Now That's What I Call Music Vol V

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Don't Go Changing

Thanks to the size of our group, the matching jerseys and the signs on the van we attract attention wherever we go.  Well-meaning folk approach and ask about our journey, and we enjoy the attention, but when those people turn out to be locals I know exactly what is coming.

I have spent the best part of the last 2 years planning this journey, carefully refining the route to balance our desire for natural splendour, the need for occasional sustenance and the overriding importance of finding the safest roads available.  This route then needs to be documented with printed turn-by-turn instructions and distributed in electronic form to 25 people for use with a variety of navigation devices.  It's complicated.

At some point in the conversation the local smart-arse will tell me that my route is not the 'best' one available.  Usually their suggestion addresses only one of our conflicting needs....it is prettier but on a busy road,  it is quieter but bypasses all food stops,  it goes to a lovely cafe but it is perched at the top of a sodding great hill.  

It is a bit like someone going up to General Eisenhowever on the eve of the Normandy landings and suggesting he changes the invasion plan to favour a beach with better sand for building sandcastles!

I politely listen to their suggestions, assure them I will make the change and thank them their help....then change nothing.

Under Pressure

After a pleasant and easy morning I rolled into San Luis Obispo...a nice, prosperous college town and the designated lunch stop.  I found a parking spot, strolled around town and was heading back to the van when all hell broke lose:

Call 1: one of the riders is having a tough day and may need rescuing

Call 2: a bunch of riders have turned up and want to know where to get lunch

 Call 3: 2 riders announce they got lost so badly that they are now 20 miles behind and one of them needs a spare battery for their e-bike

Call 4: a rider has broken a spoke

All this within 3 minutes.  Some prioritisation was required:

Call 1: "go and have some lunch then decide what you are doing when I'm free"

Call 2: "f@#k off and find your own lunch"

Call 3:  "make whatever progress you can while I find the 2nd support van to grab the battery and drive 20 miles back to find you.

Call 4: "get a lift to the hotel and we can mend it there"

Not a typical day but more typical than I would like.

Holiday

Today the sun was out (probably mid-20's) and it was an easy ride on mostly quiet roads with a delightful coffee stop, a great lunch stop and a pool with a hot tub an pool.  

A holiday...but not for me.  I have a spoke to replace.

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