Well, things are looking up! With the loosening of the Coronavirus restrictions and a return to some sort of organised sport, we're finally going Audaxing again. With my last outing being The south of bucks winter warmer back in December, it seems like forever ago that I was last out and whilst it's been a long time coming, hopefully now we are on the right path to freedom we wont end up back here again. I'm in no way adverse to going out for a few miles on my own. But, knowing that someone else has taken the time to put together a route, is going to be at the start to see you off and there at the end to check you back in again, is a big incentive for getting out there when the weathers not looking too promising or your just suffering from a touch of the old "can't be bothered". No problems with motivation, or the weather this week though, and I'd been looking forward to this one since Audax UK announced a phased return too riding earlier in the year. In order to limit the social interaction, in what's already, predominantly an individual effort, start times have been split up, one way systems introduced and café stops and controls replaced with information controls and proof of passage. All good, sensible and safe systems, that have been put in place too ensure a safe return to the sport we love. Restricted numbers or not, it was good to be heading off, on what was a new to me route. Out of Caversham it's straight onto the first long slow climb of the day, heading for the higher ground overlooking Watlington, the effort of climbing, gradually driving the morning chill and stiffness from my muscles. Ascending slowly and steadily through the Oxfordshire countryside, the roads were still quiet and with the sun shining, church spires poking through the low laying mist, and the hedgerows proudly showing off their first bright green leaves, it was, as always, a pleasure to be out. A detour for a road closure prior to Thame caused a few issues, requiring a deviation from the route sheet and adding a couple of additional miles to the days total. When your looking at covering 130 miles anyway, a couple of extra's no real issue. The increased traffic on the busier roads of the diversion, being more of a problem. From Thame up to Buckingham is surprisingly flat and with the route following some good roads I was making excellent time. A quick pause for a proof of passage receipt from a handy cashpoint at Buckingham and off again, heading for Bletchley Park, home to the WW2 code breakers and Alan Turing after who todays ride has been named. It's amazing to think, as I sit here now, tapping away on my laptop keyboard, that this was the birthplace of computing. A place where countless volunteers worked ceaselessly under the tightest of security to decipher supposedly un-crackable codes as part of the war effort. Work which lead to mechanisation and computerisation of the process and has ended up where we are today, in a digital age, with previously unthinkable information freely available at out fingertips. From Bletchley and it's history, it's on to Milton Keynes, infamous for it's roundabouts, lack of street names and 1970's architecture, before the long climb up to Ampthill and the opportunity to grab a sandwich, a slice of cake and 10 minutes sat in the sunshine. Lunch done, it was soon time to start the final leg back towards home, not before stripping off the winter gloves, leg warmers and winter jacket in favour of shorts and a thin top though. I'm pretty sure that this was the first time this year that it's actually been warm enough to get my legs out on the bike and it made a pleasant change to feel the breeze blowing over them. Maybe not the best look with winter boots, long woolly socks, and shorts, but when the sun shines, need's must, and whilst I didn't hear any shouts of affection for the rest of the day, I didn't get reported to the "Pasty skinny leg police" either, so that's a positive. Dunstable, came and went in the early afternoon sun and with it the end of the easy, flat riding. Tring, following soon after, marked the start of the serious climbing as the route entered the Chiltern Hills, home to some steep climbs, each of which seems to be followed by an equally precipitous descent, before the whole process starts again. With over 100 miles already in my legs progress slowed somewhat as each climb and descent came and went. Personally, I'm not complaining though, the flat easy ridings alright, but it gets a bit dull pretty quickly. At least when things get a bit more hilly they get a bit more interesting. Glimpses of far off towns and villages from the tops of hills, wooded hillsides, fast flowing streams and smaller quieter roads, all in exchange for a bit of climbing with the chance to stretch your legs and a few exhilarating downhill's. What's not to like about that? By the time Henley on Thames came along my legs were certainly starting to feel it, not far to go now though. Just one more big climb and then it's all down hill too the finish. Rolling to a stop back at the start just before 17:00 with 136 miles on the clock and tired legs was a great feeling. The sun had shone all day and once the early morning chill had evaporated it had been a pleasantly warm day. I'd caught the sun on my nose and the tops of my legs, unused to seeing the sun after the long winter, had a bit of a pink tinge to them. As a return to Audaxing after the lockdown things couldn't have gone much better, and as I sat on the step of the van with a brew, having stretched off and put my bike away, it was with a deep sense of satisfaction and a feeling that maybe at long last things are starting to get back to normal! Last week I mentioned how cold I thought this spring had been and how I thought we were two or three weeks behind on the allotment. Well, just to prove my point here's a couple of pictures that I found the other day showing the allotment and Greenhouse on the 3rd of May 2020. And similar views from this weekend. All a little bit different I'm sure you'll agree!
If and when it does eventually warm up a bit it will soon catch up and I'm pretty sure we're not going to end up starving due to a late spring. But it just goes to show not only how at the mercy of the weather we are, but how much difference a change in the temperature of just a few degrees can make to things!
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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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