this weeks weather is back to 'quite' warm!

Which is sort of okay but my cucumbers don't enjoy it very much!

Monday i had, what Churchill called, 'a black dog day', which meant my day was a bit unproductive to say the least. It started with good intention but by mid morning i was sat staring at nothing, thinking of nothing and most certainly not doing anything. Eventually i came around and the seeds of an idea were sewn, a short trip to GOC in @ 4 weeks, see family / friends, do some Peak District / North Midlands rides and replenish the batteries ahead of the autumn.

The forecast for Tuesday, sunny 34c, suggested a shorter ride but at the same time i wanted, no needed to get my head out of the pit of, well not quite despair, negativity i guess. And so i set off for a mucky burger run, a variation of my fairly regular Clevedon ride. By the time i reached my food stop it was over 30c, i was glad to sit under a parasol to eat and contemplate the return route.

I hadn't got a firm plan when i set off for the return, but found myself heading up and past the airport which in turn took me on the familiar route past Stanton Drew and on to Keynsham. I had a stop at Norton Malreward for ten, fifteen minutes, a shady spot with a bench allowed me to cool off somewhat before tackling the last hour or so's riding back to Chez Maddy. The 'short' ride ended up being 92km with 700+m of up and the temperatures after lunch did indeed reach 34c before dropping back to 31c by the time i got back.

The combination of heat and riding left me a bit lethargic, i eventually sorted food out @ eight and it was still in the high 20's c at eleven which meant sleep came more by exhaustion than desire!.

Today, well its started cloudy and cooler, this afternoon we are expecting high 20's c again, better for the cucumbers and more comfortable in general. There will be a walk to the shops but what else is in store? goodness knows, i'm still feeling a bit out of sorts if truth be known. I am having some leg issues which isn't stopping me walking or riding but sitting or even lying down can get quite uncomfortable, its not even confined to the 'bad' leg. Flippin' bodies.

The warm, bright weather is due to run into the weekend so no excuses for not doing either Saturdays long ride or tomorrows shorter? trip out.

I will back on Sunday with more Gaby, but for today,
Tak,
Madeline Anafrid