18°C, sunny with some heavy showersDelivery: this time, the lorry can’t get around the back. All those years ago, I had 6 tons of gravel delivered to cover the mud lawn. When I used to have dogs, they would run mud into the house each winter.
So how many wheel barrows did it take to move one ton of topsoil to the back garden?
I rode Racelite with MapMyRide+! Distance: 41.58km, time: 01:47:52, pace: 2:36min/km, speed: 23.13km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2420264324
A speedy whizz through the lanes to freshen up. But in the thirteenth mile: bang!
The rear tyre burst. Fibres were sticking out like hair. The hole was about 8mm diagonally across the tyre. I found myself outside a house that looked promising however. Maybe they have some carpet tape.
And so they did, I took 4 pieces to patch the inside of the tyre. Friendly people, thankyou for that.
Outside, in the sunshine g applied the tape. I laid four layers, each one smaller to spread out the tension.
I rode home gingerly, nervous that it would blow again. Basset tape has strong glue but it can creep. It could move enough to allow the inner tube to bubble out.
That’s okay unless it happens somewhere critical like a junction.
Anyway, I got home without event.
18°C, grey and very humid, misty.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 28.54km, time: 01:23:37, pace: 2:56min/km, speed: 20.48km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2414489180
Brisk and slightly slippery.
16°C, some showers, some sun. Mostly grey.
I hiked with MapMyRide+! Distance: 13.53km, time: 03:34:10, pace: 15:50min/km, speed: 3.79km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2412514553
With Carl and Chris to practice nav. techniques. My GPX track does not include the first 1/3. S). Shame because we practiced timing, pacing (including leap-frogging to find features like ponds and ring-contours. We could place ourselves within 10 meters, and estimated grid references matched OS locate each time. The whole thing was very reassuring, especially for the others because they will do the HML assessment in a few weeks. Good luck, though they may not need it. I haven’t booked my ML(s) assessment yet, I’m not ready, there are too many variables in my life right now.
Oh, and the crash site was very interesting too. It was a B29 bomber that hit the hill in 1948. See more details here. We were all struck by how big it is. Details were noticed too, there are ripples and drips in the aluminium where the metal melted that day. We wandered about looking at various pieces of metal and mentally trying to work out what each piece was. the engines were easy, as were the undercarriage.
By now, we were all tired, it was getting late and I was hungry. Therefore, we chose the easiest route back to the car.
20°C, light W breeze, deep blue sky and dry.
I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 55.83km, time: 02:14:53, pace: 2:25min/km, speed: 24.84km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2404618307
Started off as a plod, but got quicker as I felt better.
This turned into a perfect day. My energy remained on tap and the pace sustained. It was the colour that blazed so vividly that impressed so much.
Beautiful day.
18°C, brisk W, deep blue sky.
I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 27.64km, time: 01:26:27, pace: 3:08min/km, speed: 19.18km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2400430430
A recovery ride, not much energy flowed but I got round. The route is the same last week on the cross bike. The total time map only buddy minutes worse despite the heavier bike too.
17°C, set fairApple tree: it’s in a poor state really. Lower branches are dead or scrawny. There are some good looking fruit at the top. I suppose a skilled arborist would have cut the tree so it would grow more favourably. It needs good, young branches lower down.
I have cut out some poor low branches with enough stumps to climb up. Either I can reach the fruit, or I will make a scoop to pick them with.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 17.09km, time: 58:32, pace: 3:26min/km, speed: 17.52km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2391907526
Started on the favourite canal loop for a tea-time ride. It soon became obvious that energy was missing. Clearly, I’m unwell. So after 5 miles, I turned back.
28°C, clear and sunny.
On the last day of our trip, I chose a random route to look for a last supper. The map showed twisty lanes snaking up into the hills. They looked likely. After a convoluted drive thorough sun dappled roads we happened on a village square. There! Three likely looking venues for a meal.
problem was, they can’t do bank cards. We gathered the last of our euro notes and hoped for the best. They had no English and we only had fragments. E did a fine job of filling in the gaps. To make up for the uncertainty, we plumped for Plat du jour and burgers for the kids.
It worked.
18°.C, breeze W, sunshine.
I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 49.45km, time: 01:54:22, pace: 2:19min/km, speed: 25.94km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2382292640
A refreshing ride along familiar roads.
Micycle 