Getting scalped

Looking in the mirror at the hairdresser's, with Alan Hoy behind. Many thanks to Headway, in Ipswich, for this free '10-week' haircut, Alan's contribution to the funds.

Anyone for tea and scone?

Suffolk is renowned for the quality and ambience of its tea rooms; Teacups in Woolpit and Tickled Pink in Lavenham spring to mind. But Mildenhall? Who would have thought that this town, more renowned for its proximity to the American airbase, would be able to spring a surprise such as this:

I can honestly say this was (by far) the best hot fruit scone I've ever tasted. And look at the presentation! That strawberry just sets it off. Well done Emily's Tea Room in Market Place!

This was the halfway point on a 30-mile circuit this afternoon that took in the airbase, as well as Icklingham, Eriswell, Kentford and Gazeley.

Photoshoot and a sprint

This morning I went to the Stroke Association's offices in Bury St Edmunds for a photoshoot. They plan to send out a press release next week, encouraging local media to turn up for the big send-off on 30 April. Here's the photo of me, resplendent in a cap - not my preferred style but hey, anything for a bit more sponsorship.

Then this afternoon a change to my usual training routine. I decided to do a 'sprint'. Well, a timed run over a known short distance. The circuit from home to Wickhambrook, via Hargrave, Ousden and back via Chevington keeps mainly to little-used roads and is 16½ miles long. One day I promise myself that I'll do it within the hour, but today it took 65 minutes. That works out at just over 15 mph, so I'm happy with that. On my old bike with its wide stippled tyres, I only managed to complete this route last year in an hour and twenty minutes.

Back home, I weighed myself to find that I've lost nearly half a stone since the turn of the year; in fact, since I started proper training at the beginning of March. So who needs a diet, when cycling can lose you pounds?!

Many thanks to Cotswold!

On Saturday I went to the local Cotswold Outdoor store to collect the items they had generously donated.

In addition to a top-of-the-range Therm-a-Rest Prolite Plus sleeping mat (£95), they also supplied a Trangia 27 cooking stove (£60) and a Rab Mummy silk sleeping bag liner (£36). The photo shows Cotswold's Dave North presenting me with the items.

I would recommend Cotswold to anyone looking for camping equipment or outdoor clothing for any activity. They have very helpful and courteous staff, who are prepared to give you plenty of their time.