Day 16: The milk of human kindness

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire to Thrapston, Northamptonshire
67.6 miles (889.5 miles cumulatively)

Ok, you're going to have to forgive me here, as today was a day filled with events, some of which were possibly the most humbling of my experiences to date - yes, at points, this blog may sound a bit soppy but I'm sure you will see why!
So, I sets off from Stratford, sun shining and warmth building. Twas going to be a good day. All was well until I started to approach Rugby (the place, not the game - my legs would not be able to handle that as well!). The NCR (national cycle route) that I was following directed me down a path in order to reach another cycle path and I (in my head, very sensibly) thought to myself, I can't cycle down there, I will get off and walk the bike down. This I did, until I lost my footing in the inches-thick mud and side planted it into the bank. There was a splatter that I thought was only reserved for cartoons, and my whole right hand side was completey covered in mud. I tried to find a piece of grass to wipe various mud-stained clothes on, but woe-is-me, every bit has dog S**t on it! Gutted. The family that soon walked there bikes in the opposite direction past me thought the sight very amusing!
So on I cycled and started to feel something funny happening in my back wheel. I thought it might have been the gears slipping, but these problems started to increas and I became unable to put any drive to the back wheel and all I could do was essentially free-wheel. It fully gave out on me just outside of Naseby. Bugger. Middle of nowhere with a broken bike.
This was an issue, and a really quite big one at that! A couple of cyclists passed me, one I managed to wave down who told me that there was a bike shop not too far away (more about this to follow) and the other who took one look at me, laughed and buggered off - what a knob!
So, as I say, middle of nowhere and broken bike, and Sarah gets on the case to find bike shops. Sends me a number, I call and explain my predicament and here is where my day changed from challenging/difficult to amazing/incredible.
So here we go. The time was 3.00pm. The man from Pitsford Cycles (remember the name) comes to find me, picks up my bike and puts it in the back of the van. We have a chat as we're going to the cycle shop (Pitsford Cycles - don't forget) and I explain what I'm doing and how it's going. We get there and he unloads the bike, takes it to a technician who finshes the other bike he was working on and starts straight away on mine. Whilst this is happening, I am given a cup of coffee and a hot cross bun. I'm already pretty bowled over.
It turns out that my freehub had broken and the bearings in the wheel were pretty shot as well so a new back wheel was called for. This was fitted in lightning quick time, a new back brake cable was fitted and as I stood there, becoming more and more speechless at the service I was receiving, I was offered a chocolate for my 'calorie intake'!
I was given back the bike, and as I took my wallet out to pay for the repairs, I was waved away with the words,
"you're doing it for that (pointing to a dementia and alzheimers collection pot on the counter), that's enough for me, please consider that my donation."
I was totally lost for words, totally dumbfounded at the kindness and generosity I had been shown and so I want to say now, on the record, Pitsford Cycles - thank you. You were simply incredible to me and Cycle England is able to continue, completely on schedule and probably in a better state than before, because of you.
I will be taking my bike there to be serviced in the future and urge anyone in the area to do the same.
Sometimes things happen that completely restore your faith in humanity and today one of those things happened to me!
There you go, I told you it would be soppy!