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Day 9    Sunday 2^nd May 2004

Hinckley to Marchington (near Uttoxeter)

I have now sung for my supper (wedding breakfast or the like), I am rested, and have been well fed culminating in a Sunday roast.  I was very good because I resisted second portions of pudding – this was probably advisable seeing as I had a ride of about 40 miles ahead of me.  During the weekend I had been having some difficulty finding a B&B in the Burton upon Trent area – everywhere seemed to be full.  Eventually after about 4 attempts I managed to find a place at Marchington, a small village on the outskirts of Uttoxeter.  The owner said that she would not be back to about 7pm as she was attending a Christening.  This suited me fine as I would not be leaving Hinckley until after lunch and would probably not arrive much before this time anyway.

I set off about 2pm on what was to be one of the flattest rides of the trip so far.  And what’s more the wind was helping me along making the going very easy.  The more severe inclines seemed to be all descents while the ascents were more gradual.  As I approached No Man’s Land – a small village near where 3 counties come together (Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire) I could see a group of cyclists approaching me from the other direction.  And what is more the voice of one of them seemed very familiar – in fact I recognised the voice before I recognised the figure.  John W who lives in Market Bosworth was out with friends – I have sometimes cycled with him when we have been collecting for the Leicester Historic Churches fund and I know him and his family well.  On this occasion there was only time to say hello as we flashed by each other.  I must let him know that I have done the ride and invite him to see the slides.

The road after No Man’s Heath briefly passes into Staffordshire.  Within a mile I was in South Derbyshire and it wasn’t long before I was crossing the River Trent just outside Barton under Needwood.  I looked at my speedometer to see how I was doing.  I was averaging more than 12 mph – this was unheard of last week.

On the far side of Barton I cautiously overtook a lady on a horse and very shortly afterwards came to a road junction which looked as though it was the one needed to take me up towards Uttoxeter.  I was unsure.  At this point the lady on the horse caught me up and asked if I needed help.  She confirmed that this was the right road and so I continued.  There was a veteran car rally in the area and I was overtaken by several cars all out on the rally.

I got to the village of Marchington soon after 5 and found a field where I could eat my sandwiches.  7pm was still a long way off.  After tea I had a look round the village which didn’t take long – but I managed to find the B&B which had previously alluded me and then went on to have a look at the church.  Services were advertised as starting at 9.30am .  I propped my bike against the wall of the church and went to have a look inside the porch – I could hear people inside.  Just at that moment the vicar (and I presume his wife) came up and started talking.  Evensong was about to begin which was held on the first Sunday of the month.  They said their goodbyes and went in. 

“Why not join them” I thought, especially as I had another hour before the lady expected me at the B&B.  I only had my cycling kit to wear – but what’s on the outside doesn’t really matter!  So having locked my bike to a nearby tree I ventured in.  There weren’t many of us there.  By the time the service started at 6pm there were three men and four ladies together with a lady organist and the vicar.  I had attempted to sit in the pews when I entered but was asked to come and sit in the choir stalls.  The men sat on one side, the ladies on the other.  The man on my left sang bass, the other man sang tenor and I joined him.  I don’t know if the ladies were singing in parts.  We used the Book of Common Prayer – which I am not at all used to – but my friend the bass showed me where to turn to and the vicar very patiently gave me time to find my place.  We did the full thing – versicles and responses and the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimitus.  No anthem though!  It is a good job that I am familiar with these through my singing with Tempo.

Afterwards I chatted to the vicar for a while.  He told me that the B&B that I was going to was owned by Thelma who until last week had been the church warden.  Apparently she was away on holiday at present but the B&B was being looked after by a friend.  It was gone 7pm and time to move on.  I had travelled 36.8 miles and had achieved the fantastic average of 11.3 mph.  This average had decreased with my meanderings round the village since I arrived at 5.  This brings the total mileage up to 446.6. 

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