Day 18
Back on the road
Six days off the bike in Northampton wasn’t planned but poorly parents, a new drivetrain and a dropped laptop kept us grounded for a bit. Hats off to GMIT Support for replacing the screen on the laptop in around 30 hours - awesome service! Found the second best bike shop in the world (after Richardsons of course) in Velo Haus who completely replaced Tom’s drivetrain the same day - awesome service too! Saying goodbye to Tom’s dad in a hospital bed rather than him and Tom’s mum watching proudly as we cycled away wasn’t the farewell we’d hoped for but such is life.
We were riding to my sister Mel's in Amersham, a trip we had made in 2019. I had spent that year on a big cycle challenge raising money for SADS in memory of my brother Chris, who tragically died of that cruel disease. The ride brought back many memories, and also the first real hills of this trip. The route took us along so many wonderful cycle tracks, quiet country lanes, the surreal Milton Keynes and finally the hills of the Chilterns. Both of us suffered from the long rest and it was a great relief to be able to join Mel and my niece Beccy for a drink in the garden, a fab dinner followed by England getting through to the finals of the European Cup, result!
