Here's a game I've not played in a while, the old book a cheap hotel room miles away from home and spend the weekend cycling there and back. I must confess that it's more of a winter game than a summer one, I mean, there's no point forking out for hotel rooms, no matter how cheap they are, when you've got a hammock is there? But sometimes, as the nights get colder and it get's dark earlier, the hotel lark seems more appealing.
A quick Google, whilst I was sat eating my breakfast earlier in the week, showed up a cheap room in Melksham for Friday night. That's, Melksham near Devizes and Chippenham. No, I'd never heard of it either, but it's obviously big enough to have a Travelodge and having now been there, it seems to be sat on a bit of a major road junction, which probably explains the Travelodge. Either way and more importantly, it also happens to be approximately 75 miles away from home and work. Add in the trip into work on the Friday and a bit of circuitous route planning for the way back and I've got myself a pair of 85 mile days. Nice! And as an added bonus "The Emma" said she'd come down for the evening and a few beers, and then drop in on friends on the way home too. What's not to like about that. 170 miles of bike fun and a few beers, sweet!
A bit of route planning during the week, followed by digging out my big saddlebag and packing up a few bit's ready for a quick getaway from work on the Friday, made it seem like a bit of an adventure, and gave me something to look forward too during the week. That, coupled with riding in to work on Friday morning, with saddlebag packed and extra water bottles on the bike, gave the day a special feel and I spent the morning watching the clock hands tick slowly round, waiting for the off.
By lunchtime I was good to go, and with the weather chilly but dry, it looked like I should have a good afternoon out. Tracking back towards home from work on the normal route, it wasn't long before I was diverting off to skirt around the outside of Basingstoke and setting course for Newbury, my first major milestone on the afternoons journey.
Coming across a "Road Closed" sign and a large queue of traffic shortly before Newbury, I thought that I was in for a few extra miles, but chancing my arm I threaded my way through the signs and when I actually came across the guys working, stopped and asked them if I could squeeze though on my bike. "No problem" came the reply and thanking them profusely for saving me a few miles I stopped and chatted to them for a few minutes before carrying on along the deserted road.
I often find that it pays to be nice to people, it takes nothing to ask and be polite, and likewise it's surprising the things that people will tell you if you ask and show some interest in what they are doing. People often ask me at work how I seem to know so much about what's going on, well it's because I talk to people, cleaners, contractors, the guy that checks the passes as I cycle in of a morning, they've all got something interesting to say if you take the time to talk to them. And you never know, not only might your learn something but you might save yourself a few miles on your travels too! A pair of Kestrels hunting in the fields as I made my way from Newbury towards Hungerford seemed like a sign to stop for a while and have a late lunch, and I spent an enjoyable few minutes eating my sandwiches whilst watching these magnificent birds hovering in the sky whilst searching for their own meals. Nature fest or not, sitting still won't get me to my destination and it wasn't long before I was following the road alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal on my way towards Pewsey and ultimately Devizes and beyond. There's normally fast, easy, flat miles to be had along the routes followed by canals and railways and today was no exception, the miles flying by as I made my way steadily West. Another quick stop by the canal after Pewsey, where I sat for a few minutes, watching a heavy freight train make it's way slowly up the adjacent track, whilst a canal boat made it's way sedately towards me, set me off thinking about the changes to life, that both the canals and then the railways must have made. Pondering whilst peddling, makes the time slip away and before I knew it I was passing through Devizes and a few minutes later arriving at my destination for the night.
75 miles (85 with the ride into work) in just over 5 1/2 hours (including stops) isn't bad going and gave me plenty of time for a shower and brew before "The Emma" pitched up and we headed out for a very sociable meal and a few beers. Not a bad way to spend your Friday afternoon and evening and even if nothing else, it made a nice change to be away from home.
After some heavy rain overnight, we were greeted by a beautiful morning when I finally dragged myself out of bed, at a late for me 07:30. I can't spend the morning laying around though, there's miles to be done, and after a couple of brews and a quick bit of breakfast I bade "The Emma" goodbye for the day and headed out into the morning sun. A pleasant few miles along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal, took me well on the way towards Trowbridge, whilst nicely avoiding some busy roads, and from there I headed for Warminster and on towards Salisbury.
With the sun making an appearance it wasn't long before I'd shed my legwarmers and jacket and was picking my way though the autumn colours in just a light top and shorts. Unseasonably warm without a doubt, and I'm surprised at how green and verdant the trees still look, considering the time of year. I guess that we will be in for a big shock at some point in the next few weeks when the first frosts hit, but for today, cruising through the countryside in the warm sun was a rare treat and one not to be sniffed at.
Slogging through the lunchtime traffic in Salisbury wasn't much fun though, and made me glad to be on two wheels and not sat caged, going no where, in a four wheel box. Where are all these people going, surely they must have better things to be doing on a Saturday that heading into town for yet more shopping? I know I have! From Salisbury, it's onto familiar roads, cutting back towards Stockbridge and Whitchurch before the long slow drag back up towards Basingstoke, home and ultimately the end of another mini adventure.
Another 85 miles to go in the book then, for a total of 170 across the 2 days (including my Friday morning commute into work) and even allowing for my late start on Saturday morning I was home for 15:30, leaving plenty of time to sort tea out and head back out in the van for the night, ready for a spot of early morning running on Sunday.
Not a bad start to the weekend then and one that I'm planning on repeating in the coming months. Getting straight on the road on a Friday is to my mind a great way to extend the weekend a bit, and if you can tie it in with a few good miles, a visit to somewhere new and a few beers, well, it doesn't get much better than that does it!
After Friday and Saturday's efforts there's not much to report from Sunday. A night in the van set me up nicely for a bit of early morning running and I managed a steady 13 miles though the early morning mist. On a positive note my foots feeling a lot better and although it's still not right I'm hopeful that I might be able to get some decent miles in next weekend and keep the "Marathon a Month" challenge alive, but we'll have to see how it feels during the week for that one.
A couple of hours on the Allotment saw the first of the Autumn digging done and a bit of tidying up completed. Before a trip down to the tip to get rid of all the tree pruning's from last weekends tidy up of the front garden. And that was about it, another weekend gone in the blink of an eye, and another step closer to Christmas!
While I was pottering around Sunday afternoon, "The Emma" made a start on dehydrating some of the bumper apple crop too. There's nothing better or more juicy than a freshly picked apple, but a few slices of dried apple comes a close second. The first batch is dehydrating as I type and if I remember (and haven't scoffed them all) I'll stick some pictures up next week.
On a totally unrelated note. I've shared plenty of pictures from my commute before, but I think these few are still worth sharing!
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
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