If this had been a November weekend it would have been viewed as mild but a bit wet. With it being an August day however I am sure the weather was perceived as a lot worse than it actually was. Does that make sense? In fact it was rainy. And windy. Rainy and windy, a fairly average up-and-down sort British summer day.
My arrival at the club at 9.26 was met only by some rugbyist ladies not afraid of a little moisture. After a few minutes Pete arrived followed by Tony B and young Mr Longley whose opening gambit was that he would not be out very long. He also had a puncture. While we three looked on at Paul’s mechanic skills we discussed the day’s destination. There were no takers for my suggestion of Peak View followed by a descent of The Roaches. Indeed there were an equal number of people interested in my suggestion of a direct route to Loggerheads. Cleopatra’s it was then and so our small band set off.
I bet Paul that he would stay with us until the other side of the forest and so it came to be. We were all drowned rats by this stage anyway but Paul’s paws were particularly painful from the precipitation and he did not see the sense in putting his gloves on.
A fairly uneventful day from then on really. We rode steadily in the swirling tempest until all too soon we arrived in Holt. Beans on toast and various other vittels were downed and we chatted of this and that. In the loo I tried to dry my gloves out under the hand drier but quickly realised it would take me till Thursday so gave up. As the shivers set in we set off and the first 10 minutes back on the bike were so shivery my bike was all over place. Soon we were warm again though and, occasionally aided by a tailwind, pretty good progress was made with Peter doing a fine job.
There was no real contest through the forest, just 3 wet guys on wet bikes and then before we knew it we were saying our goodbyes in Northwich.
A simple, quick ride out and back then. No drama. Not a lot of chatting (of course not, Carol was not out). Not a single sighting of the elusive Woody either.
Not quite 60 miles covered and only about 12 feet of climbing but I am so glad i went out on my bike instead of going to the garden centre or somesuch.
Till next time…