I got up early, because the hottest day of the year was forecast. Easy enough, because my body clock is still on Greek time. I set off on the southbound route at 0805.
At some point between home and Stoney Stanton I decided to go down Fosse Way instead of down to Sibbertoft. So I went straight over the roundabout at Stoney, through Sapcote, High Cross, Brinklow.
After Bretford I’d already done 49km and didn’t want to do much more before turning back, so I took a right to explore. A couple of klicks later I was in a village called Brandon, where I took the pic then turned back.
Stopped at the village shop for a posh sausage roll and a Magnum at Brinklow. I like to have a break at the bench there. Nice little ritual. Conditions were pretty hot by this time, but before long a thin layer of cloud came over, enough to prevent the bike from casting a shadow on the road. Still very warm and humid but a nice break from the sun.
I’d expected a straggly strip of rain to come over from the rainfall radar forecast. Felt a few spots from midday, then light rain half an hour later. Then it stopped. Then over the last few km, persistent rain. Not quite heavy, but not light either.
Listened to LBC and a bit of tennis on 5 Live, then more of Ungovernable: The Political Diaries of a Chief Whip by Simon Hart.
Very pleased to see that a long stretch of road between Ellistown and Bagworth has been resurfaced – properly – with luxuriant, smooth tarmac. Bravo, Leicestershire County Council. But what makes one part of the road network merit a proper resurface when other parts just have loose, dusty gravel tipped on them, I have no idea.
Unfortunately they haven’t quite finished yet so I had to put up with a temporary road surface for 100 metres or so. A bit rattly. But no big deal.
Back on 102.26km. Glad to be out on a bike again after a ten day break, mostly due to holiday commitments. More on Monday when the weather is set to be a bit more moderate, with a stiff wind coming from the west.