Next and final morning we congregated in the pub garden and as we waited for Dave we sang 32,546 bottles of beer on the wall then all set we headed off for Maccy D’s, by this time the seat was getting a little uncomfortable, but we knew it was the final 35 miles or so, so fully fuelled we headed over to St Albans.
As GD was to navigate himself to Paddington that afternoon, we let him lead the way – that lasted for approx. 45 seconds before he missed the turning and Marrsy was back in charge. A run around the North West of the M25 and back down to Windsor was a tranquil if hilly day. Any hill on the last day is bigger and badder than the rest, but today was quite up and down, and a couple, especially one, was a real grinder. When we arrived at the hill, there was a bloke in front on a tandem, on his own, legs pumping to get it up this steep incline, his partner walking up and only just making it. It seemed really steep, but it was only 13% according to Strava – I annihilated Dave on this hill (well Strava tells me I was 3 seconds quicker!)
Before we knew it we were just outside of Windsor and stopped in a little pub for a beverage and a bag of roast ox, it was nice.
And that was it, Nick Marr left us here to catch his train from Maidenhead and we continued the four mile to Windsor – at one point we discovered that Dave is shit scared of cows, but other than that we were back into the town and GD left for his 40 mile jaunt into Paddington (and he made it – well done him) and Dave went back to the hotel to collect his bike, and I met Sian and Kate in the Royal Oak where we pretty much started this years escapades.
In all another great cycle trip, I will need to make notes next year as I just cannot remember most of the cycling, but a huge thanks to Marrsy for being the navigator, the map creator, the tool chest, the mechanic and the voice of reason, Dave for giving us time to relax before we set off anywhere and GD for giving us time to relax after every hill.
See you next year!