Oxford > Derby 105 miles

Oh man.  There are only a couple times in my life when I can truly say that I am exhausted.  As I try to think of when these times have happened it seems they tend to be after a long day in the saddle.  Today was no exception.

Was awake at 5:45 or so.  The sun had already been up and warming the land for 2 or so hours, so I figured I'd get an early jump on the day.  It makes 3/3 days I've woken before Katy when we are bike touring (including our Northern Michigan ride).  I guess I better understand the importance of getting an early start.  (This is in direct contrast to our real life where I'm the sleeper.)  Adjusted the front fender, a cable or two, raised my handlebars and seat slightly.  Breakfast was delicious.  Granola with yogurt compliments of Shelley and John Hoffmire.  They are the parents of Kate Hoffmire, our dear friend from Ann Arbor.  As our first host for the trip they have set a high mark to follow.  Great dinner and breakfast, a quick walking tour of Oxford, a shower that dumps "buckets" (according to Kate's husband Peter) of hot water and a bag of snacks to journey on the road.  When asked how they like Oxford compared to Boston, Salt Lake City and Wisconsin they said, "the pace of life here is great."  Everybody walks or cycles where they need to go - which is evidenced by the multitude of footpaths that are sign posted throughout the English countryside.  A law dating back some time called the "right of way" has led to footpaths all over the country allowing people to walk - usually through privately owned fields/farms to every destination you could imagine.

Katy and I have a goal to find a town/village/city in Europe that is our "favorite" and come back and live for a couple years.  The pace of life factor will be at the top of our list.

But to get back to the fatigue - we left out at 8:30am and rode into Oxford.  Got a derailleur adjusted and a SIM card.  Riding without these things the day before led to the use of more expletives than Katy and I typically care for - unless of course I am losing a ping pong match or trying to fix something.  Gears that don't shift well and missing every other turn put Katy and I at odds with each other, and a quick remedy was in order.  People have said that a year on a tandem will make or break your marriage.  I believe them.  After those two quick errands hit the road around 9:30am and at 7:30pm we arrived at our next home, a great Warmshowers host in Derby.

The ride was long, and hilly.  It seemed as though we were either fighting gravity in our granny gear, or once at the top grateful for gravity as we coasted to the bottom of the next hill.  Up and down and up and down.

Lastly, my wife was awesome today.  Not too many of them out there that will agree to suit up on a tandem bike and then crank out a solid century carrying our loaded down bicycle.  Also, only cried once today - when she felt bad after realizing we had been riding in the wrong direction for some length of time  and still had 40 miles to go.  Finding directions mid ride here is something else.

Game Time

The Malt Shovel - lunch.

The Map.