Day 23. Still in Sibford having been to Eastcote in London today playing hockey for Banbury 3rd team. It is many years since I played a game of competitive game of club hockey and I was clearly not match fit, however I always enjoy a game and although I didn't see much of the ball and we lost 4-1 it was good fun and exercise. After being 3-0 behind in 20 minutes the team did much better and one of the Banbury team scored a terrific goal from the edge of the area but despite playing much better in the second half we couldn't find the goals we needed and I didn't get a shot on goal, not what was required but I tried my best but perhaps am too old to compete at that level now. Tomorrow it is back on the bike to Oxford. Good night.

Day 23 Another day in Sibford and I took the opportunity to take a good walk around the area going through Sibford Ferris, Burdrop, Sibford Gower, Epwell and back via Ditchedge Lane (a pre-roman track) and Traitors Ford. I will endeavour to post some photos that show the snow on the lane and of the ford. I spent some time cleaning and oiling moving parts of the bike and put more air in the tyres for the first time since setting off. Tomorrow I may be playing in a competitive game of hockey for Banbury against Eastcote (London) as they could be short of a player, an exciting prospect if it happens. I believe the weather may warm up a little next week, I will believe it when it happens although I expect warmer will mean wetter. Good night. Epwell Curch, Ditchedge Lane full of snow, Traitors Ford.

Day 22 It is so good to be in Sibford, a quiet little Oxfordshire village on the edge of the Cotswolds where my Mother was born and where my Aunt, Uncle and cousins still live. I spent many holidays here as a child and have memories of hot, sunny summers spent playing cricket, cycling, going on walks, outings and (dangerously) building dens in the straw bales. In those days the farm was a pig farm and I remember being woken by the sound of pig feeding activity early in the morning it was all so novel and different from life in the city and even though the pigs have been replaced by sheep it stills feels like a second home. I am having a lazy day today, having cycled about 170 miles in 4 days and had 3 nights in the tent I am allowing myself a little respite before moving on to Oxford. It remains bitterly cold with a stiff easterly breeze and snow flurries, however I am determined to get out for a walk later and hopefully help with feeding some lambs. Meanwhile I shall now try to upload some pics from a Milton Keynes evening. Good day.

Day 21. Although I did like Milton Keynes in many respects it does feel a bit strange and can look deserted and is very big, it took me about an hour to cycle out of the city onto the appalling A241 which frayed my nerves so much I detoured via Winslow to Buckingham. I then took the opportunity to visit the landscape gardens at Stowe. These are a bit like Studley Royal at Fountains Abbey but without the advantage of the Abbey ruins and a bit over the top really, ostentatious. I wonder at the arrogance, self confidence and belief in their right to as they pleased of those who developed these opulent parks building great follies to impress their peers when their workers would have lived in much more modest circumstances. However, one cannot help but be awed by the scale of the place. I then continued to Brackley,Banbury and Sibford to stay with my cousin on their farm also calling in on my Aunt and Uncle. I will be staying here a day or two before moving on. Some pics of Stowe. Good night. Pics of frosted tent at Milton Keynes and Stowe.

Day 20 I felt very intrepid this morning, the tent was white with frost and I had survived the coldest night so far. The night sky over Cambridge was very clear last night with many stars and planets on view, unfortunately the battery in my device had run right down thanks to Starbucks kicking me out before it had charged up. Anyway, Cambridge is a fascinating city well adapted to a bicycle life and with so many astonishingly fine buildings anyone of which could form the pride and joy of most towns. I know some of you have suggested I ditch the tent but I am really enjoying camping and it costs about 20% of the price of b+b. The caravan and camping sites I have used are all well equipped, at Polstead the showers had underfloorheating. By the way the town I forgot yeaterday was Haverhill. I was sorry to miss Old Scholars reunion at Ackworth I shall make a point of being there next year to save someone else the ignomy of coming last in the Badsworth run. Today's journey has been by turns delightful (Grantchester), quiet (10 minutes without seeing another vehicle on the B1042), frustrating (getting lost in Bedford), muddy(trying to get unlost in Bedford), infuriating(doing extra miles due to getting lost in Bedford), terrifying (cycling 10 miles on the A214 due to getting lost in b####dy Bedford) andgreat relief on reaching the most cycle friendly place on earth, Milton Keynes. This is a town that has been sneered at and been the butt of many jokes but as you know I am easily pleased and although the place has no sense ofhaving grown gradually over time the open space and the way traffic is kept away from bikes and pedestrians is veryappealling and the copious bits of public art etc is endearing. I like it. Will now try for some pics. Good night.

Day 20 pics of Cambridge and Milton Keynes.

Day 18 (I am losing count could be 19). There is carnage on the roads on my route today from Polstead to Cambridge via Sudbury and somewhere really big but I can't remember what is called (I know it hasa Wimpy cos I had lunch there). Anyway much of the time I was A roads and number of dead birds (including a barn owl), badgers and deer I saw was quite sad. The quiz last night was good fun and I got into a team with some very nice people and we were called the 'smegheads',we got off to a storming start and although we didn't make best use of our joker (had we played it round 3 instead of 2 we would have scored 12 more points) by have time we had a big lead but were reeled in as we did poorly on comedy, sport and lines from movies so finished 4th. It was an entertaining 2.5 mile ride back to the campsite in the dark but I made it and had a good night's sleep. Up early and away this morning arriving in Cambridgeat 2.30. Now in Starbucks that is about to close but I will try and upload some pics before they kick me out. Good night.