Shorter rides boost the weekly mileage...

Snow is about to fall, or so say the weather people on the radio and Andy prempted the whole thing by texting me yesterday, or it might have been Friday, to kind of abort the ride. Initially I said let's wait and see what happens, but it was cold out there yesterday and the thought of leaving the house at 0800hrs wearing the balaclava and heading for Tatsfield Village suddenly no longer appealed. We both agreed to do our local rides, which is what I've been doing all week, short bursts of around five or six miles and it soon adds up. I was doing variations of the Norfolk Nobbler this week, starting with a ride of just over five miles, then another of just under six miles and on it went. I missed one day (I think it was Wednesday) but then I rode for just over 10 miles on Friday evening (resorting to using my lights as it got dark approaching 1700hrs). And then yesterday I went for it and rode what I called The Super Nobbler, a ride of over 13 miles. 

You might think these local rides are a bit of cop-out, a bit 'namby', but they're not. The Norfolk Nobbler has many hilly sections that get the heart racing and the worst of the lot, believe it or not, is coming up West Hill from the north, as opposed to the steeper but shorter 'south face'. In fact, the hills are pretty bad in places, not mind numbingly so, like Titsey or White Lane, but they keep me on my toes, so to speak. Norfolk Avenue is a case in point. 

Ready for a 13-miler Nobbler...

In fact, I am 'a local legend' on Norfolk Avenue, according to Strava. Basically the hill never stops until it stops and by that I mean that the climb continues right up to the moment when it doesn't, there's no levelling off, no 'ledges', not until you find yourself on a downhill stretch, and this is both ways. When I've turned right out of Ridge Langley and then left on to Arundel Avenue, I cycle down towards the right turn-off for Norfolk Avenue, which bears right and is then a hill from the very beginning until the moment that it isn't a hill, if that makes sense. I'm a foot away from the summit and still climbing and then a foot more and it's downhill as I freewheel down towards Church Way. Coming back in the other direction, it's a hill all the way to the top and I'm still climbing as I make the left turn and then hit the downhill ride the other way. 

On yesterday's 13-miler I rode three laps, but encroached upon Sanderstead Hill and on the third lap I rode down the Upper Selsdon Road and then turned left on to Arundel Avenue,  finding myself back in what I like to call 'the world', meaning the secret world of winding suburban streets, hidden from view, that duck and dive on the Nobbler rides. 

The great news is that my mileage is creeping up again. Last week was absolutely piss poor, but this week I managed to creep over the 50-mile marker with something like 64 miles, probably a bit more, but I don't think I reached 65. It all goes to prove that if you chip away at the miles doing little rides day-by-day, the distances soon add up and then, if you throw in a bigger ride at the weekend, before your week is out, you can really get things moving. It's going to be a bit of a challenge this coming week, which starts today (Sunday) but only if I don't go out today) and, as I write this at 1022hrs I've looked out of the window to see snow falling steadily. If this continues and it starts to lay, well, it might bugger up the whole week, but let's see. Andy was certainly right about not going out today, he must have a sixth sense. Had we done so we'd be out there now, our faces aching with the cold and who knows, a puncture would have made it a whole lot worse. So, it's fingers crossed this week and let's hope the snow is 'just visiting' and not hanging around for the week. That said, I have a theory about snow at this time of year: basically, you might think you're getting a light dusting and that's all, but you can guarantee it'll back; so if, say, like now, it snows today, on Sunday, and it lays, but in the morning is largely gone, well, don't think you've got away with it. You can virtually guarantee that a heavier snowfall is on the way. 

Lastly, and talking about cycling clothing, not that we were talking about cycling clothing, on yesterday's 13-miler I decided to wear my Parka on the ride. It's not a real Parka, but a green hooded affair that is really my day-to-day coat in the colder weather. I put it on for the ride along with the green balaclava and an orange beanie hat and you know what? It didn't hinder movement, it kept me warm and you can bet I'll be wearing it again as the cold weather continues.

I'm more than happy with my 64 miles this week.

