Beautiful cycling day, today. Sunny, not too warm, low wind. Great shame I had to work, but at least I was able to down tools by 3:30. I decided to take the S Works – conscious that the summer is not with us that much longer, and I haven’t actually been out on it since I put new tyres on. I wanted to do 46 miles, to take the August total past 500.
I decided to go up through Melbourne, over Swarkestone Bridge and along the A road that runs along the river. I did that as far as Willington then turned back, a little nervous that I was straying too far from home when I might be needed at work. I did go exploring along an unfamiliar road at Willington before I turned for home, but only for half a mile or so.
I didn’t turn back down over Swarkestone Bridge. I kept going through Weston and Aston. I had the vague idea of finding a turn to take me south again, but actually there isn’t one until you get to Shardlow and Cavendish Bridge, so that’s where I ended up. From there, back down through Donington and the usual way home from my old office there.
It annoys me when people spell it “Donnington” as they sometimes do, but interestingly as I pedalled through the town I noticed an ancient road sign – one of those pillars set in the pavement with distances on two faces – with that same spelling. It must have been there since before the war. Odd. Perhaps the name was changed at some point.
Saw a couple of photographers with very powerful long lenses – amateurs, I think – scrambling down the embankment to the side of the road as I passed the airport. I’ve heard of people being harassed by the airport security and police for unauthorised photography around the airport perimeter.
Anyway – I only did 41.59 miles. If I’d come back down a bit sooner I might have tacked on a part-Twycrosser, but I wasn’t going to faff around just for the sake of another three or four miles.
So: 496 this month. I think the weather will allow another 80 at least.