Been suffering from a serious case of post Lake District holiday blues and after 3 days back at the drudgery and Groundhog Day feeling of working in the NHS I needed to get back out on my bike this evening.
Therefore I headed out on one of my regular routes, heading out from Shrewsbury, through the dodgy Sundorne estate (which was brightened by a very cheery "hello mate" and wave from a young lad of about 7 years of age
) and then along the old canal path, to Uffington and Upton Magna. I then headed up Haughmond Hill and turned right to head down the lovely descent of the bank towards Withington and then back around to Upton Magna and the same return route to Uffington. I headed back onto the old canal path, expecting a leisurely ride home, only to round a bend and come face to face with 3 sheep that had escaped from the neighbouring field!!!
A quick application of the brakes, on the gravel path, was enough to instigate a small skid, as the sheep bolted in different directions and then through the gap in the fence they had got through.........bit close that one!! I then had a trouble free last mile home!
What I had noticed on the ride was that 70 odd miles of cycling in the Lakes had seriously strengthened my legs up and so the hills on the route seemed a lot easier than before I went on holiday!
There were also a lot of people on bikes out, must have seen around 20 people, the majority of whom had a cheery hello to say to me
.
The legs feel good and so I now want to up my mileage to a 30 miler, hopefully this Bank Holiday, if the weather will let me!
13.1 miles, top speed 30.9 mph, Avg Speed 11.6 mph