As January gets moving...more ramblings

 I suppose the first question is simple: why was I walking around the street dressed only in a white duvet? I mean, alright, I wasn't really 'wearing' the duvet, it didn't have sleeves, so I really just had it wrapped around me, but my point is why? There's no answer. And then, somehow the duvet disappeared and I must have been clothed as I didn't feel in any way uneasy or cold. I was, however, running across a wide road and trying to reach the other side before this odd-shaped, retro van hit me. It didn't hit me. I reached the other side just in time and leapt up and over the very high pavement. From then onwards it's all a little vague. It turns out it was another of my fretful dreams, which I haven't experienced for a while, probably because the festive break enabled me to get all the crap out of my head, all the worry about this and that banished. But now I've been back a week or two perhaps all the stress is creeping back in, who knows? Anyway, I found myself awake around 0500hrs and in truth it didn't matter, I was in no rush to go anywhere, except that I was planning on a ride to Westerham or Tatsfield Village or even the Slines Oak Sloth*, but I was hoping I'd drum up the enthusiasm for a 20-plus mile ride and that normally means Westerham.

Library photo of Westerham, Kent

Cycling has tailed off considerably, especially this week. To be fair, for most weeks since the weather took a turn for the worst and the days shortened I'd managed to somehow put in around 50 (almost 60) miles, but I guess on average I been riding something like 54 miles on a weekly basis... until this week. This week I put in a measly 18.23 miles and that was last Sunday. I lost momentum yesterday. I had planned to ride to Westerham, which would have pushed my weekly total to something like 41 miles, which still wasn't good, but a lot more respectable than the reality of the situation of just over 18 miles. I don't know why I didn't simply bite the bullet yesterday, but I didn't and the weather was poor. That was the reason. It was raining in the morning and it persisted, but I can't remember how long for; it must have brightened up, but by the time things had improved I was in no mood to go out so I resigned myself to the piss-poor performance that I eventually handed in for marking.

Today was a different story. For a start, the weather was amazing. I left the house around a quarter to nine, so that's 0845hrs by the 24-hour clock, which I insist upon using for some strange reason. I was in two minds about where to go: Westerham, Tatsfield Village or the Slines Oak Sloth (see footnote). In the end I rode to Westerham and came back via the road that passes the Velo Barn, turning left on to Pilgrims Lane and later heading down The Ridge towards Woldingham. I reached home around 1100hrs (there, you see, I'm back on the 24-hour clock) and then set about enjoying the rest of my Sunday, which basically involved a walk around Chartwell in Kent and then sitting around the house watching clips from Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm and, of course, writing this blogpost. Avid readers might have noticed that I haven't been posting a great deal of late. There's no reason for this, I just haven't been posting that much. Also, you might be wondering why there aren't that many photos accompanying my posts. Well, that's easy. My phone (an Apple iPhone 5S) keeps running out of power. If you follow me on Strava, you'll note that a lot of my entries end after just six miles when the reality is a 20+ mile ride. I normally write something like '21 miles to Westerham, but phone lost power' but it's not a good state of affairs. Fortunately, I have an iPhone XS ready to use, it just needs a new screen and I have to get a new sim card. I'm out of contract now, which is great, but I doubt I'll leave my phone provider. I'm on a sim-only deal and it's fine, but I definitely needed a new phone. I've just got to get down to the phone store to get one sorted out. I think the XS has a far better camera than the 5S and I'm told the battery lasts longer. My current phone seems to run out even when there's supposedly 64% of power left. Using Strava takes up a lot of power and that's why lots of my Strava entries mention the phone running out. It's very annoying and means that I've stopped taking photos of my rides. Today's ride managed to record fine, but had I taken a photograph it would have been a different story.

Lives change, routines change and I've taken to watching independent movies at night times rather than terrestrial television. Some weeks back now I started watching movies that invariably involved 'a young married couple' visiting a remote farmhouse for the weekend only discover that there were evil forces lurking or nutters in the woods and it all turns rather sour. Good fun films to watch and movies that make you wonder why Americans going into spooky houses never think about turning a light on. You know the sort of movie I'm talking about. "Hello, is anybody there?" So, I'm watching movies like White Settlers, The Landlord, I See You, the latter two featuring a guy called Gerald, played by one Neville Archambault, who, in my humble opinion is absolutely brilliant. There's been plenty of others. I've started getting into Australian cinema with movies like Last Ride featuring Hugo Weaving, and Somersault, not to mention The Daughter, all good movies even if the latter was pretty harrowing at the end. Why am I watching these movies? Well, yes, it's better than watching terrestrial television, but there's more to it than that: I need some form of escape from reality, something that takes me out of things for a couple of hours and the movies seem to do the trick. I settle down with a cup of camomile tea or, as of the past few days, an Ovaltine, and that's me sorted until around 11pm (or 2300hrs) when I head for bed. Don't ask me why, it's just a survival technique I'm currently employing.

I can't remember if I've mentioned it of late, but we're in lockdown again. Everything's closed like it was in the summer, except it's cold out there and the cycling has tailed off as a result. The virus is more virulent, there's a couple of new variants and loads of people have been infected, some of us don't even know if we've had (or have) the virus and that's why things have taken a turn for the worse. Fortunately, it looks as if the vaccination programme has legs and is moving on at a fair pace. My mum (she's 91 you know!) is having hers next week, my mother-in-law had hers last Saturday and it's all looking good. I'm probably not supposed to ride to Westerham, it's likely to be breaking the rules, but if that's the case, I've been breaking the rules all summer. In truth, riding out alone and not stopping is probably not causing too many problems and even on a Sunday, when Andy and I meet in Tatsfield Village, it's still not an issue. Apparently we can meet one other person from another household.

Okay, so that's today's post. I hope to post more. For some reason things have tailed off, as I said earlier, but I'll endeavour to get back on track with it.

Until the next time...

* The Slines Oak Sloth involves riding along the B269 to just beyond Botley Hill, turning back at the mini roundabout and then hanging a left and riding along The Ridge towards Woldingham. The road bears right and takes me into Woldingham and then I turn right on to Slines Oak Road. I ride towards the B269, turn left and pick up the Limpsfield Road towards home. It's around 15.5 miles.

New Year ramblings...

I completed my week on Saturday 2nd January with the Slines Oak Sloth in the grey and cloudy weather. The roads were a bit wet but that was about it. In total another 15.34 miles bringing my weekly mileage to roughly 57 miles, possibly more as I haven't added up the fractions.

On Sunday 3rd January I rode to meet Andy at the Tatsfield Village bus stop where we chatted about a range of subjects, the main one being Andy's assertion that tourism was pointless. Perhaps not pointless but I think what he was getting at was foreign holidays and simply sitting around doing nothing for a week, which I always thought was the point, but I know what he means. Andy says time passes quickly when you're sitting around doing nothing. Now, I'm not sure about that. I always find that a busy schedule makes the time pass faster than if I'm doing nothing and don't forget that a watched kettle never boils, so there you have it. But Andy has point: how many people visit London, I wonder, and think that seeing Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament is all there is to the UK capital? Or who goes to Paris just to see the Eifel Tower?

It was foggy and I thought a little cold so I wore the balaclava and several layers of clothing as well as my face covering thingy, not sure what you call them, possibly a 'snood', but who knows? Either way it made life a little more comfortable on the bike. 

Riding to the Tatsfield Village via Woldingham clocks up 18.23 miles. As you can see from the shot below, the roads were wet and because of the fog the air was damp. At one point I encountered sleety rain, or possibly even snow, on the 269, but nothing came of it.

On Clarks Lane, just past the Botley Hill roundabout...3 January

It's now Monday 4th January and I'm back at work, which was a bit of a wrench if I'm honest. I finished just gone 1630hrs and now I'm sitting at the dining room table blogging. I really hope to be able to get more miles in this week, but as it's dark by 1600hrs then I might need to look at early morning rides that get me back before I start work at 0800hrs. We'll see how that goes. Perhaps a couple of early Norfolk Nobbler Double Loops (10 miles). It would be good to get the mileage up to over 60 miles this week.

Tuesday 5th January and it's cold and rainy outside. It's now 1841hrs and I'm sitting in the sun lounge blogging. I wanted to go for a walk, but it would be too unpleasant. Ben Fogle's back on Channel Five tonight with a new series of New Lives in the Wild. Can't wait. Not sure if I've mentioned this before, but Ben Fogle is one of the best things on television. After that I'll probably watch another 'scary' movie. None of them have been scary yet, just a little bit naff if the truth be known.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the lockdown. Yes, for the third time since March last year we're back in lockdown. For how long nobody really knows, but we've got the vaccines on the way so hopefully it won't be too long. I'm gunning for Easter. Everybody's getting tired of it now, I know that I am.

So, a week of no cycling. But the weather was poor. It was cold and rainy and not really conducive to enjoyable cycling. My cycling week ended on Saturday 9th January and all I managed was around 40 miles, probably just 39. Today (Sunday 10th January) I rode to meet Andy at the Tatsfield Village Bus Stop. He wasn't there. But he did try to contact me. Unfortunately, my phone (once again) had run out of power so I sat alone drinking tea and giving Andy until 1000hrs before heading back home. He never turned up. Later, when I'd charged my phone at home, I opened up the messages and there it was: Andy had aborted, but only because he couldn't get into his garage. An iced up lock prevented him from attending the Sunday morning meeting of NoVisibleLycra. There's always next week.

The weather was cold over the weekend. Yesterday when I rode out around 1000hrs it was just 1 degree as I headed towards my destination: Westerham. I rode there via Pilgrims Lane, past the VeloBarn and then into the town centre. I didn't have a mask or any money so I couldn't stop for a cappuccino and some cake at the Costa on the green. Instead, I rode through the high street and then turned right and headed for the hill that would take me out of town and on the road to Botley Hill. There was thick fog most of the way and on Sunday it was just the same. It was also very lovely. The trees were frosted white and were shedding showers of ice, glass-like shards shaken from the bare branches as the sun tried to poke its head through the swirling, steamy grey clouds. Sunday I rode back from the village via The Ridge and that means my mileage was 18.23. If I could do four Slines Oak Sloths this coming week it would be good, but let's see what the weather has in store.

It's not just the weather, of course. Now I'm back at work my cycling windows are getting smaller. It's dark around 1600hrs, meaning lunch time and first thing in the morning are the only other options. The last thing I want to do is go out first thing in the morning as I need a bit of chill time prior to starting work around 0800hrs. By lunch time I'm in need of a break, so it looks as if cycling is reverting back to two rides per week, at the weekends, but only during this period of darkness and bad weather. Hopefully, as the weather improves, I'll be pushing the envelope again...unless COVID restrictions mean I can't ride out to places like Tatsfield village or Westerham. I think I'll take the risk on that front.

Christmas ramblings

[When I started writing this rambling post, London was under Tier 3 COVID restrictions]

So London goes into Tier Three restrictions and I'm wondering what it all means for cycling. Will riding from where I live in a Tier Three location out into the sticks where I'm sure they're all Tier Two, be illegal? Even if I'm not really stopping or socialising with anybody from the Tier Two location? Who knows? Perhaps we'll see what happens. I mean, will the police be on the look-out for for cyclists crossing the border? Or will things be like there were during the summer lockdown? And by that I mean I rode everywhere: to the lakes, to Westerham, to Tatsfield, and sat there drinking weird teas in fields and just chilling in the heat of an amazing summer. Surely I won't be denied that pleasure? I'm not sure what the deal is with Andy, and by that I mean is he in Tier Three or Tier Two and will the situation affect our Sunday meetings? I hope not.

Max in Westerham, 27 December

I've probably said it before, but the novelty of COVID-19 has well and truly worn off. I'm fed up with family packs of Alpen, the summer's gone, cafes are closed and it's all getting very, very depressing. Today I drove to Sevenoaks and the M&S cafe was closed. Things brightened up a little when I drove en famille to Forest Row and to one of many great establishments, Java & Jazz. Coffee and walnut cake, a cappuccino and half of another piece of coffee & walnut, ordered accidentally. All was good. As darkness set in we did a short walk around the block, admiring quaint cottages and Christmas trees and then we drove back. All good, but tainted by the virus and, if I'm honest, the strong likelihood of a no-deal Brexit. Depression loiters just under the surface of life at present and even Christmas brings no respite. Now, instead of enjoying the occasion we'll all be fretting about who's going to give it to who and whether grandma should be locked in a cupboard until she gets vaccinated.

And let's not forget Brexit. From 2016 to the present day it's hung over everybody like a bad smell and presided over by that obese arse Boris Johnson, a buffoon with a stupid haircut who is basically messing up the country at every step he takes. Whenever I see him standing next to European politicians he looks such a mess in his ill-fitting suit when compared, say, to Barnier, whose suit at least fits him and he looks the part. Johnson not only doesn't look the part, he isn't the part, he's an imposter, a career politician who is in it for himself and nobody else. I don't think I hate anybody more than I hate Johnson. He lies and lies and doesn't really care about the people he's supposed to be looking after. I hate his voice, his appearance, his politics, everything and I have to keep reminding myself that we, the British people, voted him into a position of power. He who lied to us all about giving £350 million a week to the NHS - I can't remember the details - but it was definitely a lie designed to make people feel inclined to vote Brexit. And just over half of us did and now, while I suspected we were about to engineer a so-called 'no deal' Brexit, an 11th hour deal has been agreed, although UK fishermen are not happy. Is a going to be a good deal for the UK? Of course not. For the British people? No, why would you think that? New roaming charges on mobile phones anybody? More red tape anyone? Arsehole in charge of the country? You bet!

It's just gone 0600hrs and I've been up since around 0530hrs, having woken up at 0400hrs. Why stay in bed? So I'm listening to BBC 6 Music, Chris Hawkins, on my new digital radio. Isn't he the guy from The Darkness? I've just eaten a bowl of Alpen and a sliced pear plus a cup of Yorkshire Tea and now I'm thinking about a boiled egg, although if I make one I must remember it's on the hob. The other day I got carried away with other stuff when I heard an explosion in the kitchen, it was one of two boiled eggs and when I got out there there was no water in the pan. However, a major disaster was averted: I didn't burn the saucepan, although I must point out that exploding boiled eggs are a good example of how absent-minded and 'off in another world' I've been of late, preoccupied, millions of thoughts twirling around in my head at the same time. The other day I inadvertently used chicken gravy as an accompaniment to cottage pie. We had beef gravy, but the packages are identical and, again, I didn't think, my mind was elsewhere, I wasn't on the ball and I need to get my act together.

It's now the 22nd December, the day after the winter solstice, which means that, from now on, it's getting lighter every day and we're under 10 days from 2021. I'm listening to Chris Hawkins again. London is now under Tier 4 restrictions and for many, Christmas is now ruined and everybody is blaming Boris Johnson. Well, not everybody, but he's getting some stick from the media. I don't want to get back on the subject of Johnson, because everybody knows I think he's an arse and there's nothing much else to say about him.

Tuesday 22nd December 2020

I love being off work for the Christmas period. I still get up early, like now, and sit downstairs listening to the radio and writing the blog, or writing other stuff. Sometimes I listen to BBC Radio 3, in fact, I might switch over as the Pretenders are on and I can't stand them for some reason. Oh, alright, I'll stick with them, but perhaps later a switch to classical music would be good. The other day I sat in the conservatory, reading The Fall by Albert Camus, and listening to Radio 3. The light faded and soon I was sitting in the darkness, nodding in and out of sleep and feeling, I don't know, so relaxed, it was fantastic. The Fall is a bit of a handful, but there you have it. I've got other books to read, like a brand new copy of Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy, a book that has shimmered in my head ever since I first read it back in the mid-seventies, there's something about Diggory Venn, the reddleman, and the whole atmosphere of the book that means I have to re-read it. So that's next for me.

A ride to Westerham

Around 1045hrs I headed for Westerham on the bike. I rode via Pilgrims Lane, past Velo Barn and into the centre of town where I enjoyed a large cappuccino and a Bakewell tart. Have I mentioned my crap iphone 5? If not, just to say that the battery went flat when I arrived in Westerham so I couldn't accurately monitor the mileage. I reckon it was roughly 23 miles as I rode back through Woldingham, there was no rain and it was a very pleasant day (still is as I write this at 1402hrs). It's cloudy out there, but warm, albeit grey. and it was one of those days when I could have carried on riding all day. I was considering riding to Dunton Green or Riverhead or even Otford (now there's a new destination). But I settled for Westerham where, incidentally, they have a decent Christmas tree on the green, which adds to the festive spirit.

Today's ride (22nd December) brings my weekly total to roughly 39 miles, but overall I've been riding fairly frequently: I rode to Tatsfield village to meet Andy on Sunday (16 miles); the previous Saturday I rode the Slines Oak Sloth (15.34 miles) and I did the same ride on Friday (another 15.34 miles). The previous Sunday I rode 18.03 miles to Tatsfield, also to meet Andy, and the mileage was higher because I rode home via Woldingham. The Saturday before that I rode to Sevenoaks (something like 34 miles, making me a hero on Strava) and then my ride prior to that was the Sunday before when I rode 18.03 miles to Tatsfield. So, reduced riding due to bad weather mainly, but I'm still getting up to around 50 miles a week. So far this week (and remember my week starts on a Sunday) I've riden around 39 miles. I'll probably do another 20-odd miles this week, taking me to around 59/60 miles and then a ride on Boxing Day to Tatsfield, taking my weekly mileage (hopefully) to roughly 78 miles, which ain't bad. It all depends on the weather.

