Three ladies

Once upon a time, there were 3 adventurous ladies: one English, one Irish and one French. They decided to venture into darkest Suffolk alone and unaided, without backup and above all without any member of the opposite sex to mend punctures!

They set off at the crack of dawn one sunny Saturday in August. All went well and they gradually gained confidence as the miles rolled away under their swiftly pedalling feet. Onwards they sped through the Easters, skirting Braintree, past Gosfield Lake, admiring the scenery and tiny Hamlets on the way.

Passing through Halstead the intrepid three decided a coffee shop would be a welcome sight, but before this could be achieved, the French contingent got a puncture! Without hesitation, the other countries came to her aid. The bike was turned over and the delicate operation of mending the puncture took place, all in a record time of 1 hour! Soon they were underway again, but alas, 50 yards down the road, the French section got another puncture. Not to be beaten, for a second time the other countries came to her aid and in a mere 45mins the puncture was mended and the intrepid group set off again. However, sad to tell, another 50 yards and (yes you are right) another puncture.

The group, having no more inner tubes, decide "there is something wrong with this wheel”. Not to be beaten the brave French lady rode her bike 6 miles with a flat tyre to the next village of Bures, where she was bundled onto a train to Chelmsford. After waving her goodbye the remaining two set off and, after a quick lunch stop, it was noted that the sun had disappeared and it was definitely getting colder and darker. As we all know, the British half of the team DOESN'T DO RAIN.

As the rain drops started to fall capes were put on, and the hilly climbing started in the Colne Valley. After half an hour off wheezing and puffing, the Irish half decided to get a puncture. This was quickly mended in a record-breaking time of 15 mins (picture attached of Irish person doing jig to celebrate). Meanwhile the English half was making good use of the previously mentioned cape. Now soaked to the skin, very tired and wondering where the nearest taxi firm was sited, they saw a sign for Claydon (the destination). So, with renewed energy they completed the last 20 miles trouble free.

After a two-hour rest, tea and sandwiches, off they set for Ipswich Station and caught a train to Chelmsford. They cycled home in the dark with one back light and one front between them, arriving home at 9:30 and 88 miles later, NOT BAD FOR A COUPLE OF AMATEURS.

Barbara Wells, August 2011