D day. Up early to deliver the rickshaw to Kendal Leisure Centre and to talk to Radio Cumbria - all went swimmingly, and Martin the radio man rode the rickshaw whilst I ran alongside with the mike. 10-o-clock and Clare the Mayor climbed aboard for the first mile, filmed by(Border TV). Off we went with Pamela and Nicky in their car and my accompanying cyclists Tina, Janet, Paul and Mark as outriders (Clare had told us how much her chain of office was insured for, so we were all on the lookout for highwaymen). The first couple of miles were lovely, beautiful scenery and 2 enthusiastic pushers for the hills - now I know what a heinzmann hub would feel like - but then it started to rain. Just a little at first, then the heavens opened and then the wind started to blow from the direction in which I was going, and for the rest of the day that was it - and it still is it as I type this. Liz and Jim saved me from keeling over with malnutrition by feeding me muesli bars in a layby on the A6, but basically it was hood up, head down, and pedal, very slowly, and very drippily, for the next 14 miles. UGH. Squelched into Pine Lake for a cup of coffee, leaving puddles on their shiny floors, and decided that, since it looked a nice secure spot, we would leave the rickshaw there for the night - locked up - and scuttle home for a bath, and that is what we did. Tomorrow morning, nine o clock, I will be back in the saddle and heading south - at least nothing can be as bad for progress as today. But it was fun, and a lady who overtook me stopped and gave me £2 because she'd read my sign, so that bodes well for tomorrow.