COP26 - Day 4 - Stoke to Preston

 

I forgot to mention that yesterday, Day 3, Strava congratulated me on my longest ever ride. I only joined Strava in February so my previous longest of 77 miles was based upon a mapped route plus a getting lost allowance. Day 4 was scheduled to be longer. We were making great strides through England, further and faster than I would have gone on my own.

 

The posse was back down to 5 of us but one was feeling unwell and this, I think, was the day when she didn't think it wise to continue. Kristien and I happily roll along at about the same speed and have the same sense of humour so on we went togther bumping into the others at food and photograph stops along the way. We tried to be amongst the first out each morning so as to maximise our daylight riding. We rode at exactly 10mph on day 4 which was comfortable. 7h 50m of cycling is a day's work.

 

As before my photos are in the wrong order but hey ho. This is the council leader of Preston welcoming us to Preston and what a welcome from a council truly determined to be more green, to promite active travel, to make everyone welcome. It was a joy to be in Preston and not Barnet where 100 cyclists passing through (as we did on day 1 up the A5 where we were roundly ignored by officialdom). We were provided with a buffet by a social enterprise that the council supports. There was a collection to which all gave generously, one cause was for locks, lights and kit for refugees so that they could get around on bicycles in safety. Preston is a most welcoming place to all, as this recent story shows. I felt more welcome in Preston than in anywhere else that we stopped.

This is just some of the spread at lunchtime in a pavilion in a Manchester park.

This next photo was from our night in Stoke when we queued up for 30 minutes to get a table in nados. Premier Inns are fantastic for cyclists as they let you take your cycle into your room without quibbling but they tend not to be in the centre of town so you get to eat at chains. This was my first ever Nandos (I don't eat meat) and it was an experience which I will repeat. Six of us all on our phones like teenagers opening accounts and placing 6 separate orders, what fun. On the right of the group is Steve of Bristol who we made an honorary Barnet resident as he had joined the ride on his own and was a good chap and good company. No-one was left out on this trip.

On the open road, happy to let Kristien show me the way.

Stopped to chat to the photographer as we had time in hand.

Lovely food as provided by Preston City Council.

A room full of happy cyclists. Me asking where the donation bucket was.

Lunch in Manchester. Happy cyclists.

A bridge and indutrial backdrop as we left Stoke.

Another lovely day, my new longest ride. Tomorrow the brute which is day 5, a lovely train ride for 54 minutes or so I thought.