Here in the UK its Rememberance Sunday, when we honour our dead from 2 World Wars and subsequent military interventions, lest we forget.

So, an interesting week draws to a close, the circus across the pond is done bar the petulant crying, the weather has calmed down here, we celebrated an attempt to disrupt Parliament in 1605 and I've mostly recovered from my various hurts! Yep we've been celebrating failure here for over 400 years!

Thursday was 'Guy Fawkes Day' and whilst traditionally celebrated with bonfires and fireworks, I celebrated with a bit of a bike ride. Although starting out a bit foggy it soon brightened up even if it didn't warm much, I took the quiet roads north up to Dursley then skirted the edge of the Cotswold edge. Which is where things went to poo, up a climb then change back up a gear and bgr, a chain jam, not just a jam but a major stick!

Still not sure how but the result was a twisted and broken front derraileur, after a few minutes of cursing, wrenching and head scratching I managed to remove the offending article and returned to the road, albeit now running just 7 gears. That in itself wasn't so much of an issue but to maintain road speed I needed the higher range which means any serious climbing is out without an oily fiddle. It changed my route a bit but I made the best of the day, returning with 130km and still managing over 900m of up.

Friday was fairly quiet, Lockdown MkII reducing traffic a little but not so much as MkI did, my trip to the supermarket now doubling up as my exercise session for the day so I extended my route out to 2 miles!

The new part for the bike won't arrive until Monday so for Saturdays ride it was a route of least resistance! Out into the foggy morning, a steady climb up onto the south Cotswold plateau and east. The sun soon broke through the murk and the general downward tilt of the land soon had me through Malmesbury and on through Englands longest village, Brinkworth (of course that depends on how you measure these things) and on to Royal Wootton Bassett.

Its easy to get carried away on days like this, continue the few miles to Swindon maybe? but common sense prevailed and I turned south through the town, through Lyneham and onto Calne where I stopped for my sandwiches with 75km on the clock. After my brief repast I continued generally south towards Devizes before turning westwards for the slightly assisted return to Brizzle. Past Bradford, down into Batheaston, Bath itself and along a very busy bike path to finish the day once again with over 900m but with over 140km this time, pushing the week to over 400!

So there we are, another week has passed since I wrote a Sunday note, looking forward the weather is set to be quite settled if cool, my Dad turns 90 tomorrow which, due to Covid will go largely uncelebrated - we were planning a 4 generation 'party' but under lockdown that couldn't happen, instead its cards by post and no doubt brief telephone conversations. I also get to do a heap of bike maintenance, sort out the transmission (new chain/cassette after 13000km) fit the new mech, sort out mudguards, replace spokes in the 'spare' front wheel - yup, looks like i'll be busy for a few hours!

I have of course posted a new chapter of Gaby today, Hearing, part 16 of Avoidance, covers the meeting with the Federation regarding Gabs drug suspension - will she be hung out to dry or can they broker a deal? Guess you'll have to read it to find out.

See you Wednesday,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid

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