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start to March
New month and a forecast of impending low temperatures and even white stuff stirred me into action and a ride that included my first cross Severn ride of 2023. It wasn't icy but 3c isn't exactly warm but the day was quite bright as i headed over the bridge and into Wales for the first stage along the Wye valley. I toyed with a stop at Tintern Station but decided i'd push on to my original lunch point deep in the Forest of Dean and so, after crossing back into Englandshire i took the long climb out of the valley up to Coleford. From there its a largely downhill route towards the Dean Forest Railway and my lunch halt at 'Only Food and Sauces', a Fools & Horses 'themed' establishment housed in a doubledeck bus.
Rather than drop down to the busy A48 i decided to climb out to St Briavels to then drop to the Wye crossing at Chepstow, another miles long anf quite steep ascent, St Briavels being the highest point of the whole forest area. The light wind pushed me south, i was enjoying the road until a 'road closed' sign suggested something amiss - usually you can get by on foot or with a bike so i cautiously continued on. But progress was halted a short way further on by the plod, no one was getting through, they were recovering a fatal crash so i turned around to find a way around but given where i was, the options were quite limited.
So much for missing the A48, i ended up on it by default, there being no other option, the road closure costing me @ an extra 10km as well as about half an hour. Oh well, back across the Severn and there was a huge amount of traffic, mostly going the other direction, apparently the roll off bed from a truck had departed company from the chassid and got wedged on an overhead gantry on the M5 closing the motorway for most of the day and the junction hoppers at home time were now playing silly buggers with sat navs.
I got back with 126km on the clock but the real kicker was the 1400+m of up, what i said at the weekend about altitude gain, well i'd inadvetently smashed that by a full 50%! No wonder i was a bit tired.
Friday was always going to be a quieter activity day, i eventually headed out to the PO for a long wait before taking a bit of a walk into the Frome valley with a sandwich stop - the only place i know that uses sliced bread rather than some sort of roll (insert regional name here). It was a bit chilly but bright enough, a pleasant day.
I didn't really fancy going out into the cold on Saturday but i got kitted up for a shorter ride leaving a bit later than usual for a loop north and east. I'd not even got warmed up when i noticed a 'not right' noise from the transmission, a stop and inspection revealed a broken chain side plate, it was holding together - just. Not wanting to push my luck i immediately started to loop back, praying that it held for the 10km return journey, i really didn't want another walking episode.
Well i made it, i was kind of glad to be back early, it was perishingly cold despite the sunshine. I thought i had a spare chain in stock but apparently not so i quickly ordered one that should arrive some time today, i should be good to go on Tuesdays ride.
Today? well fitst job has been baking a cake, its cooling as i type. Once i've finished here i'll go for a short walk - well it helps keep me sane, burns a few calories and helps keep the results of the DVT damage in check.
I have of course posted more Gaby, another short chapter but our girl still manages to provide entertainment! Reminder is chapter 19 of the 25th Gaby book.
Well thats it for now, i'll be back all being well on Wednesday,
Tschuss,
Madeline Anafrid
