The picture above is from our last trip to Australia, Lee is second row on the left. We all look bored...we weren't, it was part of a series of photos as we took advantage of a quiet theme park and tried to pull a different expression for each photo. The best one was when we didn't realise there was a random stranger at the back of the boat! Poor bloke, goodness knows what he thought of his picture! That extended ramble brings me to my point, the roller coaster goes on and its anything but boring!
Lee came home on Monday 22nd of March to great relief and joy! We had a good few days adjusting to having her at home. She is doing so well. With support she can manage our very steep stairs and apart from that she can do most stuff for herself. All of it takes effort and she gets tired very quickly. By Friday we had managed 3 laps of the garden path. You might remember from my lockdown runs that our garden path is 0.02 miles long, 0.04 for a lap so Lee was up to 0.12 miles! Also around the house everything was further away. A few steps to the toilet in her room at Beechwood, became 15 steps upstairs and 21 steps downstairs in our house. So we were going well!
Unfortunately Lee was unable to keep food and drink down over the weekend and started to feel unwell. So she ended up back in KGH needing IV fluids and meds! Thankfully Lee has been discharged again today and we can refocus on that home recovery. The Queen of Cakes was proud to show us her physical recovery is going well and that she can now get up from our low sofa unaided! So we can return chair raisers after just one week!
The postponed Sunday dinner of roast beef, Northamptonshire puddings and all the trimmings will take place tonight!
With full on carer duties to the fore there's been little time for much else. Rightfully so, these few weeks are about time with Lee and building her strength up. There's a physical and emotional journey here as we talk about what's happened and our hopes for the future. I did however get out for a couple of runs with the dogs (I just swap a walk for a run twice a week,) and one nice bike ride.
Historic Geddington is a fascinating place with the best surving example of an Eleanor Cross. This place was a favourite location for many royals until that cross was erected, even parliament was held here. I've done a few features in past blogs so instead of repeating myself, if you're interested check it out here...https://richardscyclingblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/it-is-great-ride-but-not-right-now.html?m=1
I wanted to know how dry and rideable the Chase was and I'm sorry to report it will be a few weeks before its best! The downhill still has a stream flowing in the gravel and there's a lot of standing water. I was quite relieved that my hour was up at the bottom of the hill because I'm sure it will be very boggy through to Brigstock. Even so I was having a great time!
On the way back through Weekly Woods I spotted this feature. I couldn't resist a quick go because it just reminded me of something we'd train on at Muddy Marvels or Corby Capers! If you're in to off road riding these little things really add to your ride! My chronological age is 50, my cycling age is more like 5!!!
My bike was suitably muddy.
My legs were too!
In the world of elite cycling we are well into the spring classics and monuments and all the other words I barely understood a few years ago. I checked GCN+ in the week and actually cheered out loud when I realised it was Gent-Wevelgem...seriously...my cycling education before 2012 was; I would watch the Tour de France in same way people suddenly become tennis fans during Wimbledon. My heroes go back to Kelly and Roche, Pantani, Armstrong (before the truth came out,) Delgado, Indurain, Bontrager etc...then as Britain caught the cycling bug heading towards the 2012 Olympics its like my eyes opened up to a wider world. Now I can't get enough. The Tour de France is still the big one but no longer a favourite. British riders are common in the world tour peletons and rather than having a few individual heroes like Cav there's loads. Up to this point you might notice I've only mentioned the male riders. That was intentional. I pride myself as an advocate for female sport. I follow as many elite ladies as I do men. Again in Britain 🇬🇧 we have so much talent coming through. Locally I get to coach, train and ride alongside some amazing ladies. However the female side of the sport is still underfunded and receives less coverage. I would like this to change...which takes me back to the TDF, in my opinion there needs to be a proper female Tour de France. To finish this section I'll say it was as important to me to know that Marianne Vos won at the weekend as it was Wout van Aert.
*other clubs are available, locally I'm sure Kettering Cycling Club (my primary club,) and Welland Valley CC are looking for help too!
With those soapbox announcements over...group rides are back! Yes from Monday the roadmap moved on and we can ride together in groups of six informally or 15 in organised events. This is brilliant news. I'm not sure when I'll get to do this but...it won't be long now. We can also start coaching again, something else I'm looking forward to, those crazy kids keep me sane!
Happy Pedalling
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