Another decent day, if a bit windy. The wind was coming from the south-west, but I decided to do the southbound route. Only wanted to do the fondo distance.
I realised, as I was readying the bike, that I’d forgotten to bring a bike computer out of the house. So I used the Strava app on my phone. Slightly irritating not knowing how many miles I’d done at any given time, but I have a few mental distance markers remembered.
Stopped at the Co-op at Stoney Stanton for a plain croissant. They didn’t have any, so I had an onion bhaji sandwich instead. Got to Husbands Bosworth after about 32 miles. And I decided to come back the “old way”, up Welford Road then through Foston and Enderby.
I ignored a few ROAD CLOSED signs with big red barriers positioned half way across the road. A few miles later I came to a pair of barriers right across the road, bearing the notice DANGER: DEEP EXCAVATION, but in fact the only noticeable excavation was about three inches deep. No-one was in attendance. I got the bike round the barriers without any difficulty and carried on.
Very nice to come up Welford Road again for a change, but the “old way” is not so much fun after Blaby. Busy roads. I must work out a route that comes back part of the old way, then cuts west to the newer route.
After Newbold Verdon I came back a shorter way than usual, and ended up having to take a circuitous route over the last couple of miles.
I decided to risk minimal clothing and unfortunately the oncoming breeze was a bit cold for the first couple of hours. I warmed up nicely in the afternoon, but I wish I’d put on a long-sleeved tunic over the short-sleeved top I had on.
I listened to another couple of hours of the Alastair Reynolds novel, Revelation Space. Not sure whether to persist with it. And 5 Live, notable today for the many tributes to Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Back on 62.31 miles, 509 for August now.