Rain was forecast to start at nine, so out at six thirty to try and avoid getting wet as much as possible.
The aim was for another metric half. Out down the A38 through Kempsey and then left for Kerswell Green. The sky was quite light, but it was cool, so I was glad I was wearing my rain jacket. The chain was rubbing on the front deraileur a bit, so stopped at the top of the hill before Kinnersley for some minor fettling and a photo
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From left to right you can see Magdalen church in Croome, the dish at Defford and Bredon hill, where I was heading by a roundabout route.
Quick down Kinnersley, then right for Earls Croome, left for Baughton, where I took the right to head towards Twinning. This was new territory for me, and rather nice countryside. I went past this lovely church, and couldn't resist a photo op for my bso
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Onwards, through Upper Strensham, and then over the M50 for Twining. Had a few cars come up behind, but they all waited patiently for a clear spot to go past. I eventually reached the A38 again at Shuthonger, where it was left for Twekesbury. From there is a quick down hill, and after going over the Avon is a left at the roundabout for Bredon, without actually going into Tewkesbury. I stopped for a nut bar and a drink around Bredon's Hardwick, and luckily still no sign of rain. Carried on under the M5, and then it was a left for Eckington, skirting Bredon Hill. By now the temperature was starting to go up, and I was wondering if I should do away with the jacket, but almost immediately I started to feel the patter of rain drops on my helmet, not proper rain yet, but it was coming.
Some time ago
@twentysix by twentyfive,
@Pale Rider and
@Aravis mentioned a crossing over the Avon at Nafford, so I took a right just after Eckington church, to see what it was like. Luckily I had checked in Google Streetview, so I knew where the entrance was, as it wasn't signposted, just a gate with a sign about private fishing. With some trepidation followed the path along a grassed track, with the weir in view
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After another gate was the weir, and I walked my bike over it, though it is wide enough to ride. After the weir was the lock
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And then a second smaller weir. By now it was raining a bit more, not a lot, but enough to be noticeable, so I got a move on, as I was about an hour from home. After the second weir the path comes to a field, and again no signs, so had to check the map to see which way to go. At the end of the field there was a pedestrian swing gate, through which the bike didn't fit, and the main gate was locked, so had to lift the bike over, luckily my bso is quite light. After the field the track was full of puddles, and quite muddy, but I managed to ride it without falling off. Eventually the mud gives way to tarmac upon reaching Birlingham.
Up through Birlingham to the Pershore road, taking the right for Pershore, which came quick. Up the Holloway, testing the new small ring in the triple, much nicer reaching the top without my heart coming out of my ears. Then Rebecca Road and Crabbe Lane for Wadborough. In Wadborough I stopped for a drink in the bus shelter, where I saw this
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Any bird specialist knows what kind of bird may have made it?
From there it was the run for home, through Littleworth and down Norton as usual.
35.8 miles at 13.8 mph. And the map
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. I went out yesterday for a swiftish 30 miler as i knew the weather would be pants today, so instead i am putting up a high riser sleeper for mini ck 2 we got off freecycle with no instructions gggrrr !
