28\05\16 - Three Steps to Severn 600km Audax

After a sleepless Friday night in a Macclesfield hotel, I got up at 04:00 and left at 05:00 for an 06:00 start two miles away.  A wind assisted journey through Prees, Newtown (migraine), Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells to Llandovery at 228kms.  Was watching the storm clouds for the last few miles but was happy to get to the cafe where there was an almighty crash (thunder) and someone rushed in to say that there was torrential rain.  A good time to stay in the cafe.
Got going again in the (not torrential) rain heading east along the A40 to Brecon and then on to Abergavenny and the Magor services on the M4 between Newport & Chepstow.  Thence across the Severn Bridge to Aust by midnight where there was a chance to rest.  I'd already decided that I wanted to leave no later than 05:00 so I got about four hours of cold, damp, uncomfortable sleep.  Of the (about) forty who had started, most had already gone on so it was more lonely riding for me.  On to the M5 services through Gloucester, Alcester, Meriden to Fradley.  Minor catastrophe at Gloucester when the straps holding my pannier in place gave way with a loud crash.  Thank god for cable-ties!
The final run in was based on the Totmonslow Hundred.  It has some hills\climbs\lanes that you don't really need after 550kms, or at all!  The final few miles were a race to get back in light, and not to have to stop to put on warmer clothes.  Got back at 21:00 on Sunday.
Overall the weather was good.  It helped to have a tailwind down through Wales but this would obviously have a detrimental effect on the return.  The only rain was out of Llandovery and it was generally warm and sunny, especially on Sunday.  Having spent two days prior to the event trying to fix my bike, I eventually had to ride a spare.  The fretfulness of this, the lack of sleep and the stress of the event probably caused the migraine.  It also meant that I was unable to do a practice ride which might have unearthed the pannier problems but overall the bike performed well.  The Gloucester mishap also smashed my pump but fortunately I didn't find out about this until I unpacked the next day.
I've always referenced last year's Poole 300 as the most arduous challenge that I've ever had.  I think that now I've got a new reference!  It's not the distance, it's what makes up the distance.  PW.