What day is it?

Author:

Blogger

Blog About:

no, let me guess, Monday?

Just kidding, i know its not Saturday so i suppose it must be Sunday. I really do get confused if my 'routine' is interrupted as it has been this week. Of course, the weather has been better this end of the week but the knock on from Tuesday meant that instead of riding Thursday i was working on the new book project. Its going quite well, another big session yesterday has it @ 75% done!

But back to Friday, i haven't really ventured beyond the Wye valley on my Welsh excursions for an absolute age so i thought i'd correct that with a ride over to Newport for a look at the velodrome and I knew of a sandwich van nearby for lunch. Riding into the stiff wind used a full bar of power by the Bridge where I had to divert from my preferred north side to south due to works.

Once across I decided to take the ‘old’ road through Caldicot and Magor, not too busy and fairly direct. It was only after Magor that I deviated onto the lanes, passing under Bishton railway bridge with it’s 1.67m clearance, I really had to crouch down to pass through! The lanes soon dumped me onto the main drag into Newport where a bike track let me avoid playing with the traffic all the way to the velodrome.

Not sure what I was expecting but I was underwhelmed by the Geraint Thomas Velodrome, a tin shed with offices tacked on one side. Oh well, time for some lunch except when I got to the pitch it was empty. Damn, guess its plan B then, the chip shop back at Caldicot.

The return was to follow the NCN4 route across the coastal levels, not exactly inspiring countryside but with the wind behind I didn’t need the motor much. The highlight was flushing a pair of partridge on one of the ‘off road’ stretches at the Newport end, otherwise it was almost bereft of wildlife. I reached my food stop with 78km covered, chips and sausage which I consumed sat in the weak sunshine. Rather than return to the bridge directly, I continued to follow the NCN4 to Caerwent and through the lanes to Chepstow after changing to the extra battery.

The north side of the bridge was now open for my return to England, passing the 100km point just after Aust Ferry. The last leg now, an hour or so tops which is how I ended up taking a ‘short’ cut. Short on paper but a green lane after rain was perhaps not the best choice but 1km of muddy lane did save 5km of road so I think I was still ahead.

The traffic was starting to build as I approached northern Bristol, the light starting to fade. I finally dismounted just before five, the temperature dipping back towards zero after hovering around 7c most of the day.

I've already mentioned Saturdays travails so we can jump to today. I wanted to have a ride but i didn't want to ride a long way so i decided to do a short bimble out to a tea stop @ 25km away, maybe mix up the ride a bit with some bridleways if its dry enough? Well i thought it sounded like a good plan so i set off with a destination but no route into a cool but bright morning, it felt somewhat liberating i have to say.

The first stretch of bridleway was actually surfaced for its full length, dunno why but its a good all weather alternative to the road that i usually use, The next stretch wasn't as nice but the puddles were shallow and it wasn't too muddy, delivering me almost directly to the tea & cake stop! I did tarry awhile, sat in the sunshine, other bikes arrived, departed - i certainly wasn't alone in enjoying the mild day hereabouts.

Then it was time to set off back, there's a stretch of green lane i've been itching to ride for, well four years i guess, its never been the right weather, the right bike, the right time, the right direction but today i had no excuses. Well it was a bit wetter than i'd've liked but it was all rideable, the Ebike's huge tyres make short work of this stuff and i was soon spat back onto tarmac, happy to tick that one off my list. I've got quite a few more routes that i've shied away from doing for one reason or another, i'm just itching to get the E on them but sensibly i should wait until its a bit drier, especially for the Cotswold ones - it gets very claggy up there this time of year!

I made my way back, quite directly for a change, ending the ride with just over 60km, enough for today and letting me 'waste' battery with a higher assist in places i'd generally be being economical.

Of course, being Sunday i've posted new Gaby, Cinematic sees our heroine at her comedic best.

Lastly today, i've noticed when perusing my publishing stuff that there is a volume of Gabyness that seems to have been missed by the lovely readers out there, indeed i can't see a single sale! The co-authors and myself have tried to keep these stories within the accepted Gaby format, and we hope that these Gabyverse stories bring a grin or two, maybe even a tear but mostly entertain you.

Contents Dream On with Angela Peters In which the Bond clan pay a visit to Cardiff - Mfanwy Morgan with Maddy Bell Meet Mfanwy Morgan, young, good looking and staying with her Dad in Wales - Catalyst! with Cat Lockley It all starts on a Tuesday at the end of Summer Girl…- Questions with Angela Peters A new friend for Drew brings new challengers and questions.- Cover Story with Jillian A wannabee reporter makes some enquiries.

It's over 600 pages of classic Gaby so if you are a completist or just want entertaining, click on the link below!