Achievements and awe

Better late than never, delayed updating of blog after yesterday due to
1) Going to see Inbetweeners movie - funny
2) Today having to go work to see chap sentenced to 9 years - not funny but satisfying in it's own way.

Anyway - achievements is the title: yesterday I set out from Home in Sittingbourne at 0845, had my new long tights and a long sleeve top - in yellow - hoping that some of its legend would rub off on me. 103 miles, and 6 hours and 40 minutes later I arrived in Rye, having travelled pretty much all the way round the coast of Kent en route. Felt good fitness wise, but knees started to hurt from about 70 onwards. In total, a whole 40 miles further than I had ever ridden before.
At 17 miles I stopped for a slice of malt loaf, and thought to myself, "one sixth of the way, this will be easy" half a mile later the side of my brain that doesn't think stupid thoughts (it's a small and relatively unused side) realised, that twice what I had done was still only one third. So I gave up thinking about fractions, a bit like school days revisited really.
I was hoping for a sign that said "Welcome to Sussex" so I could celebrate my first ever ride from one county to another. Instead all I saw was a sign reflecting the locals most recent fashion revival "welcome to 1066 country" That will have to do I suppose.
Sense of achievement on arrival at the finish point was great, especially as I think cycling 100 miles is probably my single biggest physical achievement, including anything I ever did in the army, even though my first BFT was a bit of a nightmare!
Major thanks to my gorgeous soup dragon who picked me up, less thanks for the idea of calling in at the cinema on the way home. This wonderful idea resulted in me considering calling for a wheelchair to get me from the cinema to the car. Next time, I''ll be going via a hot bath and a pint of beer.
As always following any cycle sport I can on the TV, also finding a rich vein of good books on the subject, cycling 100 miles does give you a knew sense of perspective on just how awesome the athletes are who do this regularly, whether they be professionals in team Sky or just an amateur who's been round the block a bit.
Chapeau! to all of you.