Just a short missive from Yorkshire today. Well on one of the best May BH Sundays ever (sunshine, blue skies, no wind or clouds - unheard of for a UK BH!) i'm pleased to relate that I completed the 2000+m of climbing squeezed into 129 Pennine kilometres in a time of 5hrs 30mins. Not too shabby for an old git and I didn't resort to walking anywhere despite grades in the high teens and low twenties (1 in 4 ish if you are old skool on these things.)
Well as i'll be out 'enjoying' a ride through the Yorkshire Dales tomorrow and I've scragged a bit of web time tonight you benefit by getting a Gaby chapter!
Yep, Science Mädchen is up now for your delectation and delight!
see you all soon and don't forget to let me know what you think about the Gaby Cyclefest.
Well the last Gabycon was a couple of years ago now and whilst a success in itself I was thinking maybe it's time for a slightly different format.
So here's the pitch, a weekend event (natch), possibly based at a campsite (cheap accomodation for those that want it) with a ride or two taking in some nearby historic/museum/house etc, cafe lunch and evening meal, if possible with some sort of Gaby connection. Sounds familiar so far I guess.
Well my best laid plans have fallen by the way side as my internet access so far this trip has been sketchy at best and non existent most of the time.
Anyhow, we've had a great trip so far, a mostly mill pond North Sea crossing and wall to wall blue skies and sunshine ever since. Gab has. Been enjoying herself with visits to Hameln of rat fame and the windmill museum up at Luneberg Heide. Maybe the other windmill visits were a bit more 'if we must' but we've some great stuff planned for the way back.
Well yesterday was a landmark for my family - all of my immediate blood relations over four generations in one room at once. Sounds impressive but it's only five people (I do have a host of cousins etc so we aren't such a tiny family really) Anyhow I spent about three hours holding a very well behaved grandson as two exhausted parents failed to summon energy for more than drinking tea!
Firstly, Happy Easter to everyone celebrating the day.
Next up, as promised I finished the next bit of Gaby book 2 yesterday and so today it's already available at Lulu and will be on Kindle a little later once they've done what they do.
Sorry no links but i'm on my phone! Maybe later if I can get on line again.
Nope, not an error, I spent the last couple of days tilting at windmills 'out east' in Lincolnshire! Some good weather, some horrible, one castle (birthplace in 1367 of Henry IV), 275km and 25 windmills! Phew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. I'm sure its doing me good, well I think it is anyhow.
Yep, its officially Spring here in the northern hemisphere, days are longer than nights, the temperatures are rising - well maybe and the land has shaken off winters cloak, except for the left over snow drifts and last nights frost of course.
By happy coincidence - I think, todays Gaby chapter, Awkward Feeling, has a somewhat wintry element!
Well I suppose it is technically still winter until Wednesday so this weekends snow shouldn't be such a surprise but even so, 15cm (6") of the white stuff is as much as any of the winter's previous deposits and despite the warnings plenty of peeps have been caught out - again!
I did get to ride yesterday but arrived home encased in ice and snow - the bike too was looking like it'd been to the Arctic rather than Sherwood Forest! But hey ho, Spring is in the air.
is mounting here in Yorkshire as #1's first born, erm, approaches being born!
Had a good visit Sunday to deliver the nursery furniture, all the expectant grandparents either have (Yorkshire crew) or will be (southern lot) visiting this week before mum finishes work at Easter.
Okay, i'll admit to being a bit distracted with both baby and my new kitchen but I will get down to some serious writing tomorrow, honest.
yes after the last week's cold and snow this week has turned to slightly less obscene weather! Having said that, my ride yesterday in the Peak District (bit of a misnomer as there are only a couple of actual 'peaks') did include negotiating a few snow drifts although there was a lot of localised flooding too - at least the ambient temperature was above 0c!
I will be cracking on with the writing this week, the plan is to have another Gabysode and possibly the new Nena out before Easter - well providing RL doesn't get in the way!
Yup, much like most of the UK, Bell acres has had its share of snow this week, its still white outside although there is a bit of a thaw going on today. Net result is no bike rides for a week, which wouldn't be so bad if my muse hadn't decided to go for a vacation at the same time!
Hey ho.
Anyway you do get a new Gaby chapter today, Strange Reunion so there's something to cheer.
is the new Gaby chapter from the wild and snowy North! So if you want to catch up with things Bond, click right here!
As you might have guessed, the 'Beast from the East' has arrived in my neck of the woods, cold wind with copious supplies of white stuff riding in on its back - about 4-5" so far with more forecast over the next five days.
Hopefully there will be more from me next month but that depends on the weather!
Well its been a better second part of the week - a couple of short bike rides (80km and 135km!) and slightly better weather - well its got above 0c a few times even if I still feel a bit out of sorts.
The next Gaby chapter, Filmed, is now up for reading and i'll get cracking on the next instalments this week in the prelude to Gab's birthday next Sunday.
In the meantime, here's an extract from Avoidance 2 just to get the juices going!
and heave and splutter and are THE PITS! Yes as you may have guessed, I'm still laid low with the cold / virus thing, Lemsip is my friend and doing anything remotely strenuous is out. So no riding still - not that the arctic temperatures, snow and rain have exactly encouraged outdoor activity! But hey ho, it can only get better right? More concerned about my dad who's got a dose of the same but what can you do?
Now I've got that off my chest, (but unfortunately not the cold) we can get down to business!
So from the top, my apologies, I haven't got the next arc of Gaby finished - stuff got in the way but barring a disaster it will be ready for this coming weekend.
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
