2 Masjids 313 miles for Palestine
In 5 brief paragraphs I'll try do a writeup so you'll not get too bored. Biggest highlight is probably when I've left the hotel and told the reception person that the soap and shower gel was out, but I only realised aftwr I'd got in. She looked at me indifferently with an 'oh, right' without even a hint of an attempt at an apology. Contemplated on that and then realised it must have been my thick yellow R*pha hat.
Raised over £2500 (and counting, thanks Faruq) for the much needed relief amidst the bombing in Palestine so was well worth it. Added some raw honey to my raw behind after the shower and it stung. In my eyes that's a win-win as it'll do a good job at quick healing. Highlight of the sores being when my audax-specialist mate told me to just let my 'bum, go numb'. I could just imagine the pain I might have in the coming days so I continued to take 'pressure relief stands'.
Started at about 0900 and the route was based around a 500km audax route. I just changed the wording to 313 Epic Sahaba as they (the companions of the prophet Muhammed Sallallahu-alayhi-wasallaam who took part in the Battle of Badr, where everyone thought they'd be annihilated) were the ones that suffered the most at the grassroots of the prophetic journey of our Muhammad (PBUH).
Timing for the official route was 35 hours and 36 minutes. We got back in 37 hours so not too far off. He spoke to me about Rondo around the Year. Though all that official stuff has always left me confused in the audax settings. I may give a 200 miler per month a go. After Cambridge and a 'good munch' and 150 miles in the legs we turned back for home. That's when some of the dozies came and I got told off (and rightly so) for not slowing down after telling my mate I was wanting to snooze.
I did have a snooze with eyes half closed and riding on the straights on clear roads at about 0300. But I dare not tell him at the time and filled that in when were (almost) home dry. Sleeping (for the 'dozies' which must be an audax official term) was about 5 mins - him, 0 mins - on a park bench at 0200. Then another better sleep where we both had a bench each and he even popped on his primaloft jacket, at about 0500. I got another 45 mins and even slept on my back pocket banana - him 0 mins again and told me I was out like a light snoring away. After that another 25 minutes for both of came when we made it to a masjid just in time for pre-dusk prayers.
The chap that told us the bikes were fine was very accommodating and we managed a good freshen up, ablution and prayers in peace. With the sleep to top it off. After that the main climbs came either side of Northampton. I know in paragraph 6 now, sorry. Despite trying to make it back for abut 1900 we finally got home for about 2200. Trench foot nursed and washed quickly we had the most lovely food and Faruqs friends house (Anser) and I had to decline early as the eating comp had got the better of me.
https://humanaid.org/f/gaza-1000-8307
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Him pretending to be asleep just minutes before I had a decent 5 minutes of snoring sat next to him.
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Food at Cambridge Zi's. Food!! What food...
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Nice people at CoOp just minutes before they closed at 2000. In the nick of time shopping and I made a little top tube bag food concoction. Of butter shortcakes and cashews.
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The ther masjid that gave us respite for doing the prayers in relative ease. Almost got told off for the bikes as it was a very tight ablution area but once the imam knew we were nt there for camping and just for a quick prayer, we were good!
THE END for now Alhamdulillah