Today was the annual Vintage Commercial Vehicle Rally from London to Brighton.
The weather report was for rain for all morning but clearing later. Weather reports are usually wrong, but it seemed to be spot on for today. I left home at 7.30am and it was dry apart from the damp from overnight rain. I thought my luck was in.. HA..... not likely... about 10 minutes in the rain had started. Not heavy, more of a persistent drizzle. I met
@Tim Hall at Tesco's in Purley. The rain was here to stay, and it did. All the way to the halfway stop for the vehicles at Crawley. The rain wasn't too bad and it wasn't cold. A bit of a headwind tried to make things more difficult though. But we persevered and was in Crawley for just after 10am. We decamped to the Portuguese cafe off the high street for cappuccino's and most delicious custard tarts, the waitress being very impressed with Tim's Portuguese.
The bikes were left outside leaning against a shop's closed shutter. The proprietor came along and decided to open the shutter without first asking if someone could move the bikes. With the result of both bikes crashing to the ground. Tosser. Luckily no damage to either bike.
This WW1 vehicle was coal fired and driven and did see action during the Great War. Just check out those metal wheels, made just a little comfortable for the driver and stoker with a rim of rubber. We got stuck behind the beast for a good half hour is it climbed Burgess Hill at a glorious speed of 5mph. Belching more white smoke then Battersea Power Station could ever manage. The smell of it took me right back to a child and the smell of coal fires that everyone used to have.
Dads Army...
Anyone need a delivery of Oxo?
By the time we left the cafe the heavy drizzle had abated and it was a pretty nice run in to Brighton. Overtaking a good few of the Vintage Vehicles in the process. Brighton was looking very damp and grey, the sea looking very angry.
But it wasn't raining so as is now tradition. Fish and chips (&mushy peas) on the beach was to be had. I don't think it touched the sides.
The weather now was looking brighter, so time to head for home. Taking in the rolling hills of the Devils Dyke, some parts covered in mist. More rolling hills cross country back to Handcross, Tim H tackling
@MacB 's hill on a fixed as if it was a pimple. Once back on the main roads quick progress was made, clothing and bodies drying out at last. I left Tim at Redhill and soon knocked out the last few miles to home. Finishing in glorious warm sunshine.
So 108 miles for the day, half of them in the rain. May's Century A Month Challenge ride all done and dusted. Century 12 for the year, 146 over all and the 53rd month in a row of a Century ride.
Thanks Tim H, appreciated you making the effort to accompany me out in the crap weather.
...have to see how the knees are.
