Sunburn!!!

I went cycling on Sunday. Absolutely beautiful day! Now I always take factor 60 sun cream with me everywhere, I am extremely pale it's a necessity. An hour into our journey I realised it was in my usual bag at my friends house where we started from... I'll come back to this...

Our route was one we got off cycle-route.com it's a great site, you can look up routes in your area or write your own when you've found a good one. We picked this route seemed like a nice loop of manchester and back, roughly about 30 - 35 miles or so. We set off all is well, got to Manchester in good time, set off about 10.15am got to the centre at about 12.15. (This is with stopping finding the cycle paths, trying not to die on the east lancs and stopping for occasional hydration). We were feeling pretty pleased, until we set off. Now if you've never been to Manchester this is a BAD thing, right in the centre it's like the Labyrinth. All the signs seem to either disappear or start pointing the other way. Result = very lost lol. In short we probably circled the centre twice before looking at a tram map. And we were off again!! Now we took a diversion, to try and find a route along the canal, nope that did not go well!! Got somewhere, I dont even remember where, but we found a road and kept going... so when we arrived in Sale near Altrincham (by the way when you're on the road to Altrincham it's like the world doesn't exist there are no roads going anywhere but Altrincham, slightly amusing if we weren't quite so lost). We decided to phone for help, cue boyfriend... straight on google maps, post code, done head this way then that way... ok... we thought...

We headed in the once again, right direction towards Eccles this time it finally got us to the Trafford centre which is like a bloody city all by it's bloody self. What is with the copious amounts of roundabouts!! We stopped off for a drink and toilet break (needs must).

Sun was shining constantly, I had shorts on and my jacket sleeves pulled up to my elbow because it was quite hot, nice breeze though... remember these points :)

So after circling the Trafford Centre twice, we finally, got onto the right road and we were on our way. The right route took us onto a dirt track, it was nice, country road in the middle of no where fields on both sides, glorious weather, wind in our hair good day cycling on the home stretch. That is until the road ended with a wall of trees......

Hmmm....

We went right found a helpful farmer, who said, "Been here for around 20 years, think I've seen the main road once or twice." Ha ha ha... *nervous laughter* No he was actually very helpful. We were now definitely on the right route home. It took us back over the dual carriage way and onto home turf. There was an evil hill, which we had to walk up, this point we were both shattered...

It was like 4.30pm. This says a lot about our friendship that we're still friends after this fiasco lol.

Now is it me, or does the route home always seem the hardest and longest if you know the roads and you know how far you have to go? Rather than the end being on strange roads where you dont know the distance? For the charity ride I am definitely hoping this is true.

Anyway the final hill we cycled up, not 10 minutes from home, my friend was behind me at this point, I mean right behind me, I was flagging badly, my legs hated me, my body hated me and I think my bike hated me too. The last part of that hill if my friend wasn't behind me telling me 'No we're not finished yet, you're not done.' I think I would have just laid down in the road, there were actual tears getting up that hill I am not ashamed to admit, well maybe a tear... tears is a slight exaggeration.. ahem...

We got back, 5.15pm...

Cup of tea! He he he one of the best I've tasted :) We worked out on google maps we'd done approximately 50 miles *applause*

I got back home (in my car ;) ) and discovered I was a lobster! I have not been this badly sunburnt since I was 15 and fell asleep in my mum's back garden. I hadn't even realised until I stopped cycling. My arms and the tops and sides of my legs and my face. Two days later and I am still extremely sore and very burnt...borderline 3rd degree burns we're talking here, it hurts to walk, my face is the least damaged one small consolation. I took pictures, I will put some up when I download them lol. The pain is pretty much constant at this stage, thank god for aftersun gel. Sadly it's put me out of training for the week as my body is still in shock and sore... I cant emphasise how painful it is, enough lol...

But now all I feel, after being momentarily angry with the sun, is extremely silly. I should have known better with my complexion, I cant afford to forget my sun block :(

So I shall suffer on, heal as fast as I can, with only 3 and a bit weeks left...*bites nails*

Was a good route though... we did 50 miles!! How good is that?! For a newbie I mean :p