So here we are, after twenty years – back for one big final push.
Plymouth to Weymouth is a long way, and much of the terrain is challenging, but Steve and I had agreed that we were up for the challenge, and come what may, only poor weather or catastrophic injury / mechanical failure was going to stop us in our bid to finally complete our epic journey.
After one of the wettest springs on record, we were certainly due some dry weather, and the forecast was favourable. A repeat of our scorchio 2012 Highlands leg wasn't looking likely, with a northerly airflow keeping the temperatures down and the wind chill up – but as long as the rain held off, we weren't going to complain.
Having suffered our fair share of transport-related issues in the past too, we entered Paddington station in a fatalistic mood... only to be pleasantly surprised to find our train running on time, our reserved bike spaces free of interlopers, and our carriage half-empty for a comfortable, delay-free journey down to Devon.
We'd decided to stay overnight in Plymouth, to decompress and generally catch up over a few beers and a curry, before setting out in earnest the following morning. Accommodation had been hard to find, due to popular beat combo Take That playing in town tonight, but I'd managed to find us a couple of rooms at the Mariners Guest House west of the Hoe, where we were warmly welcomed by host James. This resulted in a few cross-town trips to and from the Barbican, where all the pubs where. It even rained a bit, but we didn't mind, since it was forecast to be all cleared up by the morning. So – ready, set...