Problems with the Internet

Four days to go
Distance travelled: 73.7 miles
Time in saddle: 6hrs 27 mins
Overall distance travelled: 5120.8 miles

I had trouble uploading my video last night. I eventually put one on the you tube website but I hadn’t edited it properly…I suppose I was tired when I did it.
There is a steep climb out of Portsmouth, but it was nothing like I’d already done. I stopped and asked at a garage for directions. A guy paying for petrol told me the way to go and asked me where I had been. After I told him he shook my hand and wished me all the best…a really nice gesture.
I kept on stopping and looking at the scenery, I absolutely love the British countryside….it truly is the best in the world. I passed through some small towns and loved the fact that there were lots of people about. I know Britain is a crowded Island, but I love it.
I was going to get a map in the next town I went through. They didn’t have any British maps, only local area maps, which wasn’t much use to me. I went the wrong way for a while but I didn’t mind. It meant that I had to go through a few lovely villages, beautiful places.
As I was cycling along a wasp flew into my eye. As an automatic reaction I closed my eye and caught the wasp, which was trying frantically to get away. I don’t think it stung me but it hurt like hell. I think it might have head butted me a few times and I don’t blame it. My eye has been hurting all day but it seems to be getting a little better now. I’ve lost my cycling glasses….there’s a surprise. I’ve got a reputation at work for losing my glasses. I’ve only lost or broke three pairs this trip…not bad for me.
A lovely guy and fellow cyclist stopped and showed me his map, at last I was on the right road. I cycled to Basingstoke and decided to stop for something to eat. I went to a Witherspoon’s, always a good deal for food and drink. They had WFI Internet access but it wouldn’t work. I don’t now if it’s my computer or the network. I will try to sort it over the next day or two.
I thought Basingstoke was unattractive but I did manage to get a wicker pole for my flags. I will try to get them put on tomorrow. I meant to only do about fifty miles today but I kept on thinking ‘a few more miles’. It’s difficult to slow down when you are used to doing eighty miles plus. It’s been a great day for cycling; cool but bright, beautiful countryside and interesting people…brilliant.
I eventually cycled into Newbury. A small town in West Berkshire. I was going to camp but decided to look for a hotel. A small and very old pub called the Bacon Arms beaconed and that’s where I am now. The room is lovely. The Internet still doesn’t work but it’s the same network as the one earlier. As I was waiting to register n old guy began talking to me. He’s been cycling around Bristol and Hampshire, he must be late 60’s to early 70’s and as fit as a fiddle. We had an interesting chat about cycling and he said that he had an old Dawes Cycle in his shed at home. He was a lovely guy called Mike. He epitomised everything I love about this country.
I can’t wait to get home. I need to wait until Saturday for the reception, which I am looking forward to so much. It has driven me over many hard days of cycling and it will be the highlight of this adventure…bring it on.