A very similar day to yesterday – mostly sunny, too windy, occasional fierce showers. But with the likelihood that the precipitation had dried up by mid-afternoon, I set off at 1500 on the Lower Westbound route. Since I did 30 miles yesterday I only wanted to do 30 or so today. I got as far as Croxall then turned back to come home the same way.
Here’s an odd thing. The last mile or so of the ride up to and including Croxall didn’t seem familiar at all .. I’d started to think I must have missed a turn. But I hadn’t, I was definitely on the same route I’ve done at least six or seven times.
Anyway .. back on 32.35 miles, and that’s 198 this month.
I listened to Scotland vs Cyprus, then Gilles Peterson on 6 Music, then Steely Dan’s Aja. Then, just because it was next in the alphabetic sequence, my music player app kicked off Chick Corea’s Akoustic Band album unprompted. I hadn’t heard it for years. My mum bought it for me as a Christmas present in 1993.
Really beautiful out there, perfect weather for that particular route with its lovely views. What had started as an initiative just to add a bit of distance to the monthly total turned out to be one of my favourite rides of the year so far.
Back ten minutes after sunset so I was cutting it fine; I didn’t have a front light of any description with me.