July Half Century Challenge ride done, on a very muggy and windy day, which unfortunately also coincided with all the moron’s being out on the roads.
Set off through Sutton Farm, where Moron number 1, woman in a Ford, decided to overtake me, despite me having my arm clearly out, signalling a right turn and pulling to the centre line, in plenty of time for the junction.
Then along Wenlock Rd, learner driver goes past me with about an inch to spare! If they were on their test, then they’d failed, if it was a lesson then the instructor needs to point out the relevant section in the Highway Code to her.
This had really not set me off in a good mood, but continued on through Betton Abbots, then to Atcham, where, crossing the bridge, Moron number 3 passes me squeezing between the car coming the other way, when I was signalling to turn left and they were turning right. Why can’t you wait just 5 seconds?!
Was nice to have the wind behind me to Berwick Wharf, Upton Magna, pub there not opening until 28th July, so the sign says outside, Withington (pub there was just opening the doors), Isombridge and Longden on Tern, where I turned into the wind and found how strong it was. The Tayleur Arms was open and had a handful of cars in the car park.
The main road section to High Ercall, was busy and had moron number 4 overtake me and almost wipe a car out coming in the opposite direction, before I turned onto the lanes to Osbaston, Ellerdine and Ellerdine Heath. It started to rain and got quite heavy, for 20 minutes or so, but didn’t bother with the waterproof, due to how muggy it was and fear of boiling in the bag.
It was hard work on the climb to High Hatton, being into the wind, crossed the A53 with ease and then, on the lane to Stanton upon Hine Heath, I wondered if I’d arrived on Barmouth Beach, as it was covered in sand all along it, making it tricky to stay upright in a couple of the deeper places. A sign of the recent monsoon season.
At Stanton, the pub was open and looked fairly busy, as I went through the village and out to Moreton Corbett Castle, which looked popular with visitors. The main road to Shawbury was quiet, until unfortunately Moron number 5, woman in Range Rover, decides to overtake me in the 30mph zone, into the path of an oncoming car, horn blasted and then because she was approaching the big speed humps, with her wheels about to go over the worst bit, decides she’d rather pull left and almost knock me off instead. I had to swerve to the kerb and stop, she was that close.
The lanes to Poynton and Roden were quiet, then turned onto the main road and was intending on heading to Rodington, but after stopping at the lights and going through the roadworks, I found the lane I wanted was still closed, a month after I’d last found the same. The sign says until 26th July, must remember that! So I did a u-turn, back through the lights and along the main road to Haughmond, encountering Moron number 6, who overtook me, with a car coming the other way again, more blasting of a horn!
Turned up East Haughmond and whilst climbing I was flagged down by another cyclist, who needed directions towards Wellington. They were lost and on the wrong road and so I did my best to explain to them how to get where they needed to be, before I arrived back at Upton Magna and retraced my steps to Atcham. Moron number 7 overtaking me with inches to spare, in a Transit.
Crossed the old bridge, this time and on the lane to Chilton I found that the hedge cutter had been through, since I’d come down this way earlier, which meant debris all over the road and praying that I didn’t pick up a puncture. I found them on the hill and had to wait by the junction for them to finish cutting a section.
Final stint was back through Betton Abbots and home with 40.7 miles on the clock, at 13.4mph avg.
, now im knackered , its blowing40 mph gusts so im ruddy grumpy 
