There didn't seem to be much point in adding to last weeks exciting blog entry, so before we get started on this week I suppose that we had better just mention my final hurrah before going back to work after the Christmas break.
I couldn't just let those last couple of days go to waste, so a quick Google whilst resting my weary legs threw up a cheap Travelodge room at Beckington for the night on Sunday. They're doing all right out of me at the moment Travelodge, but when you can pick up somewhere to rest your head for under £30, it's almost rude not to take advantage, plus it gives me the opportunity to take my bike to pastures new. A quick bit of route plotting later and I'd got myself a nice little 150 mile jaunt to finish off my Christmas leave, 70 miles on Sunday afternoon, with another 80 back home on Monday morning, what's not to like about that and all for less than the price of a meal out, result.
Typically, Sunday morning was bright and clear, but with their being little point in setting off too early (I'd just end up sat in a hotel room on my own twiddling my thumbs), I pottered around all morning, had a bit of lunch with "The Emma" and left home just before 13:00. By which time it was obviously raining!
Not to be downhearted though, I set off in the rain and to be fair it wasn't too bad. Yes it was wet, but when it was raining it was fairly light, and it only rained for about half of the time I was on the road, so I'm not going to complain too much about it. Either way, rain or not, it was still better than being sat at home watching TV and it was still warm enough to be pleasant, even if it was a bit damp. Being a Sunday afternoon, the traffic was surprisingly light, and despite the fact that it was pretty much dark by the time I'd got past Devizes and onto unfamiliar territory, cycling along the little country lanes in the dark, past the houses with their Christmas lights still on, and the warm glow from behind curtained windows, was still a magical feeling. By 18:00 I'd reached my destination for the night and taking advantage of the opportunity for an early night (there's not a lot else to do, when all you've got with you is the cycling clothes your wearing) I grabbed some tea from the nearby service station and settled down to catch up on some of the sleep that I seem to have missed out on over the previous days. An early night only leads to one thing though. An early start. And I was up and back on the road for 07:00 the next morning, tracking steadily back the way I'd come, towards Trowbridge, where my return route deviated, to head slightly South of my inbound track. With dry and quiet roads, I made good time, stopping just after Pewsey for a second breakfast of porridge with extra added calories, in the form of half a bar of chocolate melted into it. Well, come on, if you can't treat yourself when your out on your bike, then when can you. And I must say that it was very well received too, giving me plenty of energy to push on towards my next planned stop at Newbury, where I picked up a sandwich for lunch, before pushing on for home. I was back home again just over 24 hours after setting off, and in plenty of time to spend a quiet afternoon catching up with "The Emma" and sorting out bits and bobs ready for my return to the realities of life and work. But, I'd had a great little adventure, despite the rain trying to dampen my spirits, and as I mentioned earlier, I might not have been anywhere exciting or exotic, but I'm pretty sure that my little day out was better than sitting at home staring at the TV for the same amount of time, and I'm sure that in a few years time when I'm old and even more decrepit than I am now, I'm more likely to remember that day than I would otherwise!
Now that we're caught back up from the end of last week, what have I been up to this week. Well, for a starters there was possibly the coldest commute into work that I've had to date. I don't think that my fingers have ever hurt so much, and that's despite the thickest gloves I've got, arm warmers and all the other paraphernalia. I must have spent 15 minutes when I got there just huddled over the radiator with my hands shoved as far into my armpits as they could possibly go. The strangest thing however, is I don't think that it was actually that cold, I'd guess -4 in places, but by gosh, did my fingers feel it!
Cold commutes aside, I had planned on getting a few bike miles in on Saturday, followed by a bit of running on Sunday, but a quick glance at the weather forecast on Friday night, showed a rethink of that plan was required, with a band of heavy, slow moving rain, forecast to be over the area on Saturday morning. Now, I don't mind getting wet (I don't particularly enjoy it either, mind you), I suppose in the UK it goes with being outside. But, getting wet on the bike always seems 100x worse than getting wet when your running. I guess that the spray from the cars etc makes it seem worse on the bike and the roads tend to be quite exposed anyway, plus you tend to get cold quicker, but it's certainly the worse of the two options. So, a change of plan it would need to be, run on Saturday and cycle Sunday instead, see that wasn't too hard was it!
I can tell you for a fact, that we've had a fait bit of rain over the last few weeks too. I know this for a fact as my planned route, more reconnoitring of the Brenda Parker Way, was either underwater or ankle deep in fresh, slippery mud. Great!
No, I really mean that, great! When I was a kid, "The Old Cheese" spent her life saying "stop getting dirty" and "get out of that muddy puddle". Now that I'm nearly 50 there's no one to stop me playing in the mud and puddles if I so choose (and I do choose to on a regular basis). Although I must confess that "The Emma" doesn't always see the funny side when I come in covered in mud and proceed to disrobe in the kitchen, scattering dried mud everywhere. Just no sense of adventure some people!
This weeks investigative leg of the Brenda Parker Way took me from Bramley, up through Silchester (more of which in a moment) and on towards Tadley, before reaching Ashford Hill, where I turned to retrace my steps. That's the biggest problem with any of these routes, you've got to run double the distance to get back to the car again!
Setting off from Bramley in the early morning drizzle, it wasn't long before I reached Silchester, site of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum and still the site of some impressive Roman ruins, including the remains of both the town walls and amphitheatre, both of which are worth a quick look if your ever in the area.
No time for sight seeing today though, although I did pause for a quick look around the amphitheatre, which I'd never seen before, despite it being right on my doorstep, before pushing on along the wet and muddy track.
Crossing the village green in Silchester Village, is another familiar sight that I've been past on many occasions but until today never paused at, the familiar village war memorial, complete with small information board giving us an insight into a few of the names engraved on the tribute behind. Every village you travel through has a war memorial, and whatever your thoughts are on the two world wars, it's a sobering reminder of the sheer, staggering numbers of people that gave up their lives for our freedom, and in my opinion always worth a few seconds to pause and remember their sacrifice.
Onward, through Tadley and past the playing fields, where the local children were just starting to congregate, ready for a mornings football, whilst their parents stood on the side lines, trying their best to remain dry in the never ending drizzle and onwards toward my final turning point.
There were some real wet sections between Tadley and Ashford Hill, with the path either under 6 inches of water or the same depth of wet, slippery mud. That's what I'm here for though and the worse it get's, the more of a challenge and the more fun it becomes! Eventually though, after having slithered down a muddy slope and waded through a fully waterlogged field I reached my half way point, and spun around, ready to retrace my waterlogged steps. Back the way I'd come then. 10 more miles of wet slippery fun, in the ever present rain, which alternated from damp drizzle, to proper all out rain, at times thrown in my face, by a vicious wind. Do your best weather, some days you just can't be beaten and having set off in the rain, however bad it got didn't do much to dampen my spirits today! 3:30, plus a few odd minutes later, I got back to the car and considered my next move. Wet and muddy from the mornings efforts, no matter what happened the car was getting dirty. Shoes off, shoes on, wet and muddy socks off, or just leave them on and deal with the mess later? No matter what I do the cars getting full of mud, so I might as well just go home and get the hose pipe out! And you know what, half an hour later, stood in the back garden at home, washing mud from my shoes and legs with the icy cold water from the hosepipe I still had a smile on my face. Who says that winter weather has to stop play. You just need to face up to the fact your going to get cold, wet and muddy and make the most of it. At the end of the day, why should it only be children that get to jump and play in muddy puddles!
Oh, and I'm just going to leave this here, and say, bloody pigeons, that's my sprouts you *****
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
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
March 2024
Categories
All
|