for Northampton. Had a puncture at Robin Hood’s Hill and arrived at Doncaster 122 miles, but by my wrong route more like 140, at 6pm, mud from head to foot. Stayed at a temperance hotel, had fine supper, and excellent bed and breakfast. My young friend had cleared out about 5am. I didn’t leave till 9am preferring to enjoy a good breakfast [enough] for three men onone plate, and the beautiful sunshine. I got enough of the beautiful sunshine before the day was over. I only found one decent rider on the road, a few miles north of Hatfield. I was travelling faster than him, and kept forging ahead, but when nearly abreast, he spurted. This happened for over a mile, till at last I decided to keep him sprinting and gradually left him, but he hung on manfully for a mile or more. I branched off at Potters Bar to Tottenham, and after being piloted through a maze of streets I arrived at Leytonstone at 8pm, had a small biscuit there, left at 9pm bought half a dozen bananas and a packet of biscuits eat the lot and did the last 40 miles home in 2 hrs 15 minutes after a cup of tea at Stanford-le-Hope, and running down a gentleman at the foot of Bread and Cheese Hill of which incident I came off 2^nd best, being landed into the dyke, but no damage done. Was glad to get home to the loved ones.

I had some very pleasant rides at Leigh and around the district. Marie and Walter her nephew went out with me one day as far as Pitsea.

I am very fond of riding and am usually quite tame on the road till challenged by rising young speed merchants, and usually teach them a very severe lesson, and make them have respect for a man even though he wears an imperial and looks