Nothing stops Maddy!

July looks like its gonna be a mixed bag of weather, even when you think you have it pinned it throws in a surprise or three none of which helps when you are planning outdoor activities! But lets get on, things to do, people to see (metaphorically at least).

Monday wasn't too bad, my battered feet just about survived the 12km hike into the city centre and back and somehow I stayed dry, the rain only making an appearance in the evening.

I decided on a ride into Wales, well just, for my Tuesday sojourn, so set off into a fairly bright and comfortably warm morning for the Severn crossing. Lunch was planned for Monmouth but rather than take the direct route up the Wye valley or even the alternative B road options I had something a bit more 'fun' on my mind. To the west of the Wye there are some lanes which just called out for some exploration, the catch being that they lie over the flanks of the lump of hill which runs from Chepstow pretty much all the way up to Monmouth.

There were a few steeper ramps but the chevron marks on the map were all on the first descent down to Tintern. A quick dash up the river before turning for the next climb, up, up and then a chevronned lane topped out and a gentler stretch of descent looped around the hilltop of The Narth. It was as I climbed back towards the B road that would take me on to the lunch stop that the first drops of wet hit, nothing much to start then a stop to put the rain cape on as it got a bit heavier.

Well it wasn't quite a monsoon but within minutes the road was awash, visibility was almost nil through my glasses and not much better without, the long and sometimes steep descent to Monmouth was interesting to say the least. A circuit of the town looking for a suitable lunch halt came to naught but the rain was pretty much stopped so I came to a halt at the Monnow Bridge for my sandwichs. Not quite what I'd had in mind, but at least it wasn't cold.

I didn't tarry long, after all the up on the way out, it was a return down the Wye valley, back to Tintern where i elected to use the new Wye Greenway to avoid the climb back to the race course. It was certainly better on the CX bike but still not great for the first couple of miles, the corrugated and often muddy surface not as good as many cart tracks. Soon enough I was tackling a windy crossing back over the Severn, the final leg back into Brizzle being a roundabout affair following the 'Downs Way' bike route - clues in the name, far too much up for my liking!

All told 125km, the high climbing % keeping the average speed down but there was just over 1350m of it so the equivalent of over 10m/km climbing across the ride, TdF its not but not too bad for a battered grand parent.

The bad news is that my front tyre acquired a mid tread split during the day so its off to the bike shop once i've done this by which time the shower that has just re-wetted my washing out on the line will hopefully be history. Cheap transport bikes - maybe true if you never go anywhere but do some reasonable mileage and the consumables quickly add up.

Today you get another chapter from The Visitors, December Already see's Gaby and the Sherwood Foresters take on their first competition before Drew gets his come uppance at the next CX race - can't say you don't get value for money!

The keen amongst you may spot an error, if somebody points it out I'll fix it, if not it clearly isn't an issue.

Well thats it for today,
Tak
Madeline Anafrid