Yesterday's rides:
It was pretty windy out but no rain expected so I went off to do a variation of one of my regular routes: Lyth Hill, Condover, Longnor, Acton Burnell, Cressage, Wroxeter, Upton Magna, Uffington, Shrewsbury and home.
The wind didn't seem as bad as the last couple of rides at the start (although the Met Office says it was gusting well over 30mph while I was out) and I got on reasonably well to Longnor where I picked up a cross-tailwind which gave a nice boost as far as Acton Burnell and improved into a proper tailwind on the way to Cressage.
At Cressage the River Severn was pretty high but still just within its banks. After climbing up to the crossroads I took a left and into the wind for a bit so was quite slow until Eyton on Severn where the lane swings round to the north. Having passed my old workplace I was onto the bridleway to Upton Magna and found myself slogging against the wind before the village then again on the way to Uffington. Like last time I risked the muddy section as it's sheltered a bit and the bike was already filthy so a bit more would make no odds.
On Sydney Avenue the river is only about a foot below the road level so if the rain in Wales is as bad as forecast today it'll likely be flooded soon. I took a roundabout route through town including going out of my way to have a look at the flood barriers going up in Frankwell, then headed through The Quarry and along Belle Vue where there was a bit of a holdup as some twit had punched a hole through the railway bridge parapet with their car last night so the road is half blocked and the railway to Welshpool is closed while temporary repairs are carried out. I hope that driver has good insurance - it's going to be a big bill for the damage and disruption to the railway.
34.1 miles for this trip at 12.8 mph average.
The river is very full at Cressage.
Winding lane down to Eyton-on-Severn. Sunshine on the hills in the distance - I should have gone that way.
Tudor folly.
The famous roman wall at Viroconium.
The river is high enough that the weir just becomes a disturbance in the surface.
Flood barriers have gone up at Frankwell.
The willows that were cut hard back last year are recovering quicker than I thought they would.
Later in the day I finally got round to fitting the new dynamo wheel and front lamp that I had for Christmas. Fitting went pretty well and I went for a couple of test rides. One just around the block to test it worked and a longer one over Lyth Hill to Condover and back after it had gone dark to get the adjustment right and see how good it was (very good I'm pleased to report). I didn't take the speedometer with me for those but it'll probably be around 6 or 7 miles extra. Fitting and wiring of the rear lamp will follow later.