A few hills were in order today, to get the last bit of training in before some proper hills on the Llanberis training weekend, so a devious route was required, as it isn’t far from Hartford to the café.
Al didn’t disappoint, and we turned right and right again out of the car park, and a swift left down Burrows Hill. Being now at the bottom of the world, we had to start climbing out. So, up Wallerscote Road for a warm up hill, we then headed right heading for Well Lane, and then Sandy Lane out to the A49.
Warmed up nicely, we then hit hill 2, Acton Cliff (Acton Lane). Always good for a laugh, Woody was soon in his element and powering on ahead. Great things we expect from the young Jedi this year. Resting past the station, we headed up towards Kingsley, ignoring the usual turning for Norley Lane. We tapped out a steady rhythm up Kingsley Road (steady hill 3), then left onto Middle Lane, where after the cross roads, continues onto Middle Lane/Meeting House Lane – hill 3. After a brief rest at the cross roads, we went along the muddy and wet Dobers Lane, then back down onto the main road. A brief downhill minute or three and we went left again into Manley Road and up over Overton Hill – hill 4, panted at the top, and down again, to turn left into New Pale Road – hill 5. Down again, and out through Ashton heyes. We then took a left to head for Kelsall, and climbed up (hill 5 and a half?) to he foot of Yeld Lane, which we took the wrong way round – hill 6. Back down the Yeld, we looped back round on ourselves and hung a right and a left to bring us to the foot of Chapel Lane, hill 7 our final hill of the day. Cheered up the hill by many a walker(!)
Suitably exercised, we stopped at Summertrees for well earned food and cake. Amazingly, we all seemed happy. Probably because the wind had dyed down slightly from yesterday, and hardly any rain fell all day.
Happy cyclists? That's not right. We should have put more hills in.
Beans on toast was very welcome on heated plates(!) Tea in teapots. Very civilised. Not suitably exorcised (of his cakey demons), Al was not satisfied with his massive slab of Victoria Sponge, so also had to have a large Danish Pastry to make sure he could make it home without going cold turkey..
"I don't care anymore. I've earned it" piped indignant Al.
A fine day out again, and the legs should now be ready…