February 27th
I was on a go-slow from the minute I woke up this morning. I think relaxing the day before had an effect on my morning routine. It took me quite a while to get going! I never make the most out of breakfast at hotels so decided just to add some water to porridge oats in my room – I have learnt that they are not instant oats – but I ate it nonetheless.
I had to adapt my route today, I wasn’t able to find anywhere on the coast to stay so found a Youth Hostel further inland. So I missed out the Ferry crossings and instead cycle over a massive hill North of Portsmouth – in hindsight I’m not sure this was any quicker!
I reached Southampton where I met a very close friends mum Annie for a well earned sausage roll and a smoothie!
It was lovely and sunny when we said our goodbyes, seconds later as I was getting myself dressed for the outside again the snow started! I have never seen so much fall so quickly, I had no time to cover my bike. I put on my waterproofs waited for it to stop and sat on my cold snow covered seat and started to make headway to my overnight stop. There were a few snowflakes throughout the rest of the day and it was bitterly cold.
(This is having tried to rub the snow off!)
I arrived at the Youth Hostel, took my panniers off my bike and I could have cried! There were holes in the bottom of both bags! They had been rubbing on the floor but in all the bad weather I hadn’t noticed. There is nothing on the bags to stop them from sliding down the seat and closer to the ground as I cycle!
I made myself some dinner and spent the evening in front of a raging fire reading and replying to all of your lovely messages.
Sorry this post is late I have been so worried/ upset about my expensive panniers that I didn’t want to post anything until I had a solution – fast forward to tomorrow…