amidst a time of uncertainty here in the UK.

Since my last posting, a lot ofstuff has happened, some good, some not so much. You'd probably have to be living in a plant pot on a south Pacific atoll to have missed the biggest news of the week, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the subsequent succession to the throne of Charles the Third. I am not an ardent royalist but i do respect the Monarchy and their role within our government and society, whilst i never had the opportunity to meet her, i have seen her person and it came as quite a shock to me, and i think most of the world, when it was announced that she'd passed.

There aren't many people alive who remember a time without the Queen on the throne, we now have to readjust to having a new head of state, everything from coinage and stamps to the National Anthem will change, A Royal funeral and most likely next year, a Coronation. I'm sure our new Prime Minister will be glad of the diversion from her governments woes and mismanagement, at a time when rising fuel and food bills as we head into the winter should be at the head of their agenda.

So RIP Elizabeth II, God save the King!

The rest of my news this week is a bit happier, on Wednesday Podracer of this web site came down to Brizzle for a visit and on Thursday we made the journey to Dorset to visit Ang the Dormouse. The forecast was dismally wet all day but we got within a couple of miles of our destination before the wet hit and even avoided getting damp when we ventured out for some lunch. We had a great time catching up, the day only marred by the announcement of the Queens death pretty much as we set off back to Cabotville.

On Friday it was time to get out the human propelled vehicles, acting as tour guide i led Podracer out into North West Somerset via the bike trails to Wellow where we stopped for a pleasant lunch at the livery stables. We then made our way across to the Avon & Kennet canal at Dundas Aquaduct before following the waterway to Bath where we did a whistlestop sightseeing tour before returning to Aunty Bev's where i cooked spaghetti bolognese for our tea - an excellent day to be sure.

Saturdays weather was forecast even better, so we pulled the cycling gear out again, this time heading into North East Somerset, our destination the Thatcher's Cider factory at Sandford. Our route out was based around the Strawberry Line cycle route avoiding as much road as possible along the way. We had a shuftie in the cider shop then moved along to the Railway Inn, Thatcher's own pub/restaurant. Originally we were going to get lunch here but with prices high enough for Steve Jobs to think twice, we settled for a glass of cider each instead.

Returning to our wheels we looped back to Congresbury where we eventually had a nice meal (long story) then started the return along a route designed to show my guest a bit of scenery and a look at some of historic Bristol on the way. Over to Clevedon then, up into the Gordano Valley then the lane to Portbury before the slightly busier road to Pill where we joined the cycle path over the Avonmouth Bridge. Its an easy run back along the river from there, Podracer was able to see the Roman villa remains, Clifton Bridge and SS Great Britain before we transited the city centre and retraced to our base.

Today, Sunday, Podracer had to return to Gods Own County, so a long ride was out, instead we took a short loop doen to Warmley (home of the Tardis Toilet!) for brunch. We were back by twelve, the traveller on his way by one for the long, five hour drive back to the Humber. Its been a great few days, seeing folk that Covid and geography have kept apart from us for far too long.

I have posted the next Gaby Fame chapter today of course, Royally Piste. Its strange how these things happen but this chapter does include Gaby being reacquainted with Prince William, maybe its Karma?

That's about it for today, i'll be back with more on Wednesday,
Tack
Madeline Annafrid