and its before bedtime!

Well things haven't gone completely to plan this weekend so I've been jiggling priorities this evening but lets catch up first.

So, back to Thursday which of course was a bike day and the fulfilment of another destination target from last autumn. Now whilst I've been across the Severn a couple of times since the Covid thing started, the stricter rules in Wales have ruled out a lot of the rides I would have liked to have done and its been an excuse not to do this destination too. Not that its in Wales you understand but my preferred route is. Anyhow, I checked the map, came up with an acceptable 'English' route and set off for Symonds Yat.

Symonds what? I hear you ask. Yat, its actually a view point high above the river Wye giving limited views across into Wales and longer views into Herefordshire. Anyhow I set off on a variation of my Severn Bridge route reasonably early on a morning a little cooler and more cloudy than of late, across the water and a speedy transit through Chepstow and back into England. My route now almost followed the Wye northwards but instead of down in the valley, this side you climb steadily up to St Briavels, the high point of the Forest of Dean region before bouncing along the tops to Coleford.

From there it was but a short kick over the edge before losing a bit of height to reach the Wye Gorge and my target, Symonds Yat where I located a sheltered spot and even seating for lunch. Not only that but the café was open, takeaway only of course, but that's fine for tea and a slice of cake! Fed, watered and photo opportunited it was time to push on, off down the 20% lane into Herefordshire to eventually reach and cross the river.

A loop through Goodrich (the castle was shut of course) then back to the river and the Forest of Dean. Along the river back towards Symonds Yat then away from the river for the long climb up into the Forest proper followed by an equally long decent to the Severn through the trees. A second pitstop at my 'favorite' tea wagon replenished my tea level then it was a fast ride back through Chepstow and over the bridge to base. Almost 130km again but with more climbing than usual, 1300m.

Apart from doing the photoblog, Friday saw me don the running gear again and whilst not any quicker I was chuffed to only take one breather on the way round (I walk for a bit instead of shuffle!) Maybe June will ne the month I step up to ten k?

Saturday was back on 2 wheels, it was definitely cooler and a stiff westerly was determined to make it hard work. To try and counter its effects I headed out to the coast at Clevedon into the wind before turning inland to get a little benefit. I found another 'take a way' café open at Burrington so ended up with tea and a bacon sarnie to warm me up before climbing up onto the Mendip to start the generally eastward ride across to Bath. The short run back to Brizzle wasn't too nasty, 112km being the distance according to Garmin.

I had hoped to nail the next Gaby book reboot but once again the job was clearly going to take longer than I hoped.

And that just leaves today. The forecast was a bit mixed so rather than head for the fields I once again decided on a more urban route for my two legged perambulation. So it was down into Brizzle, through the gentrified docklands of Spike Island and further to Ashton Court, a country estate owned by the City. The weather was holding fair so lunch was taken in the Red Deer park with views across the southern part of the city.

Then it was the short walk to the Clifton Suspension Bridge before wending my way back across the city and up to Fishponds. At 18km it wasn't so far but being pretty much all on street walking, it was quite tough on the feet.

I had hoped to be giving you the details of the rebooted book at this point but I've still got a good couple of hours work to do on that. So the revised plan is to complete that tomorrow when i'll post the next book 2 chapter and another photoblog. And on that subject, rather than do double posts Sunday and Wednesday, the catch up posts of Book 2 will be on Monday and Friday with the photoblogs.

Of course that still leaves the book 21 posts, they remain on the same schedule and todays offering is Change of Focus.

So that's it for this evening, look out for tomorrows post!

Madeline Anafrid