Permissive podcasting

Apologies, podcast listeners, for the gap. Here, at last, is my April episode...

On course!

Today's totally terrific total! No wonder the narrow-boat lady turned her head.

Thanks, sponsors, for such big boost at the start of the weekend.

More training, more prep, more huff, more puff.

Five weeks to go.

Springing up

Yes, that's the astonishing total as of today. Thanks to all our sponsors, with timely cheers for today's donor of £100!

By the way, it is now possible to download a route map and sponsor form from this link.

Once again, all funds raised enable children and young people who face disadvantage to enjoy a fabulous holiday through the work of Falcon Camps.

£1000 +

Double click on the image - you should see a larger version of my route map!

This small post celebrates a big moment in the progress of my Summer Cycling Saga: today we broke through the £1000 barrier.

Totally amazing supporters have so far given a glorious £1073, taking me more than 10% of the way towards the target of £10,000 for Falcon Camps, fab holidays for children and young people facing disadvantage.

What can one say?

Hurrah!

Thank you!

More, less - and undress...

Apologies for a few weeks of silence from Summer Cycling Saga, my June 2010 bike ride from Lands End to John o'Groats - and beyond - for Falcon Camps, terrific holidays for children and young people facing disadvantage.

More

The generosity of supporters continues to amaze and motivate me. The total in 'the vault' has reached a fabulous £883.90 (including Gift Aid). Wow! Thank you all so much.

Less

With the start of the ride getting scarily near I'm busy making practical arrangements for accommodation and rail travel for the front and back ends of the ride. Wild jubilation for stunning bargain rail fare home on 26 June: Thurso - Leamington Spa (roughly 580 miles) for £20.50. Thanks are due to Lisa of the Travel Shop at Birmingham New Street Station.

Undress

Today's ride started immediately after the morning service at St Mary's, Warwick. This historic church doesn't have an overt dress code, but one feels cycling shorts might be a step too far.

So, having donned my lycras at home, I put on a top layer of trousers - and all was seemly. After the service I hastened to my bike's secluded parking space where briskly, and modestly, I removed the trouser layer.

As I re-tied my trainers, a voice came from behind me: 'Are you planning to take off any more clothes while I'm standing here waiting for my lift home?'

The questioner was a charming elderly lady who, I think, was relieved when I assured her that nothing more was in the offing.

Turned out she'd been an enthusiastic cyclist as a teenage evacuee to Lydney in the Forest of Dean. A day's ride from Lydney to Hereford was nothing to her and her chums. Respect.

Upwards

Atop Dover's Hill, near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire - my first big ascent of the year.

Sunday's ride took me out of Warwickshire and into the corrugated Cotswolds - a respectable 52 miles. Apologies for windy blusterings in the podcast...

Serendipity

Honestly, I meant to do at least 40 miles - but kind friends unexpectedly intervened.

It would have been churlish to turn down a spontaneous invitation to lunch.

STOP PRESS: Counting the Gift Aid element, my fabulous-beyond-belief sponsors have so far raised a sensational £678.92 towards the work of Falcon Camps, tip-top holidays for children and young people facing disadvantage. Thank you!