Plastic surgery may be needed.

I have lost count of the number of people who have said something along the lines of "Rain is refreshing". The next person who says that risks having to consult a good plastic surgeon.

Yesterday was the day of the Wight Ferry Epic. 95 miles taking in the Isle of Wight. When we signed up for it (in March), we were thinking more about how much sun tan cream to take. All eyes on the weather forecast as the week progressed and from day to day it varied. However, by Friday evening it was looking pretty conclusive - RAIN. Up at 5:20 and out of the door with Alex at 6:20, arrvive at Brockenhurst 7:00 and the forecast was confirmed. Wiggle (the organisers) realised this was going to slow us up and shortened the course by 18 miles. You just can't go fast downhill when it is wet because it is so easy to slip.

The first 14 miles was actually quite pleasant. The rain was patchy and only light. But by the time we arrived in Yarmouth, that changed. The rest of the day it just rained. The next 26 miles or so were all into the wind and rain. It was very unpleasant. The wind made it very hard work up the hills (some quite testing) and the rain washing sweat from my forehead (sorry) into my eyes which made them sting badly. I was begining to run out of steam and Alex was having to wait for me regularly.

Then came the food station at Ventnor Rugby Club and this meant two things. (1) Food (obviously) and (2) a change of direction. There was still two or three miles into the wind, but then we turned east and started on the long hill. With the refuelling and the wind behind us, I felt a new man. I was always in Alex's wake and he would have completed in around 20 minutes less, left to his own devices. But at least I didn't feel totally exhausted any longer. So back to Yarmouth via Freshwater and refreshsments in the school.

If we hoped that the last section on the mainland would be less wet we were wrong. It was just as bad. There were still large puddles, inches deep, across even the B roads. But soon the sign saying 10km to go loomed up. JOY! Less than 30 minutes to go. A couple of ponies to say hello to. One other cyclist to catch and pass and then the finish line. Just to round it off, as soon as we crossed the finish line, it stopped raining.

So I can tell you rain is NOT refreshing. It is thoroughly unpleasant. But somehow, I still enjoyed the ride and we were back home by 17:00

I'm having to put in a lot of work to be ready for Paris/Geneva and when the time comes, if is is tipping down with rain, we'll still have to do it. It is for a cause that is not so well known as other ones, but just as worthy. Click here to go to my JustGiving page.