All hills are flat, but some are flatter than others.

We have decided to buy John a dictionary for Christmas. '90 miles', he said. 'The hills are all in the first part then it is flat.' He did later admit that flat was possibly a bit misleading, but we are definitely going to be in touch with the Advertising Standards Authority over this one.

The first 55 were miles were exactly what we expected. I remembered much of it from the long lost days of my youth. It was good to go to places that had been important in my life - they brought back memories. From Caddington, though Markyate and the back of Whipsnade zoo down to Eaton Bray - the scene of my one triumph as a flautist 40 years ago (before the disaster that followed in the second performance at Great Offley). It was good to stop in Berkhamsted for toasted teacakes (even if they were 3 flights of stairs up) and go past the end of Coombe Gardens where Ruth lived. And I was well prepared for what I knew was in store going to the top of Ivinghoe Beacon, the climb out of Aldbury and the slog up Bison Hill past the wallaby enclosure. The short sharp climb up Darrs Land in Northchurch was just as steep as I remembered it.

After finding the sandwich bar closed in Redbourn, we settled for soup and bread and watching the cricket on the green. Alex couldn't resist the steak sandwich ..

So we set off on the FLAT section. I suppose that were a couple of stretches you might call 'flat' bits, but most if it had some gradient attached to it. Some had a lot of gradient! The only saving grace was that the gradient didn't usually last more than about half a mile. Then the last quotation of the day 'one and a half more hills' also turned out to be a slight exaggeration. It was just after Slip End where a machete attack had take place in a pub a week earlier - so we didn't want to hang about. And John calmly announced that there was another steep uphill coming. Yes it was preceeded by a steep downhill and Yes, if you got you speed up to around 60mph on the downhill you didn't have to pedal on the uphill. But for those of us whose maximum has never exceed 42mph, there was still more pedalling at the death.

I think John would make an excellent tour leader for Classic Tours. Just enough truth to encourage you. Not enough to frighten you. 91 miles completed (93 if you believe some mileage devices) which for a hilly ride is very satisfying.

Don't forget to sponsor me!.

41 miles on the Purbeck hills

OK - so 41 miles doesn't sound all that long compared with previous rides. But what matters is more about how high it was. For the first time in 2 years, I ventured across the chain ferry to Studland and headed for the Purbeck hills. The driving factor in this is that I now have the route for next week’s 90 mile ride in the Chilterns and it has a LOT of hill. So I decided that I had better at least try some out before then.

On top of that, I did set out to go over this same route last year and turned back. So I needed to overcome the niggles I had about it and prove to myself that I could still make it. So 9:45 found me having conquered the Studland hill and riding along the front at Swanage. With certain amout of trepidation, I headed inland on the Wareham road and arrived all too soon at Langton Matravers.

So far so good. But this is where the hard work starts. There were signs for the route of the Wiggle sportive which happens tomorrow – reminded me that I have signed up for the IOW one in July. So low gear, keep the pedals turning and keep going. It helped that I saw someone some way in front of me – a target is always a challenge. And then I was at the top. And I caught the chap in front as well.

I don’t like the road from Corfe Castle back to Studland – there is a lot of traffic on it. So at Kingston, I made the decision to turn round and go back the same way. That gave me another chance to conquer the Studland hill the other way round.

A short stop in Swanage where it turned out there was Kayak fishing competition (why would anyone want to fish for Kayaks?) and then back over the hill to the chain ferry and back home.

So it was shorter than the previous ride, but exactly the length I wanted. Confidence is restored and I can look forward to next weekend knowing that I have done hills that are about as bad as the ones in store.

This has to be a regular route now. The Jura mountains don’t stop at 500 feet. So please sponsor me!.

At last - some SUN

I didn't intend to do another post this quickly, but the most exciting thing happened here today. the SUN came out. For anyone that is a bit puzzled by this , here is a picture to remind you what it looks like. It appears from time to time in the sky and makes it feel warmer. I also makes you feel a lot better and encourages you to get out on the bike.

So after watching the rain for the morning, there was a glorious opportunity to enjoy a ride without getting wet. It would have been silly not to take advantage. Ruth went to see a garden and I headed for the hills. Having done nothing of significance for the last 2 weeks, it was a wonderful feeling to be on the road for a sensible amount of time. It wasn't wall to wall sun, but while it was shining, it nearly felt warm. (I know what that feels like because I can remember it, just, from March.) So, sticking to familiar routes, I enjoyed 52 miles with no more than 30 spots of rain hitting me in the entire trip.

I have to say that I wasn't sure how it would go as this was my first real ride since the 100 miles. So I am relieved to report that I felt fine at the end of it. I now hope to get another go on Saturday and, hopefully, make it a bit longer.

And to complete the happiness, Luton have survived a late scare to make the BSP play-off final - against York. That will be interesting. There has been a series of these matches over the last three years and they have often been quite firey.

