Rain rain go away, come back another day -the cyclists must have been thinking at the start outside in an empty parking lot on this grey and drizzly Sunday morning in Halmstad. Halmstad; that pearl on the westcoast, famous for its sandy beaches, good weather and Roxette, was at 08:58 stage to a group of anxious cyclists preparing to set off North up the coast to Gothenburg.
I had been commandeered by the project-group to drive one of the cars. Walle was in no shape to drive, but was despite his condition, and with a bandaged hand the size of a boxers glove, running around and helping out as best he could.
The 3 start groups set off at their designated times and soon our entourage was rolling, slowly, surely, safely North. The rain peppered the windscreen of the Jumpy and Google Maps in my HTC phone helped as I planned the route from town to town.
I knew this route well, after many hours spent planning it. The grey sky followed us menacingly from the West; watching, seemling waiting for a better opportunity ....
I was, for the first time, happy to be sitting in the dry cab of this van and made it my duty to make sure the groups were having as good a ride as they could have given the weather. I performed many drive-bys and tooted and wooped at the riders. These heroes on wheels.
Through Falkenberg and Varbergs Södra Fästningen with nothing more than a couple of punctures to report. The rain had stopped, though only temporarily. I stayed in contact with our mechanic Pelle, and wondered how it was going for Billy, Alex and Kent in Mölndal with the childrens ride.
The closer we got to Gothenburg, the more it rained. In Kungsbacka we got some bad news. Tommy had gone down. In the middle of a roundabout, a car with Polish numberplates had overtaken and forced him down into a hole. Suspected of a broken collarbone Tommy was taken to hospital by the gracious Anne-Marie, whom, as luck would have it, stopped by at Kungsbacka to give us her support.
The cyclists rode on ... Fjärås, Lindome, Kållered ... and suddenly the skies were opening more and more. The girls in the slow group wanted dry clothing sent to Kungsbacka. I had to firmly decline, with Tommy now in hospital, Billy at the hotel vommiting with a terrible migraine, someone had to greet the cyclists at the finish.
Anyhow, the dry clothes would stay dry for approxiamately 60seconds. Better to stay on the bike and keep moving.
The finish was an anti-climax. Everyone was obviously shaken by what had happened to Tommy. Cyclists appeared at ICA Maxi Mölndal and disappeared just as quick in the rain and mist.
But the lads at MAXI? These guys are fantastic.
2008 they presented us with a cheque for 81,000sek
2009 they appologetically presented us with a cheque for 27,000 - as if the Global recession was their doing.
Now they presented us with a cheque for 62,000 and despite the non-finish, vowed to better it next year and try to get past the 100,000 mark!
Thanks guys, despite all the rain and the injuries, you shed light on all of us
No comments:
Post a Comment