21\10\17 - Cambridge Autumnal 200 km Audax

I have done a couple of Audaxes that I call "Reference Audaxes".  One was a 300 from Poole 3 years ago where the wind was so strong and the hills were so tough that I finished with 20mins to spare.  Now when I encounter steep hills I "reference" Poole and tell myself I can get up the hills.  Now I've got another one for when it's exceptionally windy.
With promised gusts of 40+mph I set out from Girton to head east to Framlingham.  It was a pleasant ride, although I punctured (on supposedly bullet-proof tyres) at 90kms.  It took me half an hour to change the inner tube, most of that time trying to get the tyre off, but was only able to pump up the tyre partway.  Then the fun started as I turned to get back.  By early afternoon the wind had got up, and was making life difficult.  With the wind from the left, it was necessary to be very careful when approaching either a gap in the hedge or the non-hedged stretches.  At 180 kms I realised that all was not well.  I suspected the front tyre was flat, but I didn't want to stop and confirm it.
At 200 kms I came across some street lighting and was able to confirm what, by now, I knew.  But it was dark and I neither psychologically nor physically could face another battle with the tyre, so I carried on riding to 214kms (Girton).  So I've learned that it is possible to (carefully) ride over 20 miles with a flat tyre, but it is very uncomfortable and not to be advised.  Total time taken was 11hrs 40 mins but about 90mins of that was with the puncture and riding on a flat!  PW.