Well idle hands and all that!

Yes I know the last post was only two days ago but I hate being tardy so this will bring us pretty much up to date. So I gave you the short version of Mondays ride, an epic 100 mile plus ride out to see Podracer, well I was well cream crackered when i got back and my head was a bit adled even on Tuesday as I did washing, chopped down a lot of Leylandii then after a sandwich, went off to collect the stuff making the journey south. A saner person would've cut that stuff right down but being sane isn't a requisite for living life on the edge, in fact it helps to be a little mad.

Everything was packed and ready before bed, a prerequisite for my plans for Wednesday. And so, with a heavy heart, I set off a little after 8.30 for the railway station, my departure from GOC less than an hour away. Railway station I hear you exclaim, well a crucial part of the day's plan is two brief rail movements, the first to Derby takes 2 hours of tough Peak District climbs out and, if things go to plan, a similar lump of riding from Gloucester is removed from the tail end of the route. Moving along, I retrieved my ticket for the first leg and all too soon both bike and Maddy were speeding through the Derbyshire countryside.

It was quite warm when i exited Derby station, perhaps too warm for a hundred mile plus ride but hey ho, I've made my plans, lets see where it goes. You don't need to know every stop and turn, but instead of following the obvious direct route to Birmingham, transit the city then drop down to Gloucester, my route took me across the Trent valley then through the hills of west Leicestershire past Twycross to Atherstone where, after buying lunch I picnicked with a view south across Warwickshire to the distant Cotswolds. The weight of my luggage was starting to tell but whilst not flat, any climbs this afternoon would have to be shorter at least, right?

Shorter but no less vicious when you have @ 25kg of luggage to drag up them! I got as far as the dead centre of England, Meriden where I made a brief stop at the cyclists war memorial but I then missed a turn and flying without a map, added several km before resuming a more direct approach to Stratford upon Avon for the second scheduled stop. It was quite warm by now but I was still holding a 20kph average which was essential if the ride is to be a success. A short stop at a village shop for 'lunch' supplies and then on into Shakespeare's home town and a picnic outside the RSC, entertained by a busker as i watched the canal boats on the river and the tourists wandering about, unsure as to why they'd come.

But time waits for no one, so it was back on two wheels, 100km banked, @ 70 more to Gloucester. I was hoping for a more level ride from here as I'd be following the Warwick Avon pretty much all the way to Evesham but I was sorely disappointed, even so I made good headway although as the blue skies started to cloud up my reserves seemed to plummet. A sign suggesting it was still over 20 miles to Gloucester was a bit disheartening but the roads were getting less bumpy and even downhill-ish when I turned towards Tewkesbury.

Those last miles down to Gloucester seemed to take on the feel of a piece of forever stretching elastic but eventually I reached the city, @ 20 mins after my self imposed 8.00pm deadline but OTOH it had been further that I thought. I soon had a ticket and after a short wait I was speeding towards Bristol, slightly longer than the morning ride but soon enough I was heading back to Chez Beverley through the Bristol dusk. The plan was to finish by ten and at five to I was in the house, 2 train rides, 177km and 1250m after departing Yorkshire.

It was a tough day but with my finances it was probably the most economical way to get me, a bike and other stuff from there to here. But boy was I tired.

Today has been a typical post trip day, laundry, essential supplies shop etc. However, first on the agenda was getting back into full Maddy mode! Its just easier if the son, brother, male friend, dad and Grandad makes these trips. I mentioned to Podracer that I was going to hide my blonde locks when I got back , there's no escaping once that's taken care of. What have I done? You mean apart from my girly fringe? Oh its now Post Box red, its a bit of a statement but I've been wanting to give it a go for a while.

I have of course posted a Gaby chapter, Am I Weird? has more Drew/Gaby angst, fuelled by the ongoing Mum situation and the other issues in our hero's life at the moment.

Well that just about wraps things up for now, normal service on Sunday.

Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid

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