Rain? Didn’t believe it, but there it was, falling from the sky. Breakfast seemed to cure it, a bright blue sky and a chill breeze were there as I pedalled away on the Jacko.
Having decided to ride to Eccup, the village, from the left side of the map it made sense to leave Holbeck along the canal towpath, my usual way to ride to Headingley. Usual or not, once I left the canal behind I soon warmed up on the way up Cardigan Road. Keep going to Lawnswood and turn right onto Church Lane. Cross Adel dam and keep straight on for the quiet way to Eccup.
Past the end of the village, and the New Inn, and the descent to Weardley starts. And stops a bit soon, there is a cyclist stopped. I stop as well, oh, a fellow club member. A few stiff chain links, I reckon the fix is to ride it. Descend to Weardley restarts, I turn right on the A659, he goes left. Harewood Bridge, cross the Wharfe going north. A distance along here, the A61, is the right turn towards Kirkby Overblow. Up through the village there are occasional glimpses of the view to the right, but once past the buildings the vista expands A bit of mist here and there but still a great view.
The road passes Barrowby Grange, then four or five houses the map calls Kearby with Netherby. OK that is two house names, what about the other three? The road cares not, bends a bit left and finds some higher land to go up to. The last rise before Sicklinghall.
There are some rises after Sicklinghall as well, on the way to Wetherby. And a couple of opportunities to turn right to Linton. But the only convenient place for munch is really Wetherby Town Hall. And I had thought to ride back to Leeds on the A58 for a change. If traffic became bad, there are a few places to turn off.
And I wanted to climb that long, long drag from the bottom of Bardsey to the top of Scarcroft. It is not as long as some, but towards the end of a ride it can take some doing. And it did. Then a small diversion along Coal Road to Red Hall Lane and back to the A58. Cross the Ring Road, downhill nearly all the way home. Thirty six miles since I saw the place and 2200 feet going up said the garthing. And a grin, it was a good ride.
Some mappery,
Having decided to ride to Eccup, the village, from the left side of the map it made sense to leave Holbeck along the canal towpath, my usual way to ride to Headingley. Usual or not, once I left the canal behind I soon warmed up on the way up Cardigan Road. Keep going to Lawnswood and turn right onto Church Lane. Cross Adel dam and keep straight on for the quiet way to Eccup.
Past the end of the village, and the New Inn, and the descent to Weardley starts. And stops a bit soon, there is a cyclist stopped. I stop as well, oh, a fellow club member. A few stiff chain links, I reckon the fix is to ride it. Descend to Weardley restarts, I turn right on the A659, he goes left. Harewood Bridge, cross the Wharfe going north. A distance along here, the A61, is the right turn towards Kirkby Overblow. Up through the village there are occasional glimpses of the view to the right, but once past the buildings the vista expands A bit of mist here and there but still a great view.
The road passes Barrowby Grange, then four or five houses the map calls Kearby with Netherby. OK that is two house names, what about the other three? The road cares not, bends a bit left and finds some higher land to go up to. The last rise before Sicklinghall.
There are some rises after Sicklinghall as well, on the way to Wetherby. And a couple of opportunities to turn right to Linton. But the only convenient place for munch is really Wetherby Town Hall. And I had thought to ride back to Leeds on the A58 for a change. If traffic became bad, there are a few places to turn off.
And I wanted to climb that long, long drag from the bottom of Bardsey to the top of Scarcroft. It is not as long as some, but towards the end of a ride it can take some doing. And it did. Then a small diversion along Coal Road to Red Hall Lane and back to the A58. Cross the Ring Road, downhill nearly all the way home. Thirty six miles since I saw the place and 2200 feet going up said the garthing. And a grin, it was a good ride.
Some mappery,
but come on 48km !!!! For someone who entered the 50km challenge 
.
this year ,it's on the list for next year
) and a handful of people out exercising.
so caution was called for . Round the back of Markfield into Thornton ,while passing a row of parked car I noticed something on the road a quick u turn and I discover a purse with some cash ,credit cards and a driving license in it . The driving license had an address on it which was exactly were I had stopped . Knocked the front door and lady nervously opened the door with the chain on (she wasn't expecting a cyclist knocking her door ) . A quick show of the purse and the chains off and the purse is handed over the lady thanked me profusely ,she had not even realised she had dropped it getting out of the car I had found it next to . Good deed done I'm back on my way ,drop down then climb out past the reservoir and back to Markfield and it starts to rain 3 miles from home so just press on and get home slightly damp . 14 miles in the bag done steadily no records were threatened on this ride
