Friday, April 21, 2023

Easter Cycling

 For Easter 2023 I took the, perhaps odd and not carefully considered plan to cycle to Gemma's parents place instead of the more traditional method of using the 'car'.

Or train, perhaps the train would have been a better option.

I put at least a few minutes thought into this idea when I looked out the window on Good Friday and said, 'its sunny'.

It was sunny. Also hilly. Very hilly.

Suffice to say it was harder and longer than I expected, but despite the perils was a 45 mile cycle that took me through Rutland and was chock full of Leicestershire country side and (unfortunately) Leicestershire hills.

Finally I get to visit Oakham.

The ride started okay as I smashed it south east through East Leake, but trouble started to brew as I realised there were some mud trails that google maps considered traversable by bike.

Baiky, of course, found time to play.

First up was Klondyke Ln which was a paved road that got smaller and smaller and then just disappeared..

Klondyke Lane, the road that was not a road. Even worse, it was the best option in the area.

The I was sent up Newbold road, which apparently went all the way to Owston (which admittedly I am sure was signposted at Burrough on the Hill) but I cam up to a dirt tranck and locked gate halfway down the road, so turned off to Somerby instead.

Viaduct!

From here is was relatively smooth sailing where I go to go past/through the Welland viaduct (twice!) before fighting my way over some hills to Gretton and finally meeting Gemma and Jessie at Priors Hall where they were visiting Nanny!

Baiky has a play while we wait for Gemma and Jessie

True to form on all my cycke trips, I found a way to nearly lose Baiky/leave him behind. Lucklily this time I noticed only a few minutes after throwing off my bike.

Yup, it was right here. I literally forgot to take off my pannier, just picked up my bike and off he flew into the grass.