May The Fourth Be With You

I'm getting a bit obsessed with all this cycling.

I should have been doing the Trans-Penine this weekend, but due to work and money troubles, I've had to give it a miss. To make up for it I did quite a few miles over the weekend and discovered the joys of The Cheshire Cycleway. There are literally hundreds of miles of trails, bridle-ways and hidden country lanes, literally minutes from my doorstep. On both Saturday & Sunday, I packed my panniers and set off into the great unknown - well nearly unknown. . . I went to places I'd previously only visited by car. I found some tiny villages and Hamlets that look like they haven't changed in hundreds of years. For some unexplained reason I didn't photograph anything Yesterday. I DID take a few photos on Saturday, of the (almost finished) Dream at Sutton Manor again, but that was about it.
Today I had a lie in. My thighs have turned to steel and I think I had a bit of sunstroke. My head is beginning to look like a Malteser. . . When I finally surfaced at about eleven, the only cycling I did was to ASDA for the weekly shop. This is another excuse to get myself a decent set of panniers. The things I've got now can barely hold a loaf, without crushing it.
I made myself a sandwich and I watched BASQUIAT the movie by Julian Schnabel. I suddenly had the urge to paint again. So I've just spent the last hour creating yet another masterpiece. :)

I Failed the British Citizenship Test

As a prequel to St George's Day, I decided to take the Official British Citizenship Test.

It's full of really strange questions about Religion and obscure political events.

I Failed! LINK

Noodle on a Bike

Ste's little girl Nieve, has only been riding a bike for a couple of weeks. But she's got the bug big time. We went out riding on Saturday and she completed a FIFTEEN MILER with no problem. Then today she completed about TWENTY MILES without a complaint. She just seems to have limitless amounts of energy. If she carries on like this, She'll be doing The Trans-Penine with us next month.

Formula 1, Back on the BBC

I was looking forward to F1's return to the BBC. No ads popping up at the most inappropriate moments, and the new reg's making F! races, into actual races again. I decided against staying up to watch the GP, in the middle of the night. I turned on the telly at midday and caught the beginning of "The Politics Show" on BBC1 and within minutes I was told the result of the race.
The BBC will start coverage of the race at 1pm. But now I can't be bothered watching.

Coffee Schmoffee

Have you ever walked into Starbuck's or Costa, and been baffled by the amazing menu. All you want is a coffee. The only two you know of are Espresso and Cappuccino. You'd like to order something different, but you haven't got a clue? Well, help is at hand. You can see exactly what you're going to get in this handy little diagram. I still don't know what a skinny or a Tall are. But at least i know what an Espresso Macchiato is. And more importantly. . . I know how to pronounce it. :)

Diagram courtesy of: Lokesh Dhakar

Kate Swift Rest In Peace.

I only knew Kate for a short while, back in 2007-2008, but she made a big impression on me and everyone else who met her. I was really shocked, when I found out about her tragic death.

You were one of a kind Kate. I can't believe this has happened.

Southport to Hornsea

TEAM LARD are planning to do the Trans-Pennine Cycleway.
Yep, that's right. for some reason we've decided to cycle from Southport on the West Coast to Hornsea on the East Coast. A distance of 215 miles (346Km). Ok, I know that doesn't sound a lot, but when you consider that we never ride our bikes more than about 10 miles without stopping somewhere for a beer. It's going to be virtually impossible.
We're planning to camp along the way, but in typical Lardy Boy fashion, we've got nothing planned and don't even know if there are any camp-sites en-route. I'll keep you informed of the plans in this blog. We HAVE decided on a date though. The first May Bank Holiday. that gives us about 5 weeks to get fit enough. . . . . Help Us!