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Wife (to Shaun), Mother (to Danni), Dog walker of Archie the JRX, improving cyclist, reformed gym bunny, broken runner Collector of exercise DVDs & equipment. Cake is my weakness together with cider (Westons only thanks)and brandy. Noisy spectator of running & cycling events. Owner of Tribby the campervan

Saturday 25 June 2016

What A Difference a Week Makes

Thanks to the ridiculous summer weather we had no choice but to abandon a Tribby weekend away last weekend, that and the fact that, despite the weather forecast, all our favourite local campsites were fully booked.  Instead we had a nice gentle weekend at home.

On Friday during the worst summer thunderstorm I've experienced in a while we went to our local motorhome dealer to look round some upgrades.  We're not thinking of jobbing Tribby in yet, but if the right one comes up then we might consider it.   We know what we want and what we need now - the main thing being a fixed bed.   I can't be doing the daily bed making up and dismantling forever, it's exhausting and takes ages once you've consumed a jug of Pimms or a bottle wine !!!

Saturday we spent being lazy!

Sunday was Father's Day.  We should really have gone up to visit the parents but lets face it Shaun is a dad too and he wanted to go for a ride, to make up for the previous weeks ride in view of the change in the weather!   So glad we did.   I didn't question where we were going, normally he just says "we'll see how we go" or "depends on whether you want a flat ride or a hilly ride".  I just went with the flow.   Turns out he wanted a hilly ride, setting out from home along to Seaford along National Cycling route 2, down the hill at Exceat, a quick left to Friston Forest and then on up (and up, and up, and up) to the Chapel Hill which takes you into Wilmington (yes that's where the Long Man is).  I've never done that route before but wow what a bastard that hill is - but the view reward at the top is just stunning (the photo doesn't actually do it justice - but it brought a lump to my throat).

Here I come!

Trying not to cry!


Our Green & Pleasant Land
Coffee & Quiche reward !

Not the fastest 30 mile ride but sometimes it has to be about enjoyment - and I actually got my new Garmin to track the whole ride!   I've saved it as a route so hopefully I can take myself out and do it alone ...... maybe !

This weekend we've spent visiting the folks making up for last weekend's selfish activities - weather's still atrocious!   Hopefully we'll be out on the bikes tomorrow!



Friday 17 June 2016

Juneathon Week2 - including lots of slacking and a 40 mile bike ride in the rain!

8th June - nice walk with Archie to our new road to nowhere and through some stinging nettles.  11,763 steps (which was brilliant considering I'd only done about 4,000 when I finished work).  New cycling top arrived ready for Sunday's bike ride.

9th June - Been a proper slacker today - was supposed to go to spin class this evening but haven't been feeling well all day.  Decided to cancel, don't want to push it too much and not be well for Sunday.

Steps 11,378

10th June - work and food shopping !  Essentials arrived for Sunday's bike ride

Steps 7,357

11th June - hair do, dog walk - steps 11,886

12th June - Davina Big Sussex Bike Ride - was supposed to do the 68 mile but because of the weather forecast dropped down to the 40 mile.   I agreed with hubby on Saturday night that we would see what the weather was like when we got up on Sunday morning - if it was lashing with rain we'd go back to bed but if it wasn't we go for the ride.  I met up with Nik and Conrad and we started off together (but they left me for dust whilst I was trying to work out why Garmin wasn't recording).  The ride is set off with a chat from Davina McCall, who then rides the route when everyone's been set off.
Credit : Nik Bailey - what a great selfie! 
It was ok to start with but it wasn't long before the rain started to fall.  I'd managed to borrow a waterproof jacket but didn't put it on until we left the feed station when I got cold.   It was ok all the time we were moving. The worst rain I've decided is the wind driven stuff, it's hard to cycle when you've got your eyes half closed.    As last year it was a lovely route, not as hilly as I remember but still challenging.

Quite pleased with my time this year, I'm still getting used to my new Garmin and managed to lose 2 miles somewhere.
I was enjoying myself at this point - don't look much like it!


Nice medal which is given to you on the finish line

Time on the Garmin is 3 hours 3 mins, which is way better than last year, and the official time is 3 minutes faster than last year's which takes into account stopping at the feed station and breakson the road!  At the end I was handed a lovely goody bag - banana, Mars bar and a bottle of fruit water and was told to head to the BBQ where I could have lunch.  Nice choice of BBQ burger, sausage, veggie burger or a chicken kebab - I went for a sausage in a bun


Now deciding which event to do next - need some time to do some more training but the September (11th) London to Brighton is looking favourable, or a repeat of the Chestnut, which is a week later.

