Hey Ho.....Let's Go!

After illness and the stress of rushing around organising SwashBuckler and ForestMan it was nice to get back on my bike yesterday. Just did a few repeats up to Hartside from Melmerby, which is where Joanne's parents live, just east of the Lakes, right under the North Pennines. It's not steep, particularly, but a good 6 miles or so of " alpine" type climbing. Three ascents of that got me back in the saddle and I finished before the rain set in for the rest of the day The bikes were great.....thanks Alex and Primera, for the posh Zipps on the faithful old TT bike. Nice to see some spare sprockets behind me, which I'm sure these old and undertrained legs will put to good use in the hills. Actually, considering the lack of riding over the past month my legs felt reasonable. Lungs still shot to pieces after the virus but hey ho......let's go! Joanne and her folk headed to Ullswater to collect their kayaks....thank- you to Distant Horizons for your support! Roger Burlinson is bringing a kayak for Joanne. They took the opportunity for a trial swim and Joanne worked out the best guidance/ navigation strategy with her Mum, who will be supporting her on Windermere. She was in the water for nearly 2 hrs, which was a good work out and also good for confidence. Fairly comfortable conditions....thanks Mike for the lovely 2 X U wetsuits!!! So today we head off to our base in Aviemore, where we'll tie up with Roger and chat through some filming details. I will continue to try and consume as many calories as possible. All this being under the weather and race organising has left me somewhat "lean" at just under 10 stone! Slightly worrying as that was as low as my weight got by the end of 7 in 7. So it will come as no surprise that I've moved on to the " Guinness" diet, along with ice cream and chocolate milk......although only rarely at the same sitting ( usually when I've had too much of the former!!!) See you all in Bonny Scotland, where I predict .......mixed weather, I believe " dreach" is the word but I shall rely on our accordion-playing Borders correspondent to confirm !!