All sunshine and brightness it was. And a bit earlier than usual too. But it was definitely not warm, so the sooner I started the sooner I would warm up.
And for some odd reason I wanted to ride UP Milner Lane out of Thorner. Pedal away to Oakwood then. Keep on the A58 for a change, across the Ring Road and after the road levels turn left onto Whin Moor Lane. But not for long, there is a right turn onto, I think, Hobberley Lane, ah, better check. Yes, I thunked right. Anyway, this reaches Shadwell Main Street about halfway down. Descend the rest of the way, cross the A58 and ride along Carr Lane to Thorner.
So, as I thought before I started, up Milner Lane it is. Not much of a climb, leaving the village it is no climb at all. But that last bit up to the junction with a Thorner Lane, hmmm, I have never chosen too low a gear for that bit. From here the road, it feels like the top of the world, views are massive, when the mists allow it. There is another right turn a bit further on, onto Holme Farm Lane. Which turns into another Thorner Lane before long. And goes to Bramham.
Turn right there, onto Paradise Way. Look, if the two Thorner Lanes I have ridden so far do not go to Thorner, where do you expect Paradise Way is going? Bramham Crossroads is where it does go. And it is straight on to Aberford. Which has a long impressive bridge across Cock Beck. Which is an insignificant little trickle, these days. A few miles downstream, in 1461, it was called the River Cock. Sounds a lot bigger.
So, cross the water, turn right. There are a few ups and downs before crossing the beck again and the final rise to Barwick in Elmet. Saw maybe half a dozen cyclists before reaching that village, then the last hundred yards before the maypole at least that many again. Reminded me it was Sunday.
Scholes next. As quiet as usual, cross the bridge over the former railway, bend left and the A64 is in view. Left onto that and then right. Onto the third Thorner Lane of the morning, and this one does go to the village of that name. Just to be difficult, I do not. Skeltons Lane is the next left, down Boot Hill and back to Oakwood before crossing the river at Crown Point again. The end of the street was a welcome sight after thirty two miles of riding and 1900 feet going up. Worth a grin, for sure.
What the garthing saw . . .