Hi,
I love the murals. Great photos, too. As you might have guessed I am a fan of the arts and crafts movement and it’s older brother, the Gothic Revival. It was at the same time as Art Nouveau, but confined almost exclusively to Britain and North America. It’s nice to see that it penetrated into Sunny Scunny, even if only peripherally.
I’m still salivating at the sight of those beer bottles. If only….
Cheers,
Keith

Those too.

I thought your comment was about the two beer bottles ;)

Beautiful.

Hi, Greg

The punctures were a pain... the tyre just would not come off the rim.
Actually it was the same puncture that I had go at a few times - until I replaced the tube.

I used to live in this area and know the reputation these places have, but I have a soft spot for them probably because they so maligned. It was the same when I lived near Detroit - a US city that's my spiritual home, but one that few people want to visit.

Scunthorpe could have been used as joke - it's got that reputation and most locals refer to it as Sunny Scumny. It doesn't have a lot of history for a UK town.

Hi, Keith

It's 'work - sop'. I've read that the 'sop' is likely a derivative of 'hop', which is an Anglo Saxon one that means 'valley'.

It's always the locals who raise eyebrows about what you plan to do. The route is too familiar to them and they cannot appreciate the novelty an outsider sees. I've had it happen numerous times. I gave a big heart to the photo of you on the grassy embankment, and I sympathized with your puncture woes. My record is four in one day.

Hi,
Didn’t Spike Mulligan use Scunthorp as a comic foil? I’ll be waiting to see what you turn up when you get there.
Oh, and you’re still one flat tire short of my record for a single day’s ride. Always happens late in the day, too.
Cheers,
Keith

Hi,
How does one pronounce Worksop? To my American eyes it looks like it’s lost an « h » somewhere.
Cheers,
Keith

The thing I miss most, apart from family, is the traditional British pub and a decent pint of draught.

Hi,
Makes me thirsty to look at your mates. Our local bar/restaurant is run by an avid cyclist, which sounds ideal except when you know the bar is closed in the afternoon so Marcel can be out with us. He makes a great French lunch, though.
Cheers,
Keith

Hi,
No doubt your dad would be proud. Football must run in your genes.
Cheers,
Keith

Hi,
Z was Greg Lemond’s team. As he was a Minnesotan, it was a big deal when he won the tour, at least in Minneapolis where I lived at the time. I regularly rode past his bike shop in the burbs on various club outings. As you might imagine not a few of those hats could be seen in the peloton. Great memories, thanks for bringing them back.
Cheers,
Keith

Hey, that worked! Great tip!