is something I ask myself often.

Why did i do that, go that way, not buy something, forget the date, ride that far etc, etc. A year ago i decided on a longer route back from my ride to Cardiff, the result, a trip to A&E with a dislocated collar bone which has never gone back properly and still gives quite a bit of discomfort.

Other why's just in the last year include hair colours, footwear choices and inevitably the 'why did i do that ride today?'. Twice i've asked that question in the last week, after the big and blowey ride diwn on the Somerset Levels and then again after yesterdays imperial century ride in the 30c heat. I'm starting to think i've got masochistic tendencies, its not the first time i've made similar decisions so those previous experiences have clearly been subsequently ignored. Perhaps its the adrenalin or maybe just bloody mindedness.

Monday - well silly rides, broken computers and mini heatwaves aside, I decided to take some positive action with regard to my 3D printing plans, vis a vis, making some efforts regarding prototype modelling. When i say modelling i'm talking physical stuff that will be scanned in the fullness of time. So anyhow that involved a 10km+ round trip walk to the nearest DIY megastore for some materials - yep, you won't believe how useful apparently benign bits of plumbing etc can be to the modeller. Of course it was warm and i returned a little weary but in possesion of a variety of oddments for the current project (after previously ordering some Lego as part of the same 'build').

Which moves us on to Tuesday. The forecast was 'warm', high 20's, maybe 30c but the wind was in the right direction for a ride that i've been planning for several weeks, ie, a segment of the Ridgeway bordering the Salisbury Plain ranges. Simple enough but its @ 55km to where i wanted to start so it was always going to be a fairly long day in the saddle.

I set off earlier than usual to get at least some riding in before it warmed too much, in fact i got myself beyond Trowbridge before the temp started to rise into the mid 20's. I made pretty good time and started the climb up onto the Plain from the Stonehenge road @ 2.5 hours after setting out. The wind was stiffer along the edge which kept it from feeling too warm although when i stopped for lunch it was hovering @ 30c!

The actual Ridgeway path shares the route with often times two military roads, a 4x4 track and semi surfaced, chalky rubble roadway which i favoured as it was smoother/faster than the alternatives. The sky was blue, the wind kept things just about comfortable, the only blight on an otherwise perfect picture was the occasional sound of artillery fire on the ranges, not that you can actually see anything. It was a bit of a hit and run ride, when I returned to lower levels having completed the section of trail i had planned, it was to start a fairly direct route back, now with the wind at my back.

I now felt warmer and i started to look for ice cream, eventually stopping just over halfway back, a Magnum and a litre of pop cooled me off a replenished my liquid levels. Refreshed, i set off once more, glad of shade where i could find it, eventually stopping the clock after 162km and over 1100m of up. I was pretty tired, a bit dehydrated and caked in salt but you have to make the most of these days, right?

Its a bit cooler today but warm enough to dry the laundry and do a bit of gardening (there is rampant Clematis strangling the life from some of our runner beans, one of the big successes of our farming enterprises, looks pretty but a nuisance nevertheless).

Today is the third instalment of Time for a Change, the mystery of Cam's solo return is resolved but it looks like Elke is stuck in Streines which means she has some decisions to make regarding her future. Be warned, whilst there is no sex, genitalia are discussed. So if i haven't put you off you can read Part 3 here.

That's all for today, i'm off for a short walk this afternoon, a few supplies for tomorrows ride.

Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid

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