What do you do on your 70th?

So, today, friends and family from far and near were gathering to celebrate eldest brother's 70th birthday. The event itself was planned for the late afternoon on Rutland Water and before that were optional activities and excursions. Last night, the three brothers and two wives agreed to cycle round the reservoir together. After breakfast, we got the bikes off our car and cycled from the hotel to meet up at the bike hire, from where we all set off together. It was surprisingly hilly and moderately challenging, not least dodging bikes coming from the opposite direction! We tried to remember the last time the three brothers had cycled together and eventually concluded that this was the first time!

After a welcome break for cappuccini, we inspected the delightful, odd-looking, half-submerged Normanton Church and were briefly allowed a quick look inside as it was being prepared for a wedding. Then on round passed the Horse and Jockey, where we were sorely tempted to chill out - as most other cyclist appeared to be doing! Having virtually completed our circuit, we left the others, deciding to go on round the peninsula that juts out into the reservoir, which added another 7 or 8 miles. The first part was even hillier but much quieter and we were rewarded with fine views and fascinating glimpses into some rather up-market properties around Hambleton. By the time we returned to the hotel, we had clocked up just over 25 miles in just under 3 hours (excluding stops) and were ready for a quick shower before heading to the party.

By now it was pleasantly warm. The venue had an attractive setting looking out over the reservoir, there was good food topped by a birthday cake, impressively decorated with brother's place in a shortened family tree (he had over 3000 names on his multi-branch database the last time we asked!). Good company, short speeches and the evening was gone in a flash! Congratulations brother - you're looking good for a few more decades yet!