You wouldn’t think it was so difficult to buy an ice cream would you?
It’s been a lovely day today and a very rare Saturday off for me. The Fragrant MrsP went out to see a friend so I buggered off on my MTB. Up to The Ridgeway, I had a loose plan to stop off at the shop in the amusingly named village of Ginge, where I know there’s a small shop.
Stopping on route for some photos and enjoying a gentle pace around the Vale of White Horse countryside I pootled about the tracks and byways enjoying and the bike.
I eventually arrived at Ginge at two minutes passed four to discover the shop closed at four. No matter there’s another shop a couple of miles away on the Harwell Campus, on my way passing an on-coming 4x4 plod-mobile let me pass on the narrow lane. Fifteen minutes later I arrived at my destination passing the same plod-mobile, I nodded and smiled at the driver and arriving at the shop only to discover the feckin place was closed.
No matter, there’s a garden centre a mile away with a cafe, I’ll get an ice cream there, off I rode on the shared path as the main road had just been surface dressed, I hate that stuff.
The cafe was closing but sold Ben & Jerry’s which they were begrudgingly willing to serve but I didn’t like the flavours they had available. I discovered in the main shop they sold ice cream there from one those retail chest freezers this was my only chance, the choice was meagre but I happened upon a nice mint crunch ice, upon which I pounced before anyone else got it.
Once my hard earned confection was consumed I had a two and a half mile down hill ride home, great fun a lovely ride out today, I think I prefer off road riding, I don’t get stressed, I’m not cursing at inconsiderate twunts in cars, it’s more peaceful, I can stop more often, safely, the riding just feels more relaxing.
Some Goats in the field.
Those clouds look like Zeppelins to me.
The Ridgeway.
It doesn’t look much but from that gap in the trees was a very fast chalky down hill.
A new track I discovered.
And the view from the top.
Finally!
The map a smidge over 18 miles.
Down Shaw Lane, a lot easier than going up it but pay back round the corner with an upgrade of up to 11.9% - a PR on that beating my last attempt, admittedly on the hybrid rather than the Defy, by 24 seconds. So into Beckwithshaw at its southern end so avoiding the worse of the ropy road surface and the climb up Norwood Lane to Little Armscliffe and then down to Norwood. North past the Sun Inn and east along Penny Pot Lane which was very very quite - just me and the local wildlife for long stretches. Was a bit wary of what direction a couple of typically brainless pheasants might run in but they simply stood and watched me ride by. Then, remarkably, a couple of small birds* instead of darting for cover flew towards me and then in front pacing me down the road
Eventually a car approached and normality returned.
