Day 4 - The Mother of all Punctures

Wednesdays journey - Purley-Sonning Bridge-Shiplake-Henley-Marlow-Bourne End-Cookham-Maidenhead-Bray-Dorney Lake-Windsor.

Today, we were joined by a friend (Mark) who cycled with Tim from Caversham Bridge and met the rest of us at Sonning Bridge. Just down the road at Shiplake I got the mother of all punctures - a huge thorn right through tyre and tube. We mended about 3 different punctures and the day was already 40 minutes behind schedule.

The aches and pains that Mike and I had at the start of the morning disappeared by Henley. The cool start of the day was a cycling pleasure and we stayed pretty close to the river for most of today's trek, catching flies in the mouth with almost every gasp for air. The picturesque landscape and beautiful homes we looked upon through Henley to Cookham reminded us how the other half live. (See pics of Henley & Bourne End)

A sarnie and coffee was enjoyed by all basking in the sun in a Marlow park. Yet again, a short stop is enough to make your legs stop doing normal things like walking. Thigh muscles are tight and I know I'm not the only one.

A quick stop at Dorney Lake and the Olympic rowing venue was made. I took a picture. They were preparing for some triathlon event and I kind of looked like I might be part of the action (I had a bike and helmet and shorts and stuff) but I think those days are long gone.

After 43 or 35 miles depending on where you started from this morning we arrived at our Windsor B&B just before 5pm. Well, we did go to the wrong one first and when we were told to go next door there was laughter. 147 miles and here we were gate crashing the wrong B&B!

Mark returned to Calcot on his bike and was home 2 hours later. An incredible 70 miles from him today!

A lovely Italian meal at Francesco's in Peascod St and several nightcaps will have hopefully not done too much damage for the rather shorter trip to Kew tomorrow.

Posted via web from Julian's Charity Bike Ride