I really fancied a run over to Markfield today. I like to do that this time of year. But the wind was coming fairly directly from the west, so it wasn’t the best idea. So – I thought I’d do some of the Dad’s Army route. As it happens I watched the Christmas 1974 episode of the BBC’s celebrated sitcom for which the route is named last night.
Ideally I wanted to do about 75 km. I set off early enough, and the BBC forecast assured me there was no risk of rain until about 1600. I went up to Ashby first, down to Twycross, did the detour to Orton, down through Sheepy and west along Grendon Road. However .. I decided on a whim to take a right along Warton Lane and just to busk it for a bit, rather than following the usual route down to the A5. At the junction with Orton Road I kept on, rather than taking a familiar turn left or right. This took me along a road called Linden Lane, which I don’t think I’ve ever been along.
By this time I was putting up with drizzle and light rain, despite the BBC’s promises. I took a right turn along a road called Polesworth Lane, leading eventually to a village called Newton Regis. Definitely hadn’t been along there before. Took the pic there. I consulted Google Maps, plotted a route to No Man’s Heath and came home a familiar way from there.
Listened to LBC mostly; Iain Dale was sitting in for James O’Brien, making the discourse about 800% more sensible than usual.
Back on 59.59km, not quite the distance I wanted but then again I wouldn’t have gone out at all if I’d known the weather was going to be so dismal after the first hour. Nice to do something a bit different just before Christmas.