A fine looking morning for a ride today. Bright, but a bit chilly, so I wore a long sleeve under layer.
I woke up before my alarm went off, but faffed around a bit, and I still only managed to be out at 6:30. The plan was for a 40ish mile ride towards Bromsgrove, via Droitwich and back Hanbury and Pershore way.
Out towards Worcester through St Peters and Bath Rd, the air was coolish, and I was regretting not having worn tights, but I wasn't going back now. Got to Worcester in no time, but ended up catching every single traffic light in the centre on red, which didn't help my warm up. Finally past Foregate the lights started cooperating, and I could get into a bit of a rhythm along the A38. At Fernhill Heath I took Station Road to head for Droitwich avoiding the big A38 roundabout. I have been round some of the lanes in here before, but this was the first time in this particular one, and the view towards the hills around Martley are great.
Droitwich comes quickly, and now it is time to head for territory new to me, via Dodderhill heading towards Elmbrige, roughly parallel to the M5. Though it was only 7:15 by now, I had already lost count of the number of cyclists on the road, by the looks of it, some people seem to be sticking to their new found love of cycling. I was daydreaming a bit, and ended up taking the wrong turn, and having to backtrack, but I think I only added about a mile to my route. I eventually reached the turn for Upton Warren, which took me over the M5 heading towards Bromsgrove. The view from the bridge is interesting, with the motorway appearing to head straight toward the Malverns, and the Wychbold antennas dominating the immediate landscape.
Through Upton Warren now, and then a left on the A38 for Bromsgrove, and then a right to start heading back south in the general direction of Pershore. Instead of taking the direct route via Hanbury, I followed some smaller lanes to reach the Saltway at Bradley Green, and from there follow the lanes for Stock Green and Flyford. Now back in familiar territory navigation was easier, and I soon was reaching Bishampton. I have been along this lane often, but going the other way, so I had never noticed this view of the church tower.
You can just about make out the outline of the Malverns to the left of the picture. As I was there, I thought I would also take a photo of my bike with the gate and the church.
I was starting to tire a bit now, so took the last few miles a bit more slowly. After Bishampton came Throckmorton with the airfield, and then Pinvin. The work on the A44 junction is still not finished, and the turn is marked as left only from the Pinvin side, so I crossed as a pedestrian, and then continued via the ford to Drakes Broughton, with the final stretch taking me through Wadborough, Littleworth and past Norton church.
I am now managing longer rides without increasing the time I am out, as I am getting a bit faster, but I need a few more rides this distance to improve my pacing and resilience before moving to the next target of 50 mile rides. 43 and a half today, which takes the total for this year over the thousand mark.