I’ve been frustrated recently by the limiting factor of having to contend with heavy traffic near Zouch on the eastbound route on late weekday afternoons, as I’ve mentioned here a few times.
The wind was due to come from the east again today so last night, using the RideWithGPS route planner, I devised an alternative eastbound route that would start by going south rather than north down to Bagworth, then east through Thornton, Markfield, Rothley, Ratcliffe and Thrussington before rejoining the original eastbound route near Six Hills, after about 25 miles.
I thought I’d do about 18 miles of this route – not all the way to Six Hills – then come back the same way.
So I set off at about 1535. I’ve been that way as far as Markfield quite a few times but after that, the route was mostly new to me. I had the route uploaded to my eTrex but I still managed to miss a turn near Cossington. I tracked back from the next roundabout.
After going down a long, steep hill bear Swithland Wood I decided I wasn’t going to come back that way. I decided to continue all the way to Six Hills, then come back home via the traditional eastbound route. But I consulted Google Maps at Thrussington and took a short cut up to the old route from there, rejoining it near Cotes.
The new route that I’d intended was nice – nothing special but nice to be doing something a bit different. Especially nice to be pedalling along the roads near Bradgate Park, which I used to do 30-odd years ago on my Raleigh Routier, usually on Sunday afternoons. But the short cut which I hadn’t intended was perfect cycling territory – quiet, pleasant and well-surfaced. I snapped the pic along there. I can use some of it as an alternative section on the old eastbound route. I’ll definitely do that.
Glorious weather out there, properly warm and sunny. Very enjoyable coming back westward with a tailwind. Happy to have done a decently long one today because the weather for the weekend looks iffy.
I finished Bad Luck and Trouble. Not sure if I’ve ever got through a Reacher novel so quickly. I can completely understand why it’s been chosen as the basis for the next TV series adaptation.
Back on 49.04 miles.