Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Another extended ride home from work via Sustrans to Riccall. 28.25 miles with an average of 13.5 mph, I’m getting even slower!
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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After a few days enjoying the April sunshine racking up a few miles with qualifying rides for the half century and metric century challenge today's forecast suggested a shorter ride. Up out later than wished for looked like I had an hour before the rain came . Out the door and I could feel a spots of drizzle so just did a loop to Swithland via Cropston and back via Thurcaston to finishing at 12.34 miles which made me smile 😁
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You're spoilt for choice living where you do. Have taken an old pushbike last couple of times we've stayed at East Runton, but only really ridden the coast (i.e along the sand/edge of the sea) but next time we holiday there I shall take a hybrid and explore the roads.
Datum2
Über Member
- Location
- Huntingdonshire
Tuesday 4th April
Today's bike ride was another pound/pinfold gathering exercise in the east midlands. The start being the car park at Harby.
A pre planned route on strava and P&P locations on W3W. Out of the 18 sites visited 3 were still traditional pinfolds, 2 were conversions of a sort and the remains 11 were lost to time and history.
Fabulous sunny spring day to enjoy the Vale of Belvoir and the West Leake Hills? 55 miles of mostly flat or gentle undulations apart from Owthorpe Hill and Green Hill which is a nasty affair between Nether Broughton and Saxelbye. It would have been easier to peel off back to Long Clawson, but I didn't.
A question for anyone local to Hickling.
There is a large stone on the roadside between Hickling and Long Clawson. Is this an erratic or has it fallen off the back of a lorry (the t'internet is a bit vague) or does it have other history?
I do believe the Magnum season is upon us, ride end.
https://strava.app.link/ArcpdjtIKyb
Today's bike ride was another pound/pinfold gathering exercise in the east midlands. The start being the car park at Harby.
A pre planned route on strava and P&P locations on W3W. Out of the 18 sites visited 3 were still traditional pinfolds, 2 were conversions of a sort and the remains 11 were lost to time and history.
Fabulous sunny spring day to enjoy the Vale of Belvoir and the West Leake Hills? 55 miles of mostly flat or gentle undulations apart from Owthorpe Hill and Green Hill which is a nasty affair between Nether Broughton and Saxelbye. It would have been easier to peel off back to Long Clawson, but I didn't.
A question for anyone local to Hickling.
There is a large stone on the roadside between Hickling and Long Clawson. Is this an erratic or has it fallen off the back of a lorry (the t'internet is a bit vague) or does it have other history?
I do believe the Magnum season is upon us, ride end.
https://strava.app.link/ArcpdjtIKyb
I stopped at the cafe in Harby the T junction on Tuesday lovely area for cycling . I did the climb from Owthorpe up to the A46 . The only downside of the Vale is the climb out whichever one you choose . Greenhill is steep . If you fancy a challenge check out Terrace hill nearer belvior castle its on Simon Warrens top 100 climbs list
as for the stone no idea
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
Once. On the test ride to see how whizzy it was. Very whizzy.
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
You can ride to norwich and get the train back too
bluenotebob
Veteran
- Location
- France
24 years ago (5 April 1999) I left the UK on a plane bound for Sydney .. it was the start of a new life – or, at least, a major change in direction. I wasn’t in Aus very long and I was back in Europe before the end of May 1999 – but I’ve barely set foot in the UK since. I always try and do something memorable on 5 April to celebrate that leap into the dark and in recent years, that’s been a bike ride, whatever the weather.
I was late leaving home – I didn’t get away until 1pm – and I hadn’t much of an idea as to where I was going to go either. A SW wind so I’ll be coming home from that direction – a clockwise Loyat loop perhaps? Out to Quihiac then R to Ville Davy and the wonderful descent into Mauron – very fast downhill on a bumpy road, bouncing all over the place and I was singing too… feeling like a 15 year-old again.
Picked up the V3 Voie Verte in Mauron and took that right down to the Nantes-to-Brest canal at le Pont-des-Deux Rivières. OK – it’ll be a clockwise Josselin loop today and I’ll work out how to get home from Josselin when I get there. I took loads of photos of the canal – but unfortunately when I got home, I discovered a memory card error so I’ve lost them. I’ll go back next week with a new memory card and take them all again.
Followed the canal to Josselin, which looked as lovely as ever (you’ll have to take my word for that). Wriggled up the hill and then through the tunnel under the voie-express to pick up the road to le Val. This road undulates a bit but with the wind behind me I had no problems with the dips and re-ascents – great views as well. I’ve got a new handlebar computer which tells me that I reached 48.2kph on the downhill past le Val – that’s plenty fast for me. Over the Ninian and up the other side of the valley – still going well. Risked a couple of kilometres on the D8 to get me into St Malo-des-Trois Fontaines quickly – but it wasn’t remotely enjoyable with cars and lorries hurtling past me at speeds well over the limit. Stopped by the small football ground to finish my supply of dates and bits of flapjack then onto the road towards Bosbaran. I’ve been on this road before with a SW wind pushing me onwards .. and it’s hard to get off it. I skipped the Bosbaran turn and kept going NE for a few more klicks until I reached the road to Kerbigot. Enough sailing along – it’s time to think about going home for some food. Headed towards Guilliers but pulled onto the D13 instead and going north again – decided to head down through la Ville Trémal .. the last time I went through here I was chased by five dogs so decided that I’d go through the village very fast. No dogs today! .. probably all inside this evening watching “Eastenders” (or whatever TV show French dogs watch).
Into Evriguet and I decided that if I included a loop out to Kerminy before going home that would get me over 90km for the afternoon and it would also justify me eating the last bit of chocolate cake in the fridge for dessert later.
Almost exactly six hours out on the bike with 5 hours 14 minutes cycling time – and 91.58km on the clock. Shame about losing all those photos but it was a good ride anyway.
Two photos that did survive the memory card suicide are here ..
Looking back on the rapeseed fields near la Ville Davy
An atmospheric view of Mauron from the north with the Forêt de Paimpont in the background
I was late leaving home – I didn’t get away until 1pm – and I hadn’t much of an idea as to where I was going to go either. A SW wind so I’ll be coming home from that direction – a clockwise Loyat loop perhaps? Out to Quihiac then R to Ville Davy and the wonderful descent into Mauron – very fast downhill on a bumpy road, bouncing all over the place and I was singing too… feeling like a 15 year-old again.
Picked up the V3 Voie Verte in Mauron and took that right down to the Nantes-to-Brest canal at le Pont-des-Deux Rivières. OK – it’ll be a clockwise Josselin loop today and I’ll work out how to get home from Josselin when I get there. I took loads of photos of the canal – but unfortunately when I got home, I discovered a memory card error so I’ve lost them. I’ll go back next week with a new memory card and take them all again.
Followed the canal to Josselin, which looked as lovely as ever (you’ll have to take my word for that). