Surly They Won't Make It

14/10/24

Leaving Ely yesterday was essentially the first day but it was to stay with Jonathan’s mum for the first night just outside Newmarket. Setting forth on wobbly steeds was an unexpected treat. The weight reverberated through the frame and exaggerated every turn. We’d packed to reflect other peoples gear but it seemed unrealistic to be honest. Though Jonathan was carrying the majority of the heavy objects, the tools and spares for example. 

It was an easy ride really, the fens being flat as they are. Something that will be reflected in the Netherlands we assume. Duchess drive out of Newmarket was to be the first reality check. Frankie made a valiant effort to get more than halfway before she stopped briefly and then finished the climb. We were so close to the top but finding it hard so early on was psychologically difficult. 

It was supposed to be a relaxing and peaceful last night in the UK. Har har. Having decided to change his tyres to Marathon Plus’s, Jonathan proceeded to remove the Surly ET’s from his wheels. Except it wasn’t possible, they were welded firmly to the rims. Not just stubbornly fitted but as though the rubber had melted slightly over the presumably long time they had been nestled in the rim. Tubeless fucking tyres eh. We all wrestled with them, Jonathan’s mother included, for over an hour utilising: a spatula, a weird piece of brass, a hairdryer and of course actual tyre levers. Most irritatingly, one bead coming off did not mean the other one did! 

After the stressful tyres, the finding of several pieces of gear, that were stupidly left to the last minute, filled the cortisol void. Hunting vigorously through draws and cupboards of gear occupied an unnecessary amount of time but many things were located such as waterproof socks and balaclavas. 

An old childhood friend of Jonathan came to visit as he was fortuitously staying that week, bearing bleak cake. His words! Tom was ridiculously patient with Jonathan’s frantic ramblings and allowed him to ruminate on whether to bring a laptop. It ended up being jettisoned as the kitchen scales indicated it was 2.3kg, charger included. 

We succumbed to bed entirely too late for what we had planned the next day, but alas we’d done it anyway.