A dry, very mild day with a moderate wind from the south. I set off on the southbound route shortly after 1000. Once again I intended to do a fondo minimally, but most likely a bit more.
In recent weeks when I’ve gone down that way, I’ve taken a left to the gliding club at Sibbertoft. Today I went down through Welford. I bought some food and a small bottle of orange juice at the petrol station there. Annoyingly I left the orange juice there somehow, after opening it for a quick gulp outside. But a few miles further to the south I took a left to Naseby and bought Lucozade at the village shop there. I’d done about 40 miles at this point, so I turned back.
The plan for the way back was to come back up the “old” way to the east, but to cut across to the “new” way, ie the way I’d come, after Foston, to avoid busy roads through Blaby, Enderby and Desford. This would involve navigating roads I’d never done before.
Unfortunately I took a wrong turn just after Countesthorpe, but I found my way back to the “old” route anyway, on a different set of roads than I’d intended. I suppose I should have rehearsed the turns on Street View, or used a GPX app or the eTrex. To be fair I quite enjoyed the route I did take. Very quiet and scenic. But I probably wouldn’t do it again. Too hilly, and my planned route would have got me across quicker.
Came back up through Barlestone and Nailstone. I reckoned the A447 would be quiet enough on a Saturday, and it was.
Back on 83.68 miles, very happy to have done 170 miles in October already.
I listened to footy coverage on 5 Live, LBC, Be Bop Deluxe’s Live in the Air Age and more of Chickenhawk.