A decidedly windy day but it’s been slim pickings so far this month so – since it was at least dry and sunny, I felt I should try and do at least 25. For some reason though, the wind didn’t seem so bad once I was underway, even going directly west.
I went up through Coalville and Belton to Isley Walton, up over Swarkestone Bridge, west along the Beloved Flat A Road. I was feeling unusually thirsty for some reason so I decided I’d go as far as the garage near Hatton and buy a drink. I didn’t have a lot of water with me. Chilled Lucozade. Lovely. I also ate a cheese & onion pasty I’d brought with me before I mounted my bike to come back the same way.
The return trip, with a tailwind and having fuelled up a bit, was a real joy. Until I stopped for a wee near Willington, and dropped my phone. The screen cracked, rendering it inoperable, and making it impossible for me to send a message to say I’d be later than expected. Even worse, I was using it to listen to the PM’s press conference on 5 Live because my DAB batteries had died – and I didn’t want to use the spare AAs in case I needed them for the front light. Worst of all, ‘er indoors started ringing me and it was impossible to answer calls.
Needless to say she was irate when I returned, and my explanation only placated her partly. But Lib Dem supporters can be impervious to reason, sometimes.
That was a really nice run out apart from writing off my phone. 47.30 miles, but felt more like 35. Beautiful starry night, with all of Orion clearly visible. The fields near the river at Swarkestone Bridge were waterlogged like lakes which was actually quite a beautiful scene.
Only 170 done in February so far. Would really like to get that up to 300 if I can, but it’s a short month.