“You’re alright, I’m not riding with you,” was what I said to the incredulous-looking Ipswich Bicycle Club members waiting to leave for a club run from St. Peter’s Dock at 9am this morning. What I should have said was, “OK. I’ll lead. Do you think you’ll be able to keep up with me?”

Anyway, Ipswich marina looked nice this morning. As in it looked like Nice on the French Riviera, with glinting highlights sparkling on deep blue waters and expensive yachts dotted about.

Today’s ride was a hot one, with the memories of riding through Scottish downpours earlier this “summer” melting away.

Soon after seeing my first cycle sign for London I met cycle tourist David who was heading to London’s Dulwich. He’d arrived that morning in Harwich on a ferry from the Netherlands. He’s spent some weeks touring around Denmark and the Netherlands, having started in the UK. “I’ve only had two days of rain,” he told me. Lucky sod.

David is from Belfast and, as his tour was finishing later that day, he kindly handed me his bottle of Citronella bug repellant after I’d told him of the mosquito attacks I’d suffered when wild camping in Norfolk. Could come in useful as I have some more wild camping coming up.

We were both following Sustrans Route 1 so rode together chatting for a few miles before he turned for Dulwich and I obeyed the Garmin 1040’s beeps and took the lanes way to West Thurrock. As we were saying our goodbyes I noticed the plush toy fastened to his front bag.

“That’s Zen Dog; he reminds me not to go too fast,” said David.

While David’s tour is over, mine hits a significant number tomorrow.

42, according to Douglas Adams, is the “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” in Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books.

Dunno about Deep Thought but I know I’ve got to get across the Thames to Dartford tomorrow otherwise it’s a 31 mile detour to the Woolwich foot tunnel. Handily, there’s a free shuttle for cyclists so will try that out after an early breakfast.