run into Preston

nice sleep last night in the 4 poster bed.  I did feel pretty'spent' this morning, based on the fact that Ben decided to leap off the front with 5 miles to go and set a pretty testing pace into Shrewsbury! 

the day started with a quick blast through Shrewsbury town centre, and then out into the countryside.  there really isnt a great to deal to report - the roads have been pretty flat and the going has been good.  We got in another group with Martin (Devon knight), Ivor, David, Andrew, Blackburn Andy, Ben, Kevin and myself.  we made great time to the first water stop and just kept on going until lunch, which was just north of Warrington. 

there really isnt a great deal to see - lots of industrial estates, fast food restaurants, and the like.  Through Warrington there were groups of women dressed as schoolgirls who were out collecting for a charity, and there was a certain amount of wolf-whistling and banter with them on the way through the town.

when we got further along the A49, some young boys were challenging us to a race at a set of traffic lights.  'where are you going? fancy a race?'  we replied to them that we were going to Scotland, and the collective jaws dropped - they then said that they were going to turn off - no racing, but they wished us well!

riding through Coppell there appeared to be a Scarecrow competition, and there were allsorts that were put in front of the various houses that lined the route - it looked like the local residents had really gone to town, and some of the displays were quite intricate to say the least, from a cyclist in a hedge to a married couple on a tandem (theme forming here). 

there really wasnt a great deal else to report - Hunter had hung off the back of the group with his sore knee.  we lost him and Ben just after the lunch stop going through the heavy traffic for Haydock park.  They caught us before Preston and left us standing - to Blackburn Andy this was like a red rag to a bull and he took off down the road after them in hot pursuit!

we pulled into the hotel at around 3:30pm having done 88 miles and a good day of cycling on flatter terrain than the day before - great day and thoroughly enjoyed it!  we now have the delights of Shap Fell to entertain tomorrow.  the concensus is that this is a long drag, but the gradient isnt too intense - we shall see!

I will have to stop here now, as I am on a 'pay as you go' PC in the main lobby of the hotel and I cant quite type fast enough to avoid more cash going into the machine!  Now that I have had a chance to read the comments, I might have a beer at some point on the ride before Inverness, as it would appear that this is on 'Doctor's orders' - thanks Clive!

Roll on Shap....