Bags packed, list checked, on yer bike son !
Having left a super-safe amount of time to get to Paddington and pick up the tickets, I found myself chatting with a fellow cyclist, also doing LeJog. As he told me about his support group with protein bars on demand and course marshalls marking the route I started to feel a mixture of intrepid self-sufficiency and vulnerability. It's been a while since I changed a tyre, let alone a bust spoke or chain, so I'm kind of relying on the Gods of LeJog to keep a watchful eye on me and the bike.
"13:06 Platform 1 Penzance" read the board, so I duly made my way to the guards van at the front of the train and slotted my shiny new machine into its allocated space.
Having moved myself discreetly down the carriage away from the frayed-looking mum of three keeping her pack happy with Aladdin 4 at top volume, I settled down and started to contemplate what the next fortnight might have in store for me. After at least ten minutes the peace was kicked into touch by two kids from Liverpool, Jody and Jemma, who kept me and most of my half of coach C entertained/enervated with their non-stop banter and questions. I kept them occupied for a good five minutes with "Guess My Name", a one-answer quiz with a 20p reward for them if they got it right, or one of their custard creams for me if they didn't. I won.
Best tasting custard cream ever!
So, the two Js (who, it has to be noted were mightily impressed with my Scouse accent, especially when I said Jason Mcateer), got off at Hayle and, two stops later - the end of the line for everyone else - Penzance!
The plan is to make a blog entry every day with a couple of snaps when I can, to bring it all to life.
Big thanks to mum who is typing every word of this for me in her capacity as blog secretary. A Terry's Chocolate Orange or something similar will be making its way to her when I'm done.
Right then - curry then bed.
The road is long ...!
H x
