Northampton and back is one of my classic long rides, but I hadn’t attempted it since returning to long-distance form following my knee overuse injury in 2018. When I’ve done rides in excess of 80 miles or so this last few months, I’ve planned them on relatively flat routes. The Northampton trip is definitely not one of those, with something of an uphill slog over the first few miles coming back.
On Monday morning though I had a warm sunny day off work on my hands, so I thought I’d give it a go. I set off at about 09:45. I took the newer route to Welford that goes through Dunton Bassett, Gilmorton and North Kilworth. From Welford, just over the Northants border, it’s a very simple run down the A5199.
I took my super-lightweight MP3 / FM player in addition to my DAB, as I was short of disposable batteries. I listened to a fascinating retrospective on 9/11, broadcast on 5 Live in 2011. Contributors were Menzies Campbell, Alastair Campbell and Christopher Meyer, Labour’s US ambassador at the time. I didn’t really disagree with much that any of them had to say except for Ali C of course, but doesn’t that list of names tell you everything you need to know about the BBC’s own political outlook?
After that I listened to a bit of Paul Stanley’s rather self-absorbed autobiography audiobook, read by the man himself. Then I reverted to the DAB for 6 Music and later, the witch trials at Downing Street.
Nice run down there in the bright sunshine, though the wind was annoying me somewhat. More of an oblique sidewind than a headwind. Arrived at Northampton at about 2pm and went into Waitrose at Kingsthorpe, to get more food and liquids. I have a strong sentimental connection to Northampton so it was nice to be there again. I hadn’t actually been in that branch of Waitrose since 1984.
As I started to attach my bike to a pillar, a bloke sitting outside the store on a chair offered to look after it for me instead, so I left it propped against the wall behind him. He was a Waitrose employee of some sort. I got the impression that he was employed to look after customers’ dogs as he was in charge of a large steel bowl with water in it.
However I was annoyed to notice that he’d come into the store, leaving my bike unattended, as I passed through the checkouts 15 minutes later. Fortunately it was still there. Just as well; I’m down to my last six road bikes now.
I didn’t go further into the town. The traffic was quite heavy. I turned back for home when I emerged from the supermarket.
The grim uphill slog north of the town just didn’t materialise. Sure there was a bit of a climb, but it was a lot less bother than I remembered, even with dodgy knees. I guess I must be at a better standard of fitness now. I did get my arms a bit sunburned, but at least my BSP tattoo was protected (by an armband). I now have crisp, high contrast tan lines on my legs to die for.
Stopped at a familiar bench at Welford and had a bit more food and a tinned Starbucks coffee. Very nice.
Slightly different route back nearer home, through Bardon and Coalville. Back on 96.57 miles. I did think of extending it to 100 of course but in the end the lure of a hot bath proved too magnetic.
https://www.strava.com/activities/3511404200
611 this month.