Quiet day today.
I took the kids over to my parents in Birmingham whilst Beth packed (my stuff's been packed for a week!), then the girls cleaned the car out for us and we went out for a family farewell meal at a local Chinese - all you can eat for a tenner. I'll miss the kids whilst we're away. Originally of course I would have been away from Beth and all four kids and I have to say I wasn't looking forwards to that. I think it might have been harder than the ride. Every cloud, as they say.
Beth bought me a St Christopher to wear whilst I ride, which is a really nice thought, I'll cherish it. My mom asked me whether you got them from the AA, because she was given one when she passed her driving test. My dad was pottering in the garden when we got there, which I like to see. I think that's what retirement is all about. The ability to potter, with no particular aim in sight. Bless them both.
My dad is in some way an inspiration for this trip. When he was a kid, him and his mate Johnny Green used to regularly cycle to Wales. Everywhere we went on holiday as kids my dad would chirp up, "I've cycled through here", now I'll be able to pass that on to my own children. My dad knew Johnny right up until his recent death. What a fabulous thing friendship is to endure the best part of 70 years. Although it might have helped that Johnny ran a pub until he retired!
Can you imagine letting 14 year olds cycle that far now? Crazy thought. Its such a shame really. Mom gave me a big bag of energy bars to take with me, I didn't know she knew of such things, I was expecting a packet of hob nobs. I'll think of her each time I eat one.
Away we go!
nb. In response to Beth's defence of Kenilworth, I grew up in Solihull, which in old English means "pigsty on the hill" - how much more history does a place need!?
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