Steps 7269


13th June - Boxercise - cycle to and from - Steps 13,455.  Spent the whole of Monday night being very ill.  Not sure what to put it down to.   But it really knocked me for six.    No Kettlebells and Boxercise on Tuesday and no return to Spin.

Juneathon 2016 is done!   Hopefully I'll be back to it soon!


Wednesday 8 June 2016

Tribby's Travels - A spot in the woods!

Shaun was on a long weekend off so he did the shopping and packed the van up whilst I was at work - on the road by 4pm to Graffham Caravan & Camping site in Sussex.   Doris (my trusty bike) was on the back too.  When we arrived at the site Shaun spotted that there was a fish & chip van parked up so instead of tucking into the homemade lamb casserole I'd made we had some very nice fish & chips.  He'd also bought some very nice wine from Majestic too - Two Hands Angel's Share Shiraz (Australian of course).  We managed to stay outside until nearly 10pm, something we haven't been able to do so far this year!

The site at Graffham is lovely - each pitch is in it's own "glade" among the trees so very secluded.  Full of kids because it was the end of the half term holidays but most of them went home on Saturday.


After a fantastic nights sleep we got up, I got ready to take Doris on a lovely bike ride (we'd chosen a route on my bike GPS that meant I would only be out for about an hour and a half).   While I was out Shaun explored some of the footpaths that lead from the site - lots of places to walk Archie!


Unfortunately the bike ride didn't quite go to plan and I ended up getting lost thanks to the Garmin trying to take me down public footpaths and bridleways so I was out for over 2 hours.  Lots of frantic phone calls to Shaun to guide me back in.  I was on the right track just going the long way around!  It was actually a very nice route, lots of hills to practice for my event next Sunday (12th).

When I got back Shaun had made some lovely poached eggs, ham & avo on sourdough which was consumed in about 10 secs flat!   We walked into the village to find the shop and bought some cake, and some eggs from an honesty box on the way back.   Saturday dinner was the lamb casserole we'd saved from the previous night, washed down with a bottle of Yering Station Pinot Noir.
 We stayed out again until quite late - Shaun had bought some fairy lights to put out on the awning and windbreak so we stayed up until they came on!

On Sunday we woke up to a beautiful blue sky - shame we had to pack up and go home.   We didn't rush - had breakfast, packed up slowly and left at about 11.30am.

We will back to Graffham - I think this is our new favourite.  The facilities appear to be a bit dated but the showers are hot and clean;  and next time I bring the bike I'll set my gps up properly so I don't get lost!


Tuesday 7 June 2016

Juneathon week 1

June has arrived which can only mean one thing - it's time for the annual festival of exercise and excuses - Juneathon.

I'm always in two minds whether to bother taking part but this year I was gradually drawn in.  I've been recording my daily "achievements" on the Facebook page rather than filling up the blog (the part which takes the time every day).

1st June  Recovery from double kettlebell/boxercise class the previous night.  Walked the dog in the afternoon - total steps for the day 11,100.   Set up my gym/class/swim membership and booked boxercise classes for the following week.

2nd June Somehow I only managed 8,369 steps (no dog walk always has an impact).  Booked another class for the following week.

3rd June Only 7,319 steps today.  In my defence we were packed up and ready to go away for the weekend in Tribby, and the most active thing I did was to make the up the bed (having drunk rather more wine than I intended!)


4th June  Better steps day today 11,028.  I took my bike away so managed to get out for a 2 hours 15 minute ride that didn't record on the new Garmin, and I got lost because I hadn't set it up quite right.  Lovely route though, lots of hills and quiet country roads around the Petworth, Sussex area.  Another bed making day (yes it has to be done every night).



5th June  Home from campsite today - only managed 3,194 steps (terrible!)  Lots of physical activity though dismantling & packing away.

6th June Woohoo Boxercise Monday - cycled down to the centre and back again on Dawesy, sweated my way through an hour of circuits and punching & crunching.  Steps 12,972.

7th June  Today is double class day - one hour of kettlebells and one hour of boxercise - cycle there and back too. Dog walk - total steps for today 13,330.