Very good weather for cycling – low wind, dry, sunny and reasonably mild. Decided to do the Southbound route, and set off not long after 1000.
Remarkably, I missed the turn for Ellistown after about two miles. My mind was somewhat preoccupied with bathroom renovation activities. However I ploughed on down the A444, took a left along Grange Lane and was back on track in no time. Actually a more direct route, which cuts a mile off compared to going through Ellistown. I normally avoid it because I’m not keen on pedalling down the A444 any longer than I have to, but today it was fine. Something to think about for the next Northampton excursion.
Once again I took the bypass round Earl Shilton to avoid the hill.
At Gilmorton I was delighted to find the village shop open, with the enticing prospect of a Cornish pasty and a lemon curd crumble slice. I went in, took my phone out of my pocket and realised I’d brought the wrong one. I have three phones, all provided by my employer. But the one I’d brought with me doesn’t have a SIM card. No Google Pay, no treats. I left.
I still had a Tesco cheese pasty, an oat bar and enough water on me. So I pressed on. I turned back after 31 miles though, thinking that it wasn’t prudent to stray too far from home without a working phone or money. Maybe I should keep an emergency £10 note in my usual bikes.
Alas, on the way back I somehow turned left on Lutterworth Road instead of crossing straight over. Too much on my mind again. I decided I’d just press on and see if I could follow my nose home. This took me, eventually, to a place called Bitteswell. I decided to consult Google Maps, in the hope that I was in my “local area” offline map region, downloaded automatically by the app for offline use. I didn’t have a mobile broadband signal, of course.
I wasn’t, but at least the app told me roughly where I was in relationship to it even if I couldn’t see the local roads on it. So I aimed the bike in the right direction and hoped for the best. Fortunately I saw a road sign to Broughton Astley a few miles later.
I added 8 or 9 miles, but I must say the new roads were idyllic cycling territory, especially on a day like today. Must remember to go down that way again.
Fortunately the food I had on me was more than adequate. I ate a lot of lasagne last night for reasons that have nothing to do with cycling, and I think there’s definitely something to be said for carb loading.
I was irritated by a woman driving a Range Rover following me along Broughton Lane. She had loads of time and space to overtake me but she wouldn’t, and after a few minutes she had a tail of traffic half a mile long crawling behind her. Naturally a couple of them decided it was my fault after she did eventually overtake, gesticulating or beeping their horns as they passed.
I listened to footy on 5 Live. Burnley (surely going down now) vs Bournemouth and the first half of the Manchester derby.
Back on 71.42 miles. That was this year’s sixth fondo.