27th July When you are wet you’re wet. A lot of good in people.

Today has been a very tough day but has been made bearable by the people I’ve met, all who have gone out of their way to help me. I thank them all.

Some rain overnight but I awake ( without a hangover) and it is fine. I quickly pack all my gear away and get the tent packed away. Sue whose garden I have pitched the tent in is up and offers to make breakfast. Tea and eggs on toast appear in no time. Sue would not accept any money for the camping or the breakfast. She runs a fantastic B and B. I thank her and leave to get some miles in before the rain I know is coming.

The day starts well and I’m soon through Kings Lynn, over the river and heading to Long Sutton. Lots of back roads and wildlife is abundant. Rabbits and hates, new birds for my list include house martins with their white saddles swooping low over the road and fields. Ok ow this is a bad sign for the weather. A black cap sits on the phone lines as I call Jayne. What colour cap does it have? Brown obviously as it’s the female. I make it to Sutton Bridge, 13 miles on the dry, and nip into the shop for food for the day. While I am in there the heavens open. I chat with Steve in the doorway hoping it will ease slightly. He cycles 2k a year but never goes out in the rain. He wishes me well for my journey and I have no choice but to head out.

On I go and I decided to listen to Guy Martin, I’d already listened to when you’re dead you’re dead and so listened to Worms. I was trying to make it to his home town tonight and I know it’s a tall order. Listening to his books and how after breaking his back, he is back to work as a lorry fitter in two weeks puts riding in the wet into perspective. The wind has also decided to change direction and as is normal in the gens I’m riding into a strong headwind as well as getting soaked. I make Long Sutton and things are going ok but I’m having to keep all electronic devices covered which makes navigation more difficult, but no problems with that so far. The other part is I am unable to take photographs. Having ridden for days with wheat and barley on either side, the change to onions, cabbages, field of sunflowers comes as a change. Judicious use of bus shelters has let me keep checking my route in the dry.

So far I have avoided the A17 but at Fosdyke I have no choice for 300m. The rain has been getting progressively worse and my glasses are filled with rain drops. I manage to cross the A17 and quickly dive into a siding to make sure of my route. I’m cold, wet and can’t see a think. I try and hide behind a parked white van to check the route but my glasses make this virtually impossible. Then Mark shouts why don’t you come around the back in the conservatory to sort yourself. I gladly take him up on the offer and I’m soon making a puddle of water in their conservatory. I meet Elaine and the two dogs Mollie and Lennie who know there jobs and recognise trouble. The kettle is put on and an offer of towels and I quickly thaw and dry out a little. I start to feel human again.

They have moved from London and while looking for a house had rented a place in Wisbech St Mary where my Mum was bought up. The place they rented was opposite my cousins Garage business. A small world. I thank them profusely, get the waterproofs back on and head out into the rain again.

I follow Sustrans route 1 and it is well sign posted and so I don’t need to keep checking my phone. It’s not long before Boston Stump comes I to view. It’s been an interesting and strangely enough an enjoyable ride to this point.

I navigate Boston easily and quite safely with use of the cycle lanes. Two places I tried to get lunch were not serving food until the night. Good job I had some things in my panniers from the morning.

My route now follows the B1183 to Horncastle and on to Caister. This is where my journey becomes really, really tough. The roads are dead straight for miles and miles, the rain is heavier than it has been all day and the wind is so strong and into my face. I’m pushing hard, working harder than I’ve had to all journey and I’m moving at 8 or 9 mph. It does become a mind game, and I keep pushing on knowing it will come to an end eventually.

7 miles before Caistor I have had enough, shattered, wet through and getting very cold.

I ring Jayne who has not made it back from a craft fair yet to ask if she can check campsites/ B and Bs in the area. She quickly searched and texts me the phone numbers. Every number I ring won’t connect or is engaged or no answer. The phone is dripping wet now and I have to ring Jayne again to see if she can get through. In the mean time I have to get moving again and take the gamble to head to Binbrook where there is a B and B and a campsite. It has to pay off as I hit some serious hills just as I’m at my lowest. 2.5 miles later nd with all the days climbing in that distance I spot the B and B. I ring the bell, Kathryn answers the door while on the phone to Jayne who has just got through. I’m ushered in immediately. They have no room for the night but will ring round local options and offer to take me there in the car. A mug of tea is placed in front of me ( the offer of some rum) and cakes and biscuits appear. I begin to feel more human again. The campsite backs onto their garden and I ask if they will ring to see if I can camp. This is on arranged. I can’t thank them enough. Kathryn once had to be helped in a similar way when she cycled from Newcastle to Milton Keynes and got caught in heavy rain. Bob comes in and the conversation moved to cycling and getting out the village. 5 options and all of them steeply uphill. I will find that out in the morning. We discuss how an electric bike might help him.

Finally thawed out I head out and the rain has stopped. I set up camp quickly and change into some dry clothes. A 10 minute walk and I’m in the plough. Everyone is so kind and a lovely meal and two pints later I am back to my old self but feeling tired. An early night for me. Let’s see what tomorrow brings, hopefully some dry weather and less wind. I have no internet access to check. Probably best not to know.