgage Shop t-shirt and you missed it!!!) towards Clough.

Not wanting to continue the risk of getting mown down by folks clearly speeding heading to church (there's an irony) I opted for the Tullykittagh Road leading off to my right towards Cloughmills. Great road. No idea where it ended, and man did it go on, and on, and on. I've said this before, but you see so much more of your local area when you're on a bike than you'd ever be tempted to travel in a car. In the car you head on the familiar routes, driving to get somewhere, as opposed to enjoying the ride.

Eventually I came out (no jokes please) at Lislaban Road, and headed away from Cloughmills (always a good choice!) and crossed over (stop it) to the Dowgry Road, turning right at the end and over to Glarryford. The usual route to Cullybackey and Ahoghill followed. Naturally I called in with auntie Sylvia for a coffee and a bun before hitting Galgorm, Sand Road, Grove Road, and home along the Ballygarvey Road.

Stats: 59.1km, avg 20.6 kph, max 57.6, odo 1194.40 km, time 2h 51m 56sec

And that folks was my last day's bike riding afore the big event. It's been a long training session in all weathers and with all manner of encounters with various numpties in their cars, but it's been great.

I'm so overwhelmed by people's generosity - can you believe the total to date. And the even more impressive news is that there is around £350 to come! It's a long way from the first £100 put in by me to start the ball rolling. Cancer is such a prevalent disease that anything we can do to help research, treatment and care will be a good thing. Thanks again for your support.