I was up later than usual this morning, after a late night in Birmingham seeing John Bishop. He was very funny. So I eventually hauled myself out of bed and got in a short ride around my Town loop.
It was a bit milder than yesterday, but still nothing like the shorts and t-shirt weather of last weekend’s ride and back to full layers. I went through Reabrook and then along the cycle paths to Heathgates.
From there I went down through Castlefields, to the River Severn and onto the towpath. Not long after joining it, I came across mud all over the place and to the right was an old rusty bike that had been fished out of the river and was covered in detritus. That won’t be ridden again.
It was busy along the towpath and so a bit of bell ringing was required, to get along. Approaching the English Bridge, I came across some chaps from the search and rescue team, who were getting ready to continue the search for a young man who went missing after a night out in the Town, last weekend. Very sad and the longer it goes on, the more you fear he has ended up in the River. I know someone who has a connection to the family, as well, which makes it doubly sad.
The Quarry was busy with people out walking and as i approached Porthill Bridge I came across police cordoning off the bit towards Victoria Avenue. Reading the news tonight, I find it’s due to another chap being fished out of the river last night and who is in a bad way in hospital…Sad times.
I climbed up through Porthill and then along the cycle paths to Shelton, before heading through the newish estate at Bowbrook, where the bottom half the road has finally been properly Tarmacced, meaning a nice smooth surface, instead of the rough builders road that had been in place for a couple of years.
I then followed Mousecroft Lane, up through Nobold and around Meole Village, then home.
12.72 miles at 11.6mph avg