Would you do it again?

From Leominster we had only 40 miles to Shrewsbury. It had been on signs since the previous afternoon, we have become used to seeing these places come and go. When you combine this with a reasonable starting time, and a lot of flat ahead of us, I told Will this would be our easiest day. We were on the lookout to recharge our batteries and restock our bags with supplies before the big ride up to Wigan tomorrow.

There was a little drizzle, fo shizzle. After twelve o'clock and twelve miles we were into the medieval town of Ludlow. Medieval towns weren't known for their supermarkets, but their markets. Without a 24 hour Tesco, Team Rogers had to settle with a Spar for stocks and lunchables. I don't want to stain the reputation of this dealer but their sandwiches and pasta were some of the least appetising things I have seen in a while, and those who know me best will have seen me eat some pretty inedible stuff. Meanwhile, on the other side of the automatic doors, monsoon season arrived in Shropshire. Will had taken shelter beneath some branches in the square while I did that well known event, the 60 metre dash in the rain. I think that we should sneak that as a taster event in London 2012, puddles and all! Enforce T shirt and trainers as the official kit. Furthermore, don’t let the competitors know when the race is about to start. Anyway, I digress. Ludlow, like so many towns we have passed through, has a castle. “£4.50 entry? You can see half of it from out here” one commentator said. He was right. It was too much for outlaws like us, unable to spend too long in any one place. We went for a little walk around the outside and in the gift shop (free entry!).

Out of Ludlow the clouds cleared and we made good time going up to Shrewsbury with Ben (off of Day 1) in convoy. It was an enjoyable ride with the sun on our backs, the flat at our fronts and the company around us. This really gives me the taste for this kind of riding. I asked myself, and my colleagues, “would you do it again?” It might be 500 and odd miles too soon to ask this question but it has been very enjoyable so far. Maybe it would be nice to do it again, but differently. Without the weight perhaps! Ask me again in a couple of weeks.