We met at Matt's to load up the bikes and stuff in Matt's dad's car. In an extraordinary/foolish act of generosity Matt's dad (Steve) lent us his car for the trip, which has ample room for three of us inside, plus luggage and two bikes. Brian's bike was on the rack and we set off to Kirkby Stephen, our overnight stop before being bused to St Bees for the start of the ride. We will meet Mark, who is travelling up by train, at Kirkby Stephen. Matt was driving, the Bianchi was safely wedged in the back of the car, and all was well with the world. Sadly, the coast to coast t-shirts Matt had ordered hadn't arrived in time, so my extensive wardrobe would have to make do.
The journey was uneventful, other than Brian unfortunately dropping his lunchtime pizza slice on the tarmac at a motorway service station. Brian's made of the right stuff, and he ate it anyway. I must remember to ask for extra gravel next time I order a pizza
We stopped at a pub on the edge of Kirkby Stephen (The Croglin Castle) for decent pint of Nine Standards.Surprisingly, the pub had Radiohead's OK Computer playing on their stereo. Not surprisingly, the pub was completely empty when we arrived.
We splashed out on fish and chips (not bad, but the young lady serving was somewhat unsure as which fish it actually was), and retired to the Black Bull (decent pub) and the Kings Arms (bit of a dump with c*** beer) for beer, by which time Mark had arrived and we were four, and ready for the next day's exertions
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