by Chris L » Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:48 pm
After all the excitement of getting into this it nearly ended in disaster. Left the house full commuter gear at 7.30, dark and cold and icy, heading for town. Checked my mobile at Clapham common for the location and it was a Regents Park start, sign in at 8.00. I’ll never make that and how do I get to Regents Park from here ? ( and how come I didn’t get the London Eye start, I ended up cycling past the bloody thing anyway). Ok i know where it is’ish, cycle like mad, too mad, next thing I know I am nearly in Camden. At last I found the spot in the park (and my missus who had crazily expressed a wish to come and watch the whole thing) just as they were all heading off. I signed on, got a map and a bib – phew now I need to catch them. They were going the long way round the park and I know a short cut - but where are they ? Oh behind me - too short a cut. I was so glad to have made it I didn’t even get to see which pros were with us.
Plain sailing to the Mall then off on three circuits, met up with Dan, met up with the missus again and got my photo taken with Dave Brailsford, who was hanging out by a lamp post at The Mall, in the short chat we had he came across as down to earth and very friendly, maybe because we have the same hair style.
Only one thing left to do, get the Wiggo biography I lugged all the way up here signed. Oh no there he goes heading off to the warmth of the team car and I haven’t even got my goody bag yet and I can’t find my pen. I get the goody bag and it contains a lovely marker pen, perfect for autographing books, it must be fate. Bradley is still here and I knock on the window of the jag and he opens the door and obliges, but he did mutter something about JRR Tolkein and the signature doesn't quite look like his name.
Coffee and a muffin with Tracey in the park and then off to work – now how do I get to Camberwell from here ?
Will post some pics when I get it figured out, technical question I have read the FAQ on this, is it only Flickr I can use or any photo host site ?
Chris