Boys Bike Ride 2006

Dear Diary...

We start on Saturday night with a meal at our house for riders, support crew and partners. The paella is yummy and the wine flows well. Brian arrives late but catches up quickly. Terry tells us the story of the lady who swears by 'Minty Arse Lard' as her preventative for saddle sores.

Sunday morning sees us in varying states of readiness, red wine from the night before being the main culprit. It's a long drive up to Edinburgh but spirits are high and a pit stop at Durham replenished the sugar and coffee levels.

We arrive safely in Edinburgh (15.45), just in time to deposit our cycles in the RAF establishment that Brian had arranged to look after our trusty steeds overnight.

Concerns that we would not be able to watch the England vs Ecuador World Cup match in Scotland were proved totally unfounded as we walked 30yds and into a pub (where else?) (the Learmonth Hotel) with the match on and a plentiful supply of beer. Thankfully England won.

Our hotel (Ellesmere House) was found by 18.00 and we were scrubbed up and out walking for 19.00. Down to Princes Street and along George Street to find The Dome ...a recommendation to eat. This proved slightly outside our budget! so we wandered back through the city centre to find the Kenilworth pub, for a hearty meal (steak & ale pie...yum!). The barmaid even wanted to buy Derek's Coleman's Mustard top! Who said we should have paid for her to have it???

Ray ‘Fausto’ Hudson Campionissimo of Eckington	Trevor ‘Abdujaparov’ the Tashkent Terror	Rob ‘Bartali’ Hudson Ruthless Rob of Mosborough	Derek ‘Federico’ Higgs the Eagle of Eltham
Laurie (‘Lance A’) Wilson six times winner of the Tour de Barlborough	Brian ‘Mario’ McAvoy ‘heavenly taxi’	Terry ‘Smiley Miley’ Partridge meals on wheels

Day: minus 1 Riders, support crew and their partners met for paella and vino. Sore heads the next morning meant a 'challenging' early start for some....

Abdujaparov (aka 'Mr Sparkle') receives guidance from 'Mrs Sparkle'	...I do hope they aren't going to sing!!!
Day 0: Sunday 25 June 2006 The team prepare for the long drive north to Edinburgh
Rob catches the group before they leave (he will join us on Wednesday)
Here we go, here we go, here....no turning back now lads	Brian 'bless him' sets off for the lengthy drive up (and back)
Dear Diary... We start on Saturday night with a meal at our house for riders, support crew and partners. The paella is yummy and the wine flows well. Brian arrives late but catches up quickly. Terry tells us the story of the lady who swears by 'Minty Arse Lard' as her preventative for saddle sores. Sunday morning sees us in varying states of readiness, red wine from the night before being the main culprit. It's a long drive up to Edinburgh but spirits are high and a pit stop at Durham replenished the sugar and coffee levels. We arrive safely in Edinburgh (15.45), just in time to deposit our cycles in the RAF establishment that Brian had arranged to look after our trusty steeds overnight. Concerns that we would not be able to watch the England vs Ecuador World Cup match in Scotland were proved totally unfounded as we walked 30yds and into a pub (where else?) (the Learmonth Hotel) with the match on and a plentiful supply of beer. Thankfully England won. Our hotel (Ellesmere House) was found by 18.00 and we were scrubbed up and out walking for 19.00. Down to Princes Street and along George Street to find The Dome ...a recommendation to eat. This proved slightly outside our budget! so we wandered back through the city centre to find the Kenilworth pub, for a hearty meal (steak & ale pie...yum!). The barmaid even wanted to buy Derek's Coleman's Mustard top! Who said we should have paid for her to have it???

Day 0: Sunday 25 June 2006