Today is a special day as well, as it is our niece Gabrielle's first birthday! Happy first birthday Gabby! Nana & Pops are in Vernon visiting with her, and Sarah and I have wished her a great day from here in London. We did so after I finished my bike ride today!
I began at Buckingham Palace; it was early, and it was something special. It's not every day you get to cycle up the Mall towards Victoria fountain with a few thousand of your best friends! I really enjoyed the whole ride. The section through London was pretty cool as I had never cycled those roads before. We got to Cheyne Walk in Chelsea and then I could look across the river back towards Battersea Park; we passed Albert Bridge and then crossed Wandsworth Bridge to get to the other side of the Thames. Through the now very familiar Richmond Park, and then out past Hampton Court & Bushy park, and into areas unknown. We passed a number of churches along the way, and being Sunday it was very cool to hear them ringing their bells as I rode past.
When it was all over my total time was 3 hours 26 mins, with 3:04 being the ride time (I'd stopped at the water stations along the way.) I was very pleased with that! My teammates finished only shortly behind me and I was chuffed for them too - just 20 minutes back, which I thought was amazing! (I've posted a "video" of the ride on the Pictures page so you can get a view of it as well) Now I'll just have to see what bike event I sign up for next! Maybe the Prudential Ride London???