Tuesday Day 3
Sometimes when things don’t go the way I want or I don’t complete as I had hoped, I refer myself to a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, it’s well known but it gives me strength and confidence.
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat
Daily Stats
Distance 93kms
Time 6 hours 36 mins
Speed 14.1 Kph
Elevation 1620meters
Because we did less than the desired 100kms yesterday today would very longer.
We left the weird campsite at about about 7.50. Instead of a driveway there were dumped bricks, Brett danced over them I decided land my aas on them. Grrrrrrrrr. I hate falling, but I do seem to do it ofter.
The route today was if anything harder thsn the last 2 days, rocky climb after rocky climb, each one ripping the energy out of our legs.
On the descents the limestone smeared with green lichen, as slippery as ice. What we hoped for was rollicking downhills what we got was half walking or one foot out dabbing slowly down the hill. None of this was fun.
At least one long limestone climb we both were reduced to a plodding walking. This followed by a long grass hill wheel spinning and an eventual tactical dismount for both of us.
We had coffee at a beautiful lake side.
Over the morning we both hit the deck. Grrrrrrr.
At about One we reaches Winchester and King Alfred decided to get in on the act.
Over lunch in Winchester we had a team meeting and Brett was feeling particularly knackered, he had has been working long hours lately and as a consequence had to neglect training. He thought (and he was right) the trail would only get harder and that would lead us not achieving the time we had. So directly to Oxford by road was his schedule.
As this point I had a tough decision to make. Obviously I’m selfish I decided to carry on with the KAW.
We parted ways at about 3.
Brett whizzed off towards a camp site half way to Oxford and I lumbered along the trail. I made only 30kms the route was so draining. So once again not accomplishing the necessary 100kms.
It’s a lonesome business riding alone after having company. But I got to an overpriced campsite for the night and Brett phoned and told me how good his site was for less than half the price.
At the campsite I ⅔ recharged my phone leaving only a small amount left in the powerbank. So to retain electricity I didn’t write my blog.
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 