Sousaphones and Spireites

As I looked out of my bedroom window this morning the signpost pointing right said 'Doncaster Royal Infirmary' and the other said 'HM Prison Doncaster '. Given various aches and pains the former had its attractions and a spell in the latter would give me a day off. My direction was however straight ahead towards Sheffield.

The manageress at The Premier Inn kindly donated £20 to the cause and then told us that she was a sousaphone player. Not only that, she was to be playing at one of our destinations later in the day Chesterfield at their Open Day tomorrow. In Yorkshire the brass band is never too far away.

The first part of the journey seemed endlessly uphill and you were left to wonder when the uphill leg was to end. The best clue was 'The Hilltop Hotel' and after that I had a good downhill route into Sheffield. Known as the Rome of the UK as like the capital of Italy the city is built on six hills. We did at least four of the six! Sheffield Wednesday were at home to Stoke City so we were not able to get pitch side and Sheffield United (apart from the shop) was simply closed notwithstanding their open day due for tomorrow. They have clearly taken their relegation at the end of last season very badly.

Eventually we found our way out of the city via Woodseats which is so high the atmosphere begins to thin and less oxygen is available for lung use. The downhill was worth waiting for and the speed sign thanked me for only doing 29 mph - good law abiding citizen

We arrived in Chesterfield at 2.30pm half an hour before their kick off against Hull in a friendly. The only way we were going to get pitchside was to buy a ticket and watch the game which is what we did. We joined approximately 2,500 Spireites and despite us being honorary Spireites for the day we could not help the home team as they were well beaten 2-0 by the away team.

That did mean no riding between 2.30 and 5.00 pm and that is why the blog this evening is later than usual. I still had 16 miles to ride to the hotel and then decided that the literary juices were non exitent without food. Those of you who may have speculated on other reasons I am sorry to disappoint. I am still feeling good albeit a little leggy. My daughter Rebecca will rejoin us tomorrow at the home of the twice European Champions Nottingham Forest. The necessities of the journey mean we have to visit Pride Park. The team that play there shall remain nameless.

Today's shift was 52.8 miles with a cumulative total of 316.9 miles.

My choice of photograph today is to warn you all of what happens to you if you do mad things. When I get back you may not recognise me!