At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we remember them.

On a brighter note, we've had some nicer weather across the latter part of the week, the sun is out, the skies are blue and Foxy is back on the road! Just to explain, Foxy is my Airnimal Chameleon folding bike, veteran of 1000's of kilometres of riding across Europe on my holiday trips and a good few more on domestic adventures. I've mentioned before that i was having some mechanical issues, parts had to be ordered from Italy and with one thing and another, she's been off the road since July but on Friday, a visit to the bike shop and the exchange of far too many beer tokens has a) cleared my bank account and b) returned Foxy to active duty. (in case you were wondering, she was named by my good friend in Germany, Stefan, after the headbadge which shows a Fox on a bicycle).

So stepping a back a day, i took myself on a ride down to Weston for pie and chips on the esplanade, it was a bit cool and breezy but dry from the heavens. After sating my hunger, the return was a bit longer, a loop down onto the levels before heading east to Wells and then north over the Mendip massif to return to the Avon. 130km and @ 900m of up saw me returning in the last embers of daylight.

Most of Friday was taken with delivery and collection of Foxy to the repair shop some 12km away. yep, i'll be on beans until next month, in total its cost me over £200 to get it all sorted out, money i can ill afford but the alternative, to not have a useable bike, well you may as well shoot me. So anyway, after first setting off before 9am, two rides, two bus journeys and a bit of walking, i got back at 4.30pm, lighter in purse but happy to have my faithful steed back in action.

And so to Saturday, the forecast was bright so i set off east, a stop in mind, not on a borrowed bike but on Foxy for the first untroubled ride on her since my trip up to GOC in the summer. I was soon skimming across the Cotswolds and by 12.30 i was stopped for 'lunch' at Royal Wootton Bassett. I say lunch, tea and a bacon sarnie came in close to budget so that was it. Then, with the big yellow thing in the afternoon sky, i started the return, a loop south towards Devizes before which i turned to take in Lacock and Corsham before dropping to the Avon valley for the run back in.

It was heading towards 5pm by the time i got back, lights were engaged for the last couple of miles of the 140km leg stretcher which also earnt over 1000m of climbing effort. Now i've got Foxy back my maintenance thoughts turn towards the bike i've been using in her stead, my CF 'summer' race bike, so that'll be me on beans until Easter then! Whoever mooted the idea that cycling was for those on a budget clearly never owned or rode one.

Today, apart from watching the wreath laying in Westminster, i've been catching up on a few chores, next after this i need to get some shopping, nothing fancy, bread, milk and beans - don't get me wrong, i like beans, maybe i can run to a block of cheese to mix things up! Anyhoo, it being Sunday i've uploaded chapter 3, Not Enough Hours, of Only Five Minutes for your reading pleasure.

I think that's about it, i'll be back on Wednesday all being well but for now its Auf wiedersehn,
Madeline Anafrid