And now the usual appeal - Please sponsor me!.

This has been a fairly standard week on the training front. Just wish we could get rid of the grey cold rainy weather to encourage me out more. But that will come, I'm sure.

in the meantime, the sponsorship total is creeping up, thanks to some generous contributions this week and the total of money in now stands a little short of £500.

I have just come across a web blog maintained by another lady with MND who has continued to paint, even though she has lost the use of her hands, using Tobii PCEye. It just emphasises how positive people are in the face of the difficulties. Sarah's paintings. Once again, it illustrates one of the reasons that I am taking on this challenge. Money raised will go to help support people like Sarah as life becomes more difficult, sometimes slowly, sometimes very quickly.

Please sponsor me - every pound will help out.

Reflections

This has been a low week on the training front. With having Abigail here for a few days and the dreadful weather as well, there has been a forced break in the time available. So maybe I can just comment on a couple of things that have struck me over the week.

I am amazed at how positive people are with MND. I have mentioned Maria Foreman before. Her facebook page Motor Neurone Together We Stand is always full positive thoughts and it is only occasionally that there is a glimpse of the difficulties that are obviously there.

Then I have recently come across a blog maintained by Pauline Hardy. This is a very honest look at the problems faced and overcome by another sufferer and her family. But, again, she has a very positive attitude towards her condition. Perhaps you could take a look. It makes me appreciate even more how good it is to have good health. We forget how well blessed we are. Pauline has also recently put together this site which explains the condition and how it can affect those with it. MND Laid Bare

And I most not forget Mike Hardy, living at the top of my road. I have never seen him without a smile on his face. He illustrates so well what it is like to have MND. The brain functions as it always has done but the body can't keep up.

In thinking of those with MND, we must remember those who care for them. It quickly becomes a full time job. My father retired early (mid fifties) because my mother needed full time support. Afterwards he said that he had just got to the stage where he felt he couldn't cope any longer. God took her at the right moment. Mike's wife is always cheerful despite the burden that falls on her - even more so with Mike's father's recent health problems.

It must be so frustrating and there seems to be so little support for them and their needs. So although the mountain climbs to Geneva will be tough, I do, at least, know that they are soon over. My hope is that I can raise just a bit more to help someone whose mountain climbs are rather longer than mine.Please help out.

Can I do it (to paraphrase a certain children's character)

Can I do it? Yes I can! 100 miles cracked for the first time ever. Was I tired at the end of it? Yes I was, but not as tired as I expected to be.

This was a super day in the Fens. Clare, Alex, John and Paddy arrived ready for a prompt(ish) 8:00 departure. OK, we got wet in the morning but after about 12:30, it cleared up for the rest of the and came out sunny for the photos. The route was east from March and then north to Downham Market for a stop for toasted teacakes - our rides are not complete without that. Then north to within about 5 miles of the Wash and back to Wisbech. Fifteen more miles back to March for baked potatoes - again what are these rides for.

Then the afternoon stretch to Oldhurst near Huntingdon, via a detour courtesy of John's Garmin device (at least the 'via Peru' bug has now been patched). A tough section against the wind with no protection was made easier with Clare now acting as support driver (having wisely decided that 65 miles was a big enough leap from her longest previously this year of 42) supplying us with Haribos every so often.

Another short break at Oldhurst to pay a surprise visit to Alex's in-laws - my sister-in-law - and see the new arrival Chloe at 10 days old. Then back to March again. 100.6 miles on my clock. I'm at the back while John and Alex nearly knock each other off in an attempt to be the first over the finish line (marked by a road marking saying SLOW, I notice), closely pursued by Paddy. Clare is taking the photo - she will be in the ones for next month.

And I must add a thank you to Ted at Fen View Lodge for making us so comfortable. I can thoroughly recommend a stay there if you want to go in that direction.

So now I have done a longer ride than any day on the Paris/Geneva will be, how about some more support on JustGiving ..

Am I fit enough for this?

The first long ride of the year approaches fast! Next Saturday, 21st April - let's just hope that the tanker drivers don't strike and spoil the plans. It will be good to meet up with John, Clare and Alex and cycle round the Fens, starting at Doddington, just outside March and then doing a circular route that is just over 100 miles long.

That's the plan! But we will have to see how it goes. None of us has done that distance so far and I think we are all wondering if this isn't just a bit too much. The trouble is it was my suggestion to get this distance out of the way early in the season and then concentrate on the hills. So I don't have any choice but to give it a go.

So next Monday's post will tell the story!

There have been some more donations received as well so that is encouraging. And, curtesy of some of Rachel's customers, and due to her tenacity, I now have some prizes to use the the Castlepoint event on 28/7/2012 - more details later.

Things are beginning to move. How about some more support on JustGiving ..