I woke early, very early as a direct result of more red wine, phenomenal cheese sweats, Shelia's late night purchasing and my role in her personal economic downfall. I couldn't let it go. Still, the sun was due to shine, or so you had to believe. The day will do what ever the day will do. It's simply a matter of whether you're part of it or not. I was very eager to make sure we were and once Pete had delivered tea to the ladies, we headed out...after some faffing which involved the usual round of who is wearing what, tyre pressures...
...and a volley of preloaded excuses for our mutually understood and perfectly justified lack of form. It's a frustrating but worthwhile transition from being encumbered with a crutch and plastic boot thing to the relative freedom of a bike...and back again, to the bloody kitchen to fetch various forgotten items such as helmet, money, phone, drink bottle... Oh to be able to walk again. And so began what turned out to be another stunning ride. It was cold, fresh in the best way possible.
As we climbed out of the early morning mist and fog, the sun and blue skies revealed themselves with a backdrop of snow capped hills. We could have been in the Itialian Alps, but this was Coniston Water, as still as still water can be. Pete and I expressed how lucky we felt...and how cold our feet were, and how we could smell bacon, and how unfit we were, and how great it would be to run these routes and and and...more nonsense. We got bacon, with a sausage and egg side order. And coffee. Hot coffee that almost warmed our hands.
And then we climbed again. I'm reluctant to regret bacon under any circumstances, but the combination of fullness and hilliness wasn't ideal. We both are of the opinion that neither of us need any character building just now. We're good with that, no need for hardship or heroics. The ride was long, but gentle. Just soaking up the treasures and feast that fell into our eyeline. Everyone had a smile, runners, walkers, horsey girls, tourists, farmers and even the roadies giving a chipper 'morning' as they sped by.
We stopped at the farm to see the lambs in the barn. I'm not entirely sure why, but it's hard to resist and you feel a bit soft seeing those tiny little new born lives. Then back to admire Petes impressive and growing pile of logs. The previous day's was obviously spent admiring his impressive and well used log splitter and chewing the fat in the local bike shop being talked at about fat bikes. It seems we going to hire a couple one day, tick that box and move on. I'm now back in the boot and latched on to my crutch again. They're both going to get an airing tomorrow!
