Took advantage of glorious Shropshire Sunshine to ride Route 81 from Shrewsbury to Wellington and back again, which I have been wanting to do for a while now. Headed out of Shrewsbury on the old canal towpath to Uffington and then climbed up to Upton Magna (avoiding the Kamikaze Chickens that were sunning themselves in the road) and then the nice downhill section to Withington.
Looking back towards Haughmond Hill from Upton Magna.
Ventured into new territory for me then with a short climb up to Walcot and then crossed the busy Shawbirch road, at a nasty junction, and climbed up to Charlton.
A solitary swan enjoying the Spring sunshine at the meeting point of the River Roden and River Tern.
Took a left turn in Charlton and then over to Wrockwardine.
Wrockwardine Church (nice little village)
From Wrockwardine continued in the vague direction of Leaton and a couple of big climbs, which I wasn't expecting, before dropping down into the nicer end of Wellington (yes one does exist!!). Continued through Springhill into Wellington Town Centre, mixing it with the very impatient drivers (the sort that overtake and then cut you up before traffic lights and 10 seconds later you sail past them in the traffic light queue
) Did a loop of the one way system through the high street and, having escaped from Wellington without losing my wheels 
returned back along Route 81, retracing my steps.
Looking up at The Wrekin from just outside Wellington.
The advantage on the way back was that those climbs up through Charlton and Wrockwardine were now nice downhill sections and I cruised along at 20 to 25 mph for a large part of that section.
Had 1 hairy moment with a rabbit jumping out of the hedge near Walcot, which was very close to colliding with my front wheel!
Arrived back in Shrewsbury having done 24.89 miles at average speed of 10.7mph, top speed 26.4mph.
Looking back towards Haughmond Hill from Upton Magna.
Ventured into new territory for me then with a short climb up to Walcot and then crossed the busy Shawbirch road, at a nasty junction, and climbed up to Charlton.
A solitary swan enjoying the Spring sunshine at the meeting point of the River Roden and River Tern.
Took a left turn in Charlton and then over to Wrockwardine.
Wrockwardine Church (nice little village)
From Wrockwardine continued in the vague direction of Leaton and a couple of big climbs, which I wasn't expecting, before dropping down into the nicer end of Wellington (yes one does exist!!). Continued through Springhill into Wellington Town Centre, mixing it with the very impatient drivers (the sort that overtake and then cut you up before traffic lights and 10 seconds later you sail past them in the traffic light queue
) Did a loop of the one way system through the high street and, having escaped from Wellington without losing my wheels returned back along Route 81, retracing my steps.Looking up at The Wrekin from just outside Wellington.
The advantage on the way back was that those climbs up through Charlton and Wrockwardine were now nice downhill sections and I cruised along at 20 to 25 mph for a large part of that section.
Had 1 hairy moment with a rabbit jumping out of the hedge near Walcot, which was very close to colliding with my front wheel!
Arrived back in Shrewsbury having done 24.89 miles at average speed of 10.7mph, top speed 26.4mph.
miles for me today. Rode out to meet 
. Hadn't ridden up it for a couple of years and had almost forgotten how unpleasant the last bit past the pub is particularly when you lose traction when you need it most. Then descended back down posting a KOM on Strava that I really wasn't trying for. Met a chap at the bottom who had been practising for the Cheshire Cat but didn't get to the top. 
A detour through Rodington Heath and Withington helped with that before I headed for home.
(but quite pleased with myself that I could 
