A dry day, anticipated to be warm in the afternoon and not too windy. The wind was coming from the south-east so I thought a southbound fondo was in order, either down to Northamptonshire as usual or down Fosse Way.
I had to reroute at Earl Shilton due to a road closure. Usually I try to sneak the bike past whatever obstacle has been put there to annoy me but no chance this time, the road (Thurlaston Lane) had been dug up right across and into both grass verges. So I backtracked and plotted a new course to Stoney through Elmesthorpe. Also at Earl Shilton – an old bird walking along the pavement flagged me down for a chat! She must have been at least 80. Told me how she used to do a coast to coast walk as a young woman. And her dad bought her first bike when she was 12. Bless her.
By the time I’d got to Stoney Stanton I’d decided to go down Fosse Way. So I did. Got as far as about 5km past Brinklow when I decided to turn back. I did want to go a bit further, but the headwind and the up-and-down hill climbing had started to grind a bit. Stopped for a bit of a feast at the village shop in Brinklow. Always like to sit and watch the world go by there, especially in the sunshine.
Back on 105.01km.
Listened to LBC and 5 Live mostly. But also, on an inexplicable whim, the Alphaville album Forever Young and Zappa’s Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar which I bought as a triple album boxed set in 1981. Requires a particular mood.