and of course its May Day weekend,

its a Bank Holiday on Monday in the UK and I'm guessing some pole dancing, no not that sort, with ribbons and a big striped and decorated affair on village greens across the land.

So to catch up, Thursday I decided the ride would be a bit more local, taking in some of the lanes that I usually avoid when I'm heading further afield. There wasn't a specific route which led to some 'interesting' riding as the cool and overcast start changed to quite pleasant through the morning. Up, down, around, these are not roads for getting anywhere fast! I called a halt at Priston for my lunch stop, not much more than fifteen miles from my start point as the crow flies, maybe double that with my spaghetti route.

The afternoon saw more climbing but the roads were at least a little better surfaced. Through the Chew valley and up to Dundry Beacon with its impressive views across Bristol to the north, then down and through Long Ashton and across 'that' suspension bridge before looping under and through the city. It was a pleasant afternoon so I added an extra loop to the east of the city, I was nearly done for the day when a series of events involving poor driving skills, a jammed chain and tarmac left me bruised and bleeding in the road.

End result, a bloodied knee, bent bike and a whole host of new aches and pains. I sorted the bike out, nothing apparently broken and limped back to base. The 112km I ended on were quite climb heavy, almost 1400m, but another tarmac incident was not welcome at all!

My plans for Friday were put out of kilter by the previous day's incident so the exercise of the last day of April was confined to a trip to the shops for the weekend's food needs.

Saturday, the 1st of May, May Day, it was a bit braw as I set out, still feeling the effects of Thursday, a shorter, less 'physical' ride was on the cards. I'd gone about 10km when I realised there was an issue, despite checking the bike before I set off, the rear brake lever was moving in a plane it shouldn't. To continue or not? Well what do you think? Of course I continued, I had to adopt a different riding style, the brake was functioning as well as it ever does so why not?

It was another laney route up to lunch at Ham, although it was chicken in my sandwiches, it was quite pleasant sat on the village green in the sunshine - they don't have a May Pole though. The theme of dead end lanes and flat roads then took me south, by the time I made a burger stop near Severn Brach it was getting a bit overcast. Not my week, I got about two miles further and the puncture fairy struck, grr!

Well I got back having taken the flattest, least braking route, ending on an unexpected 114km but just 589m of up. My aches ached, my mood was a bit dark then I remembered seeing a Little Egret earlier something like 50 miles further north than any of my previous sightings! I guess I'll have to tend to the bike later, hopefully the coming week will be less eventful!

And so to today's posting, it's the second chapter of Ontario, Queen of the Ahrtal today, it seems life is never dull if you are Gaby Bond!

That about wraps things up for today, I need to get organised, I've got Sunday dinner to cook this afternoon, pork steaks with all the trimmings today - well Bev needs feeding up after her horticultural anti pest building efforts! We are almost at the point of seeding the lawn, all the remaining veg seedlings will be planted out this weekend, we should be set for carrots, onions, beetroot, cauliflower, potatoes and beans in a couple of months and even some soft fruit!

Well ta ta for today, enjoy the holiday if you have it and i'll be back after Star Wars day,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid

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