Bard training

To pod, or not to pod? That is the question. Whatever. Here is Podcast the Third.

Bard news, good news

Number 1 rule of fundraising: don't get your campaign mixed up with any other campaigns.

Well, that rubric went flying out of the window on Sunday 7 February as my training ride took me to Stratford-upon-Avon, where I joined 150+ volunteer 'extras' to take part in a promotional film linked to the upcoming reopening of the re-modelled Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

The event involved being togged up in a costume (see ridiculous get-up above) by the super-efficient RSC wardrobe department.

Next we trooped out into the nearby riverside park to be filmed walking and standing still - en masse.

Most of us were turing blue in the semi-arctic conditions by the time the director shouted: 'It's a wrap!' and we repaired back to the warmth of the Courtyard Theatre to de-frost.

Back to Summer Cycling Saga...

60.5 training miles in the bag.

And (including gift aid) over £420 in the bank for Falcon Camps.

Forsooth!

From the vault

We're tweeting

Hello! Just to let you know that...

You can, should you wish, follow Summer Cycling Saga on Twitter click the link in the panel on the right. We're tweeting!

Even better...

Our total so far stands at an amazing £402.56. Hurrah! Massive thanks to all supporters.

Starting at the end...

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney is Britain's most northerly cathedral - and, all being well, it's where my ride will end on 24 June.

My route (from the Lonely Planet Cycling Britain guide) covers 1071.9 miles.

More details soon.

I'm preparing a map of the ride - so please let me know if you'd like a copy (on paper or as a PDF file). Click on the email button to the right.

Hurrah!

And today's big boost: money donated so far adds up to £339.10.

Donors: you know who you are. Massive thanks from me and from Falcon Camps.

Quiz

And your quiz question: My final day's bike ride will take me over artificial barriers linking several of the smaller Orkney islands.

After whom are they named?

The first podcast...

To play, please click on the white triangle, top left...

...and the first video

What happened to January? Terrified that the month would end without my inaugural training ride, I togged up and headed out into the Warwickshire countryside...

After an epic pedal-athon (OK - thirteen miles) I reached Stratford-upon-Avon, where I recorded this mini-video.

Sorry about the dodgy sound quality - and for the obvious fact that it's addressed to the project's Facebook followers.

Thanks to the terrific efforts of my friends at Falcon Camps, my JustGiving site is now up and active. Hurrah!

You're welcome to check it out via this link - or via the link to the right.

After appropriate refreshment, I pondered the possibility of returning home on the train. But, dismissing such craven thoughts, I tootled home, notching up a well-meaning (but weedy) 26.5 miles.

Four months to go to June 1 - and the start of the ride.

Only four? Surely some mistake?