May 8, 2011

We set off with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. There is a strong wind but it seems to be helping us for a change. 

We’re not sure whether it will be possible to get to Nottingham today – it will depend on how many hills there are on the way.  As it happens, there are a lot – Northamptonshire and Leicestershire are both very hilly counties (more so than the South Downs and the Cotwolds).  Ken thinks I have deliberately chosen the route to torture him.

We are on such small back roads that we don’t see anywhere that we can call in to get something to eat, until we spot a sign saying ´Car Boot´ in a tiny village.  I pop in and ask if there is any food – I´m directed to a cake stall.  The lady asks where we have cycled from.  When we tell her, we get our photos taken for the local Newsletter as being the furthest travelled visitors to sample her cakes.  She is now claiming an international reputation.

We get nearer and nearer to our target, so that at dusk we end up only 20 km from my parent´s house

in Nottingham.  It would be silly to get a hotel here, so close to our goal.  We decide to ring the parents and tell them to stay up to wait for us.  For the second time on the trip we cycle in the dark.  Funnily enough, this turns out to be safer than cycling in daylight, as all the cars seem to slow right down when passing us.  We have so much reflective stuff on that they must wonder what we are. 

YIPHEE – WE ARRIVE!!  Exactly 2499 km on the cycle computer.

We’re taking a few days out with family and friends – the journey (and journal) will resume on Monday 16 May.