A warm, sunny day with a light wind from the east. I decided a trip down the southbound route to Welford and back was in order. I’ve done the eastbound route a few times recently and couldn’t be bothered with it today.
Within half a mile of setting off, I realised that I’d got the clothing strategy wrong. I’d settled on shorts + long-sleeved top + lightweight cycling jacket, and I was already comfortably warm. I’d expected it to be cool in the morning, but it didn’t seem to be. However I couldn’t be bothered to go back and change so I pressed on. I was definitely too warm in the afternoon, but not intolerably so.
Rather than go down to Welford, I decided to take a left for the gliding club along Sibbertoft Road. I’d already done 31 miles and wasn’t particularly motivated to cross the Northamptonshire border. I thought I’d watch the gliders for a bit instead. This was thoroughly entertaining – I saw a glider come in to land only about 80 metres from where I’d parked the bike against the fence, and a small aircraft came down shortly afterwards. Best of all though was watching one of the gliders take off – it went up very steeply, like a Lightning jet taking off – within seconds the cable it was attached to was nearly vertical, so that it looked like a giant kite. Then it was disconnected and the end of the cable came down connected to a little parachute. The glider wheeled away to the west, like a seagull. It must have been 1500 feet up in about 20 seconds.
Disappointed to find the village shop / cafe at Gilmorton closed on the way back. I particularly wanted an ice cream and a coffee. But I snagged a bottle of Lucozade from the Co-op at Stoney Stanton further on. Unfortunately I pressed the “pause” button on the bike computer a little too long, causing it to split the track. The second part of the track after Stoney never made it to Strava so I’ve synthesised it and stitched it on. I made a slight Horlicks of it so that it looks like I detoured through Ashby Magna, but I didn’t.
Listened mostly to the women’s football on 5 Live and LBC.
Really nice to do that one again, it’s been a while.
https://www.strava.com/activities/5911235610
64.59. 134 this month.
