its the end of June!
I swear the months are getting shorter

Anyway, where were we? Thursday. I felt a bit off for some reason and a slightly damp forecast was enough to dip out of the ride however Aunty Bev suggested a car/bike excursion on Friday which fitted in quite nicely.

And so, early doors on Friday we loaded the bikes and headed east along the M4 to Hungerford, base for the day's activities. As far as i know this was my first visit to Berkshires most westerly town and first impressions were of a pleasant little town that has so far resisted the march of greenfield housing and all that goes with it. We parked on the common and by 9.30 i was on my way, i'd put together an 80km ish circuit southwards which started by following the Avon & Kennet canal towards Pewsey.

I hadn't gone far before a sign to a windmill caught my attention, a short diversion took me up to Wilton Windmill, a new one to my list of visits - well i've never been around here before have i? I set off anew across to Burbage where i picked up a couple of miles of road i used at the beginning of the month as i headed south towards Amesbury. Like an idiot, i forgot to pick up my bidon so as half distance approached i was looking for a tea stop.

I found a farm shop/cafe, never the cheapest places but they had tea and they had cake and just as importantly, with the sun now high in the sky, they had a shady spot for consumption of said tea and cake. Most of the afternoons return leg was vaguely north easterly which meant the wind was kinda behind me, not that it was strong but i'll take all the help i can get. Fed and watered i set off into Hampshire, looping past Thruxton motor racing circuit, took in a stretch of very pleasant Test valley then skirted Andover.

I was back onto smaller roads now, generally heading northwards through the North Wessex Downs to the Kennet valley where i joined the canal path westwards to complete the circuit to Hungerford. It wasn't the longest ride, 86km or the hilliest, under 600m but it was thoroughly enjoyable, i'm certainly not against exploring this area more at some point.

Aunty Bev had done her own bit of exploring but we were both ready for a cool drink to which end we visited a nearby hostelry who supplied drink and sandwiches, enough to not need an evening meal later. Instead of the motorway we returned using the A4, much more pleasant and an opportunity to see some nice archaeology on the way, the Downs around Avebury a veritable treasure chest of prehistory.

Saturday was a pleasant enough day and, once the chores were done, i actually got down to some writing. For a short story, its already reached Novelette length with no sign of a soon conclusion, the latest bit is now up on my Patreon page.

Today, well another pleasant day, even so i wasn't overly enthused for a ride so it was mid morning before i got my bum in gear. I set off with just the barest idea of a route, the short ride eventually stretching to three hours and over 60km without a stop - well apart from a little bit of nettle dodging as i explored a new to me bridleway. With less wind than of late it turned out to be another very enjoyable ride and with the heat, long enough.

I have, as promised, posted the next Gaby chapter which you can read here.

I'll leave you there, thanks for reading, i'll be back with more waffle midweek.

Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid