conclusion to the week!

So Thursday, instead of my usual bike ride, Aunty Bev and I headed down to Dorset to visit the famous author, Angharad. It was a long day but very enjoyable even if my demon knee was still complaining.

Friday then became the new Thursday, i set off quite sharp after fetching and fitting the new tyre i needed after Tuesday. The plan was to head out Trowbridge way, stop for lunch then pick up the Kennet & Avon towpath for at least some of the distance towards Devizes before looping back towards Corsham and thence back to Brizzle. Things started quite well, taking in some new lanes to reach Iford Manor on the Frome, Frome with its fancy gardens and the possibly 15th century manor house.

After a 20%+ climb out of the valley it was on to and through Wiltshire's current county town (it has moved at least three times!) to my appointment with egg, toast and tea. Except the hostelry was closed, now i think about it, the obtuse opening was the reason it fell from favour before. What now? well push on of course, see what turns up and there is always the cafe at Caen Hill locks.

I made steady progress along the canal and did indeed end up at Caen Hill for a later than expected bacon based lunch, albeit adorned with Brie and chilli jam. There were some more 'new' lanes to tackle during the afternoon session so i didn't dally too long, returning to the slightly breezy but warm and sunny outdoors after a mere 30 minutes. It wasn't far to the first new lane , the second of the afternoon not far beyond, however, despite being a designated bridle path it was uncommonly narrow and overgrown with nettles and briars.

By the time i emerged, my legs were well nettled and tingling but also torn to shreds, great! There is no way of knowing in advance what these bridleways will throw up, yes, theoretically they are suitable for horses/bikes but sometimes, like this bit, they can be quite sketchy. The following stretch was a motorway by comparison and i was soon heading to the afternoons fourth and final new sector through Chittoe and Clink Lane. About half of the 4km length was tarmac, the rest good hard pack gravel, i was soon back on more familiar roads towards Lacock.

It was a battle into the wind now as i headed to Bath to pick up the bike path to return to the start point. 111km and almost 18km of that new to me, the 913m of up were quite a surprise too.

On the bike my knee has been no issue but off, well at times it has had me squealing in pain so any designs on a stiff walk on Saturday were still on hold. I still had stuff to do though so i set off for the post office then continued on as walking was at least bearable. By the time i got back though, after a very steady 7km, my folly was making itself felt and once again i spent the evening trying to find the least uncomfortable position.

Which brings us to today. the forecast looked fair to middling if a little breezy and having not really ventured north this month, set Stroud as my lunch stop destination. I was well early setting off, just after nine in fact and i was breezing along nicely when a deflation stopped me in my tracks barely 2km into the ride. A fairly quick pit stop got me back on the road, the culprit a staple through the shoulder of the tyre, grrr!

Recently i've favoured an anti clockwise ride to Stroud but today i headed north through Berkeley Vale, parallel to the Severn before cutting across to the Stroud Frome, my fourth river of that name this week! Anyhoo, over the water and into the town for my lunch stop at my regular sit down cafe. With a hard return expected, climbing and headwind, i ordered a bigger lunch than usual, which required a longer, 45 minute stop to demolish the S&K pie, chips and peas and pot of tea!

I wanted to take in some of the lanes up on Minchinhampton Common so i started climbing almost from the get go. Once on the top it was clear that the wind was stronger than it was earlier and whilst i gathered 5km more new lanes, i was glad to drop to lower levels through Nailsworth. The rest of the return, on often used roads was often quite a battle into the wind, the final few kilometres up to the Cotswold Edge from Badminton being especially arduous.

I made it back to the house in one piece, the Garmin stopped at 120km and 1030m of climbing, not a bad effort all things considered. Not only that but perversely my poorly knee joint seems to have made quite the recovery, not to 100% but maybe 90%, maybe i'll get some sleep tonight?

That's me done for today, i'll be back midweek,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid