A bit of a ride today, thought I. Stuff like breakfast slowed things down a bit but eventually the Spa and I pedalled away towards the main road. Down that is the way to Office Lock and the towpath.
Only as far as Viaduct Road, and then down that to cross Kirkstall Road. About three miles from that crossing is the end of the climb away from the River Aire, and that felt like hard going this morning. Indeed, just before reaching Lawnswood School I was passed by a jogger. That did make me feel old. A little.
Carried on along the A660, sort of busy but not too much so. Pass Golden Acre Park, which looked dismal and damp this morning, and ride on through Bramhope. A couple of riders were crossing the road here, heading for Creskeld Lane maybe. Almost decided to have a go at that myself, narrow, steeply downhill and very likely covered in runoff water. Not that brave this morning, let’s turn right at the Dyneley Arms and enjoy Pool Bank instead.
That left turn at the end of the video is onto the A659, which goes all the way to Otley. I turned right before reaching there, to ride through Tittybottle Park and to the south bank of the River Wharfe. Different views of the town and what looks like a much longer weir than the view from the other bank. Stopped there for a munch and a play with a proper camera. Which did surprise me earlier, it fit in the rack top bag easily. Might just start carrying that more often.
I have been told what this pumping station is for, but I forgot. And those are not turbines, as my informant insisted, but screws, named after a long dead Greek.
Another of the Spa
and the weir looks very long this morning
Maybe just see the bowling green . . .
And then it is time to turn for home, starting with the slog up Leeds Road. There are alternative ways back. Steeper, and not so appealing today. Back through Bramhope, and decided to keep straight on, miles are needed and anyway roads look different in the opposite direction. Bramhope certainly looks better this way, I wonder why?
Back through Headingley, which was suffering the heaviest traffic I have seen in a long time. A right turn towards Kirkstall escaped all that, and led back to the towpath for that peaceful pedal back towards the town centre. Wander through a corner of Hunslet and then to home. The end of a cracking good ride, thirty miles and fourteen hundred feet of up. Gave me reason to grin.
Usual directions, those climbs look steep.