35 miles in the saddle - we did it! Thought I should get the news out here before the pap photos hit OK! If you want photo evidence, I can only recommend taking a photo of the saddle impression in Ang's and my own derrieres. We didn't take any pics, too busy breathing up hills, using skills learnt at ante natal classes to minimise the pain, or freewheeling down hills, in daredevil whizzing round corners without brakes on.

Should you wish to replicate the experience, it was route Y of the Test Valley Leisure maps, thoughtfully downloadable from the web. We started at Mottisfont and Dunbridge station, then up hill and down a fab descent to Broughton, via a pig farm, and then through the Wallops to Grately ( massive hill climb) then past and through some more picturesque villages like Monxton and Abbots Ann, then Long somewhere and somewhere else that I was past caring about, then to Stockbridge, which has several fine pubs (too fine for our purses) and a popular stream side cafe/bakery, which was doing a good trade, with other cycling enthusiasts. Some old chaps with West Surrey on their tops and decidely cycling style kit on put us to shame. The rule of the road is that all cyclists say hello to each other, and some with flash kit overtake you. We managed to overtake a party of 5, going up a hill, although they had stopped at the top when we actually overtook. I managed to find a sneaky loo in a cricket club, with a vase of gerberas and real towels. Will vote for it in the Good Loo guide. My favourite village was Abbots Ann, what a great name. Village shop looked appealing, and a bloke getting out of a sports car WINKED at me! Whatever next. Seems everyone in that part of the world drives a sports car or a landrover, or probably both. Sadly we bypassed the appealingly named Red Rice. After leaving Stockbridge we had a pleasant pootle back to Houghton, then back to the station and pub at Dunbridge. Ang has been looking forward to a beer, and I had £3.70 left in my purse, so I purchased a half pint for her, and the obligatory diet coke for me. No sooner had I put her drink down than she had flipped her arm round over the table and knocked the lot to the floor. With only £1.35 left, we couldn't stretch to another, so she licked the table. Not really.

Spent a good 20 mins stretching on the pub patio, then moved over to the station platform to do some pilates style exercises on the warm tarmac. Was a fabulous day, if legs and bum a little sore, and Ang is keen to do it again - our next route is going to be one we can fit in during a school day. Any takers to come with us? Only qualification is to have use of a bike, fitness levels variable. Go on!