June 17 - Day 76 - Halfway point - the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end?

Well - I made it home yesterday evening to reach the halfway point and, of course, writing this from the Centre, I’ve now completed more than half of the challenge. So - remaining the glass half full sort of person we will see it as a glass half and nine eighths full - as Jeff would say.

Interestingly, by looking at the map to see where the halfway point on the route is (which if you’re interested is just about Owlerbar roundabout), I saw that the distance is actually 16.1 miles. Oops! In order to fit with the 30th Anniversary celebrations, however, I need to keep quiet about this so I better not tell anyone. After all - what is an extra 330 miles between friends! At least it has a 30 in and is divisible by 30 - so looks like I planned it that way after all!

I am managing to complete the journey in slightly less time and pedal much more now in higher gears but I have to admit that I still feel shattered and compelled to eat when I finish any journey - hence why it’s certainly not making me any thinner. At this stage, it’s like the marathon runner who gets half way and says to the other runners that he’s feeling too tired to carry on and is going to run back to the start. I am certainly determined at this stage to finish it - even if the weather does get difficult again (punctures and bike issues permitting).

Over the past two days, I have met lots of the volunteers in the park, thanks to Tracey organising two very successful get togethers. On hearing their support and strong desire to get back helping in the Centre as soon as possible and also talking to clients and staff everyday, what greater incentive could anyone have?

What greater incentive than the clients building a frame for the runner beans and planting them yesterday in the allotment or Women’s Group linking up via Zoom with other groups in the City or the Nature Group going off to look for trout in the river, or the workshop clients doing an amazing job by sanding and repairing a table for the allotment. It’s not only an incentive but encouragement and inspiration not just for me but hopefully for you and your support and donations as well - that makes those activities possible.

So as I have finished the beginning and have already begun the end, with only 2235 miles to go and ‘Returning were as tedious as go o’er’, I better just go o’er.

‘Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er’. Shakespeare