Warm at last!

19°C sunny and dry.

Dead Hawthorne.

The wettest May on record has hit my milage somewhat.

Another thing, today was good weather to catch up on some laundry. Mundane, I know. For decades, I’ve checked laundry with a sniff test but it hasn’t worked since covid. Now, it’s back; if faintly. For six months that salty odour has been missing.

Zing hills

9°C, strong WSW, grey but dry.

1970 gas pipe thing.

Lots of hills and a long grind back in the wind. Writing this now, I can still feel it in my legs.

Though hard work, it was far more satisfying than the last few rides where I felt physically low. It was almost like that feeling after the AZ jab a few weeks ago.

50s getting easier.

18°C, light SW. some rain.

August floods.

These 50 mile rides are definitely getting easier. I painted all morning while the rain poured.

This time, I took the hills from Ecclestone and descended Bannister just touching 40mph. There was no cafe stop but I did stock up on calories at a garage. Today, I rode the 900th mile on this bike, there is no sign of wear in the chain. Also, after checking the age of the wheels – 2014, 6 years! No sign of wear there either; not the bearings nor the brake surfaces.

Hot, damp and sunny 70.

Flooded farmland.

A grand day out! Firstly, headed north along the farmland by the R Ribble. For miles and miles it was under a few inches of water. This low lying, flat land is only 6m above sea level, he water can’t drain anywhere. So far, it has stood there for two days. Humidity is very high and afternoons are punctuated by thunderstorms.

Further towards Penworthan, I checked out the Ribble Way, a potential gravel route. Then to Stoney lane near Parbold and a fast descent of Bannister Land. I touched 43mph. Next a coffee stop. The bit on the map in Formby was a second cafe stop where I met the other half. By the time I got home was almost 70 miles in all.