Here's the past week's mileage to date:-

1. Sunday 20th December, ride to Tatsfield, back the fast way: 16 + miles.

2. Tuesday 22nd December, ride to Westerham, via Woldingham: 23 miles. Cumulative total 39 miles.

3. Saturday (Boxing Day) to Tatsfield Village via Slines Oak: 18.03 miles.

4. Sunday (27th December) to Westerham (the slow way) via Tatsfield Village with Max and then back along The Ridge (26 miles).

5. Tuesday 29th December, The Slines Oak Sloth (15.34 miles).

Total: 57 miles.

Christmas was pleasant, it always is, and now it's Boxing Day and I've been on a ride to meet Andy at Tatsfield Village (see above). The weather was overcast and slightly on the cold side, but it was fine and I wore the balaclava, which was probably overkill on my part. Andy and I enjoyed Christmas cake, mince pies, a fantastic protein bar and, of course, a cup of tea, well, two cups. We talked about movies on Prime and then rode back together via Woldingham and, for me, the steep hill at the end of Slines Oak Road.

A ride with my son Max

On Sunday 27th December my son Max and I rode the long way to Tatsfield Village to meet Andy and I made a right nob of myself on the road leading to St Leonard's Church. A cyclist en route advised me to seek another route as the road ahead was flooded, he meant well. "Not a problem, mate," said I with bravado and, to be fair, Andy and I have rode through the flooded section of road before, I wasn't anticipating a problem. But I was mistaken. When we reached the water, two cyclists on the other side were working out a way of getting across without getting wet, but I steamed in and got stuck half way. The water must have been around a foot and a half deep. The bike came to a standstill and I knew that within a second or so I would have to wade out, pretending there wasn't a problem (when clearly there was). Max played it safe and found a way around the water and so did the two cyclists waiting on the other side. Only yours truly rushed in and received a soaking in return. The water was cold and I had the whole ride ahead of me. Fortunately, the weather was mild and warm and in all honesty it never really bothered me. I kind of accepted it and got on with the ride. When we reached Tatsfield Village we munched on Andy's protein bars, which are seriously good, and then, after chatting about our bikes and Andy's London to Paris ride in 2011, we rode with Andy towards the Tatsfield Bus Stop and turned left on to Clarks Lane, heading for Westerham. Andy turned right and headed home along The Ridge. There was so much water on the roads (after the havoc wreaked by Storm Bella) and there was a raging torrent blasting its way along a roadside gulley as we entered Westerham. There was a masked queue for the Costa so we decided to ride home. It was tough coming back up the hill, but we pressed on, turning left on The Ridge and riding through Woldingham. Once we had tackled the Slines Oak hill it was just a case of riding along the Limpsfield Road to reach home, a ride of 26 miles, and the perfect way to start my cycling week.

Same flooded road, but less water and a different day

It's Monday and there's a whole week of not being at work ahead of me. If I can get a couple of rides in before next Sunday that would bump up my mileage.

29th December - The Slines Oak Sloth

At lunch time I decided to hit the road and was going to do a Ledgers Double Loop (12 miles) but decided instead to ride the Slines Oak Sloth (15.34 miles). The weather was grey but pleasant and I was out for 90 minutes. I left at noon and was home around 1.30pm, just in time for jacket potato, tuna and sweetcorn!

And now it's a day later, 30th December, Max has gone home and we're all wishing he was still here. It's 0835hrs, I've had breakfast and I'm thinking about another ride, possibly another Slines Oak Sloth. So far this week I've covered around 41 miles (26 + 15 = 41) so another 15 would be excellent for midweek.

New Year's Eve 2020

It's always an uneventful day and I've never liked it. I can't stand the false bonhomie of New Year and the anticlimax of the whole thing. The fireworks go off and I'm always thinking so what? Sometimes I go to bed before midnight and these days, because I don't drink, I tend to wake up feeling fine, which is far better than a hangover. I should have gone out for a ride, but didn't.