Due to some stupid route planning I actually had to ride back through Henley on my way up to Milton Keynes this morning. As a result I took a picture of myself at the postbox, no champions or medals this time, which was a little disappointing but oh well...
From there a long, difficult, freezing, windy journey up through Marlow, High Wycombe and Aylesbury, amongst others, to arrive at Greg Rutherford's box in Milton Keynes around 3ish...
Milton Keynes has recieved some bad press in the past, but I quite liked it. Fair enough it doesn't have a whole lot of character, but it was simple, orderly and made sense. Grid-system roads are so much better than old city labyrinths!
With about 18 miles to go and knowing there was a little bit of a welcome party due in Bedford I set off back into the headwind. I would say, honestly, that it was an equally unpleasant ride as some days in Scotland. Just an unrelenting cold wind. Awful.
About 10 miles out I pulled over and made a quick few phone calls, to the manager at Wilkinson's in Bedford, a lady at BBC 3 Counties radio and to Cllr Doug McMurdo telling them I would be arriving in about an hour.
Once in Bedford I went to Wilko's and with them went across to the post box, where the mayor was waiting. We shook hands and started taking photos as Doug McMurdo called Etienne Stott, the athlete for whom the box is painted, who jad arranged the mayoral reception. We had a brief chat, which was brilliant in which I thanked him for a superb summer last year and he told me I was doing a great job and that he was really impressed by what I was doing. It is incredible to me that elite athletes, champions at the grandest stage of them all, are impressed by me and thanking me for my celebration of their achievements.
Anyway, here's a pic of me and the mayor at Etienne Stott's postbox...
The Vikings Kayak club, who helped Etienne reach the top also came along to say hi, for which I am, again, very grateful.
From there we went up to the mayoral lounge for a brew and a biscuit and a chat, the result of which will hopefully be a much higher public awareness of the ride. I then briefly exited to have a radio phone interview and chat with a Uni friend, Ben Nye at 3 Counties radio before a couple of quick pics and me heading off to the night's accommodation.
As with yesterday, a great end to an otherwise miserable day! Looking forward to tomorrow, a fair few post boxes and seeing a very good friend, Sam Fearon.
Enter London, 9 days to go!
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