With the wind coming from the south and due to intensify in the afternoon, a run out down south seemed to be the best plan. I thought I’d have a crack at Northamptonshire, via the usual (or more recently usual) route down to Welford. And that’s what I did, but not at first. I left the garage at about 08:30 and after about three miles, realised I’d actually commenced the eastward route, which starts in pretty much exactly the wrong direction.
Rather than stop and do a U turn, which would have been bad for morale, I decided to keep on a bit then loop back through Whitwick. And I did that, though not before getting lost along a road that ended at a farm for a mile or so. But I found my way back to the intended route before long, having done roughly 7 spurious miles. I wasn’t really bothered, though. I’d been thinking of tacking on a few at the end anyway, to get the distance up a bit over the 80 mile mark.
If readers are concerned that the above sounds a bit like an early onset dementia symptom, please don’t be. I’ve been like that at least since primary school. My teachers used to despair of my absent-mindedness.
Very pleasant run down through Newbold, Kirkby Mallory, Earl Shilton, Stoney Stanton et al. The closed road I’d encountered at Broughton Astley last time I came this way was still closed but I was able to bypass the roadworks along the pavement very easily. I was a bit too cold, actually. Hadn’t quite wrapped up warm enough. But I was fine when the sun came out in the afternoon.
Arrived at Welford and decided not to take a pic of the Northamptonshire sign, as it was surrounded by standing water and I would have got my shoes wet. After a snack at a bench in the village I kept on for a bit, and turned for home after about 42 miles. I’d forgotten to bring a pump and I felt I was pushing my luck going too far on tyres well into four figure distances. Really must change them in the spring. I was already mentally rehearsing a provisional explanation for calling the wife out 40 miles from home.
I was using the eTrex for navigation, having done that full route only once before – and on the way back, north of Welford I noticed that I was no longer on the purple track on the display, denoting the planned route. I decided to take a right to a village called Sibbertoft that was signposted, and work out a way back from there. I’d been meaning to do a bit of a diversion to get the distance up a bit more anyway. This was a really pleasant interlude that took me past a gliding club. I saw a couple of gliders circling overhead. Got to Sibbertoft, stopped and consulted Google Maps and realised I just needed to turn back the way I’d come. I hadn’t actually left the planned route at all, when I thought I had. The eTrex must have flipped to standard map mode due to a misclick. Or something.
Stopped at the village shop / coffee shop at Gilmorton on the way back and had a sandwich, lemon curd shortbread (yum) and a coffee. I reminded the girl behind the counter that she’d had to call someone to explain to her how to use the coffee machine last time I was there, but she has the hang of it now.
Slightly bothered by sidewind on the way back, here and there. The headwind on the way down wasn’t too bothersome and on the way back, mostly I had a tailwind. Always a comforting sight to see a wind turbine spinning merrily in your direction when you’re on a bike.
Back home much the same way, except that I took a wrong turn at Kirkby. Google Maps suggested that it went to Desford so I pressed on, but it devolved into a muddy track after about a mile. So I turned back.
Back home just at sunset on 85.4 (Strava says a bit more, but I’ve subtracted from that to compensate for clogging round the shop and wee stops with the watch on).
I’d made a slight adjustment to the saddle height as an experiment before setting off – raising it by about 7mm – and that did seem to make a positive difference. I don’t doubt I could have done another 15 miles but didn’t want to push my luck, and in any case it was getting dim and I only had a flashy blinker on the front. In any case I’m very happy to have done 85 miles without too much trouble (knees feel a bit sore now but nothing sinister). I will work up to doing a 100 miler. I could certainly choose a flatter route than that one, anyway. Maybe 92 next time, perhaps in warmer weather on a longer day.