Jul 26 - reminiscent of Davis CA

Just hanging around.  Well, not quite.  I drove up to the registration/start point to check out the route and parking since it will be a zoo tomorrow.  It's not too bad.  Parking will be a pain.

I plotted a cycle route to the same spot and drove that before dinner; it will be a better driving route as well.  I also checked out cycling through that closed section of road that that will work.  There's actually a packed sand path around the construction.  It's full of glass, so not a place to ride, but good for walking and only about 100' long.

What else ... lots of emails; watched a little TV; organized my clothing / drop bags but without the bags of course; hung out.  That was basically my plan anyway, taking it easy today.

The room, although small, is a delight compared to the Motel 6.  The thing that isn't a delight is beig up two flights and carrying bags and bike.  Yes, that's a pain.  There is a "lift" but it only goes from Ground to 1st floor.  Why ?

Hamid is supposed to drop off his bike tonight but by the sounds of things, that too could be difficult since they're having dinner in Central London.

Speaking of Central London, Terry Payne booked a restaurant for the Canucks in Central London.  I guess that many people are going to do the prologue from Buckingham Palace.  It would take me at least 1:30 to get there, probably 1:45, so I'm not going to do it.  With dinner for a crowd at 6pm and then travel back, it would be late.  Similarly I declined an invitation from Hamid to join them in London, too much commuting.  Now if there was a show ... if Sandy was with me ... that would be different.

Peter Turnbull had asked if he could stay here overnight, since he's further out.  I checked with him this morning and he's staying with one of his mates.  That's just as well since the room is tiny and once Hamid leaves his bike here ... well ... I hope that I can move !

Not sure if I already mentioned this one -- seen on a sign for a roadside restaurant:

Sit Down
Take Away
Toilet

Put those together and it's kind of strange.

I'll wind this one up in the a.m.

-----

It looks like I might be meeting up with Patrick and a crowd at the registration this morning, perhaps Liz Overduin from Canada as well and Ed Person for dinner this evening, since he's here in Chingford. Hamid hasn't gotten his stuff to me yet so I'm not sure how that's going to work.

I'm planning on heading up to registration in about 45 minutes.  It opens at 9am.  That means that I need to have all my drop-bag-stuff organized.

I talked to Sandy and she's in Hemmingford.  She drove down yesterday; stays there Friday through Sunday nights; goes to Carol's on Monday and stays there overnight; drives to Toronto on Tuesday and has a dentist appointment; stays there overnight; has her hair cut Wednesday a.m. and then drives up to the cottage that day picking up Kylie on the way.  Whew.

I decided to make a booking at this hotel for July 31st, since I'm planning on being back here before check-in time the next day.  I messed that up, having only booked from August 1st.  When I booked months ago the room rate was 29 GBP per night but of course now booking a couple of days in advance, the rate is close to 80 GBP.  C'est la vie, however.

No doubt there's more, but I'll stop typing now.

Onward !

ps -- here's that link again -- http://www.londonedinburghlondon.com/lastseen/?rider_no=B15

By this time tomorrow, perhaps there will be updates; don't know.