Hello all
Sorry i've not updated you on my no doubt riveting cycling exploits this week. The small matter of dinner at Buckingham Palace slightly diverted me! (No, really)
Anyway, last week was a bit of slow week to start with training wise. But, all training and no play makes Lesley a dull girl! My usual gym/cycling nights were replaced last week by two amazing gigs including the finale to the rather wonderful '100 days to make me a better person project'. This was started by comedian Josie Long back in December when she gave people the challenge to do something every day for a hundred days - with the loose aim of making them a better person. And it was a lovely wee project - although not so wee as the exhibition last Wednesday proved! My good chum Dominic took part by taking a picture of someone he made smile everyday, Andy wrote a Haiku every day, Ade walked an hour every day andThe Pictish trail wrote a 30 second song (nearly) every day along with many many other pledgers, like the chap who wrote a letter to his girlfriend every day or Josie Long herself who spoke to a stranger. Anyway, needless to say the finale which included an exhibition of all the various pieces of art and activities as well as performances, was suitably lovely and inspiring. Some of the blogs are on my links on the left hand side and you can read more at www.hundreddays.net
Hmmm. that all has nothing to do with cycling but is a very good excuse for not training mid week last week!
Training picked up again on Friday when i took myself and my bike back to the Borders to visit my folks and go for the first ever Pedalling Pinders joint training rides!
Exciting. Look, here we are looking resplendent in lycra. (I'm the one on the right)
I arrived in Melrose about 12pm, had a swift nap to recover from my 5am start, and then Frank popped round and we took a nice jaunt out into the Borders countryside. It was a beautiful day and I can't express quite enough how lovely it was to be out of London on my bike. We cycled up to Innerliethen and back, ogling at the downhill mountain bike competition taking part there on the way. It was a lovely 37 ish mile ride. Frank got the short straw and then had to cycle home again so he added another 12 miles onto his ride. Anyway, it felt good, although i was, in all honesty, absolutely knackered and after an amazing mum-made fish pie went straight to bed.the next day it was my turn to do the extra miles and i cycled to Frank's house, 6 miles away in St Boswells. After i managed to mess up pumping his tyres (seriously, I'm rubbish with bikes, I have no idea why I thought this was a good idea), we went off on a 30 mile round trip to the lovely town of Kelso. Lovely apart from the cobbles. Eep. Thank the lord for padded shorts.
No idea how the Tour de France riders managed on the Champs Elysee. Got back to Frank's and after munching a giant slab of cheesecake, I pootled off home. By the time I get home, I've cycled just over 40 miles. Not bad!
This is the view down towards kelso. And a fun road this was too! Lots of ups and downs and Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! I don't think Frank likes it when I "Wheeeeeeeeeeee" going downhill. It's not very cool. (and that was Wheeeeeee not Weeeeeeeee)
Anyway, it was really nice to get out cycling with Frank and have some company on the road. Plus it provided lots of opportunities for us to rant and put the world to rights.
We've raised a really fantastic sum of money so far, over £2,200 at last count which is wonderful. In case you didn't know, one of the reasons I'm doing this now is that I turn 30 on May 11th so this is a bit of a birthday challenge too. So, if you've not bought me that porsche or diamond ring you'd planned to buy me for my birthday yet, sponsor us instead!
Enough rambling,
Lesley xxx
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