London buses hunt in pairs.

These posts are a bit like London buses - nothing for a long time and then several all at once.

What better way is there to spend a Bank Holiday morning than getting out into the New Forest on a bike? I know some people prefer the Purbeck hills (and I do enjoy going across thee myself), but you lose so much cycling time waiting for the ferry. The New Forest has hills, not as vicious as the Purbeck hills, but still some testing ones in unexpected places. And having had a couple of weeks of almost nothing due to other commitments, a morning in the forest was just what was needed.

The weather was nothing special - rather dull and overcast, in fact, but it stayed dry all the way. You had to feel sorry for the lady in the Ice Cream van at Whitefield moor. There were only about five cars there when I arrived at 11 o'clock and nobody seemed that interested in ice cream. There were a few ponies, but I'm not sure they were going to contribute much to the coffers either.

So onwards to Bolderwood. This is a very pretty ride up through the trees. If you are lucky, you might see a few deer. I was not lucky with the the deer, but I did see a Nuthatch flying up into a tree about halfway up. The hill is deceptive. It sarts off quite innocuously and then suddenly gets quite steep. It doesn't even look steep, but unless you spot it and get into a low gear, you can grind to a halt very quickly. This was the first time I had done this hill in a couple of years, so it was good to get to the top and not bee too out of breath.

So far it had been into the wind almost all the way - quite a stiff breeze. But now I could feel it slghtly from behind - very welcome. Then the decision at 34 miles - take in Fordingbridge or not. Decision made - turn north (bit more into the breeze) and a quick stop at the rec just off the bypass. Then back to Moyles Court school and the back road from Ringwood to Christchurch.

A very satisfying 60 miles. It was most encouraging that, with the low couple of weeks, I was still standing at the end of it. There are some long rides coming up, especially in July, so I need to be ready for them.

Thank you for all the support that you have given so far. Any support will be so much appreciated.Click here to go to my JustGiving page.

Paris to Geneva is 500,000 metres ..

Someone recently pointed out that Paris to Geneva is half a million metres. I was feeling OK about 330 miles, but 500,000 metres somehow puts it into context. Surley that is worth sponsorship?

This week has been very busy. The whole week has been taken up with meetings at the Gospel Hall (where we are members here in Bournemouth) and so there has been no time for riding. This has been a much needed time of refeshment following a particularly hectic time at work. We all need these times when life seems to be lived at such a fast pace. It has been good to have my Dad around for the week, as well.

I'm now looking forward to getting back down to training again. To break back in gently, there was an easy 32 miler today - the usual route to Sandbanks and then Hegistbury Head via Boscombe pier twice. Happily there are no ill effects despite trying to push it a bit. Well, if there is someone in front on the hill up from Sandbanks, you have to try to catch them, don't you? (And I did.) As long as the weather is reasonably kind, the plan is to get a longer one on Monday or Tuesday.

It is also time to start asking properly for sponsorship. Thank you for all the support that you have given so far. But I shall start chasing soon. On the facebook pages, there are more reports of tragic stories. I want to be able to raise as much as possible for research. MND is a horrible condition and if we can contribute to finding ways of preventing it, this has to be for the good.

Any support will be so much appreciated.Click here to go to my JustGiving page.

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.