Always nice to get Half Century a month Challenge rides in early, during the Winter months where possible and with the weather set fair for the first time in ages, I did just that.
I set out onto the beautiful sunshine, but about an hour later than originally planned, due to overnight frost and reports of ice on the radio road reports.
I’d originally thought of heading towards Wales, but with the River Severn in flood, binned that idea and headed South. I began by heading through Betton Abbots, then on to Cantlop, Pitchford and Acton Burnell. It was so nice to be out in almost completely calm conditions, with just a gentle breeze, for the first time in what seems like months of strong winds.
I turned past Concord College, pausing to take a photo of the Wrekin, with the very blue skies
I then turned down to Evenwood and Coundmoor, following the Roman Road and then turning right and left to aim for Harley. Traffic had been quiet until there, but I encountered a few cars on the lanes to Hughley, before I paused at Church Preen for a snack.
The long steady climb up to Gretton didn’t feel too bad today, then it was the beautiful village of Cardington, where I was surprised to find the Royal Oak pub open on a Bank Holiday Monday. I didn’t stop though and instead climbed up to Enchmarsh then enjoyed the fast descent down the “corkscrew” to Hollyhurst.
Instead of taking the road to Longnor, I then decided to add some more hills, by taking the lane to the A49, which I crossed with surprising ease. I was heading to Dudgley, from there, where some more climbing begins, up to the crossroads. I exchanged pleasantries with another cyclist there, about how nice it was and how glad we were to be out.
From there it was a bit muddy and wet along the lanes towards Leebotwood, but I was turning left and a bit more climbing up to Walkmills, where I took a right and followed the lane to Netley. I used to spend a lot of time at a family friends house along that lane, as a child, so it was good to reminisce in the head a bit. They’ve now moved with the children having grown up and indeed one of them, Marc, is a very keen cyclist and does lots of touring in the U.K. and overseas.
From Netley I dropped down towards Dorrington, but took the lane past Bulkrite. This lane was basically an off road track for about the last 5 years, due to potholes and gravel but has been completely resurfaced for its full length and so was a pleasure to ride again.
The short section on the A49 was quiet, before I turned off to Stapleton. I called on Dad for an hour, finishing the remains of my lunch that hasn’t yet been eaten. I was also rather annoyed to find that my Brother hadn’t drunk any more of the Purple Moose Elderflower beer keg that I’d brought for Christmas and left with him to finish. It’s use by date is the 4th Jan and so I jolly well had a pint of it!!! I don’t like waste, at the best of times and certainly not of excellent beer! He has about a pint to finish off and so Dad said he make sure to get my Brother to drink it.
I set back out and whilst it wasn’t warm before, the temperature had dipped considerably in that hour I’d been stopped. I pressed on through Exfords Green to Annscroft, where that junction has also been properly resurfaced, finally, as it was a mess of water and potholes there since before Covid.
I joined the main road to Hook a Gate and as I passed through the end of that village, met the gritter spreading its load before tonight’s frost. Not very pleasant on a bike, but he did turn the spreader down a bit and slowed down for me 👍🏻
I was crunching grit with my wheels from there to Nobold, where I turned through Meole Village, to Meole Brace. I used the cycle path that cuts through the middle of the big roundabout there, as the Reabrook was in flood under the tunnel. I did notice that the bike, which has been leaned up against the fence by the river for a couple of weeks, was still there, now in the river though, but hadn’t been swept away.
I arrived home having thoroughly enjoyed the ride, probably the best solo ride I’ve done since the late Summer, in terms of feeling good from it.
38.65 miles were done at 11.0mph avg and 2308 ft of climbing.
I set out onto the beautiful sunshine, but about an hour later than originally planned, due to overnight frost and reports of ice on the radio road reports.
I’d originally thought of heading towards Wales, but with the River Severn in flood, binned that idea and headed South. I began by heading through Betton Abbots, then on to Cantlop, Pitchford and Acton Burnell. It was so nice to be out in almost completely calm conditions, with just a gentle breeze, for the first time in what seems like months of strong winds.
I turned past Concord College, pausing to take a photo of the Wrekin, with the very blue skies
I then turned down to Evenwood and Coundmoor, following the Roman Road and then turning right and left to aim for Harley. Traffic had been quiet until there, but I encountered a few cars on the lanes to Hughley, before I paused at Church Preen for a snack.
The long steady climb up to Gretton didn’t feel too bad today, then it was the beautiful village of Cardington, where I was surprised to find the Royal Oak pub open on a Bank Holiday Monday. I didn’t stop though and instead climbed up to Enchmarsh then enjoyed the fast descent down the “corkscrew” to Hollyhurst.
Instead of taking the road to Longnor, I then decided to add some more hills, by taking the lane to the A49, which I crossed with surprising ease. I was heading to Dudgley, from there, where some more climbing begins, up to the crossroads. I exchanged pleasantries with another cyclist there, about how nice it was and how glad we were to be out.
From there it was a bit muddy and wet along the lanes towards Leebotwood, but I was turning left and a bit more climbing up to Walkmills, where I took a right and followed the lane to Netley. I used to spend a lot of time at a family friends house along that lane, as a child, so it was good to reminisce in the head a bit. They’ve now moved with the children having grown up and indeed one of them, Marc, is a very keen cyclist and does lots of touring in the U.K. and overseas.
From Netley I dropped down towards Dorrington, but took the lane past Bulkrite. This lane was basically an off road track for about the last 5 years, due to potholes and gravel but has been completely resurfaced for its full length and so was a pleasure to ride again.
The short section on the A49 was quiet, before I turned off to Stapleton. I called on Dad for an hour, finishing the remains of my lunch that hasn’t yet been eaten. I was also rather annoyed to find that my Brother hadn’t drunk any more of the Purple Moose Elderflower beer keg that I’d brought for Christmas and left with him to finish. It’s use by date is the 4th Jan and so I jolly well had a pint of it!!! I don’t like waste, at the best of times and certainly not of excellent beer! He has about a pint to finish off and so Dad said he make sure to get my Brother to drink it.
I set back out and whilst it wasn’t warm before, the temperature had dipped considerably in that hour I’d been stopped. I pressed on through Exfords Green to Annscroft, where that junction has also been properly resurfaced, finally, as it was a mess of water and potholes there since before Covid.
I joined the main road to Hook a Gate and as I passed through the end of that village, met the gritter spreading its load before tonight’s frost. Not very pleasant on a bike, but he did turn the spreader down a bit and slowed down for me 👍🏻
I was crunching grit with my wheels from there to Nobold, where I turned through Meole Village, to Meole Brace. I used the cycle path that cuts through the middle of the big roundabout there, as the Reabrook was in flood under the tunnel. I did notice that the bike, which has been leaned up against the fence by the river for a couple of weeks, was still there, now in the river though, but hadn’t been swept away.
I arrived home having thoroughly enjoyed the ride, probably the best solo ride I’ve done since the late Summer, in terms of feeling good from it.
38.65 miles were done at 11.0mph avg and 2308 ft of climbing.
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All I wanted was to look at the view and eat my flapjack.
