Follow where we have been with Gavs Garmin !- Click on the link http://connect.garmin.com/activity/36774671
Today's ride was a short ride!!! 62 miles........only! Little bit of a lie in for the team today, breakie at 8.30, a comfortable nights sleep had by all in Staffordshire's Conference room, and an early night for most of the team.
Bit of a rush to pack up and go on our way to The National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. Once all arrived safe including Rosie and yet another puncture (6th), We met up with Major Dougie Brown and SSGT Lee Davis from Abingdon Station (Dalton Barracks) as well as Dino's family paying him a surprise visit arranged by our lovely Princess. Also to met us was Arther and Julie Jordan as our official paparazzi. We're still not sure who has the biggest lens!
Most of us didn't know what to expect but all we can is it was emotional. We visited the Fire and Rescue Service Memorial first and laid a wreath and held a 2 minute silence, having our army colleagues in with us was poignant and very moving.
We then moved on to look at the other memorials and finally ended up at the wall of remembrance which remembers all of those killed on active duty in the armed forces since the 2nd world war. The fact that everyone of us especially our army colleagues knew one or more names on the walls, which moved most of us to tears and brought our aches and pains into perspective and reminded us why we were undertaking our epic journey.
On a lighter note, we rounded off our visit with lunch in the car park with our guests, far to say the star's of lunch were Dino's daughters who made Tea and served food fantastically. They clearly don't take after their father! :-)
We left the Arboretum at 1.30 feeling rather full for the final 37 miles of the day. The route took us through the delights of Birmingham city centre through to Redditch Fire Station. far to say this route was more challenging although short and several near misses were narrowly avoided. At this point it was still dry however as The Coffee Club (Laonie, Josie, Danny, Simon and new member Owen) hit the city center a storm approached and they were forced to take shelter in the nearest Starbucks (Other coffee establishments are also available in the Bullring!!)As there penance for having Grande Cappacino the entire contents of the lake district were dumped on their group along the A4421 all the way to Redditch.
As all the others had arrived some days (minutes) earlier, Toby, Jon and Pete commandeered the Comms van to go back out on the route to support (laugh) at a very wet but still smiling coffee club. All had made it finally to station by 6.15. Hot showers ensued except for Laonie who has a training need in how to make the shower hot.
By this time we were being looked after by Jon Laight (ex Banbury wholetime) who is the on duty watch manager and Princess was putting the finishing touches to tonight's extravaganza of Chicken Korma and Sheppard's pie followed by Fruit salad and Ice cream. Now the coffee club are back it has stopped raining and all is well with the world.
Plan for the evening is a bit of footie and a bit of washing and then off to dream land.
We're looking forward to getting to Banbury and Kidlington to see everyone tomorrow and to get lots of sympathy for our aches, pains and Danny's knee.
Statistics if your interested,
- Sore knees - Pete, Laonie and Phil
- Very very sore knees - Danny
- Collision with car - Dino.
- Falling off bike - Pete, Josie, Laonie &Toby
- Attempting to cycle on motorway (Bob & Rosie)
- Fastest motorbike - Kev
- Blisters in places you wouldn't want them - Dino & Andy
- Most bikes broken or re built - Toby
- 22 punctures to date, Rosie in the lead with 6, No punctures for Pete, Toby, Simon, Dino, Danny, Mike.
- Best Chef - Princess.
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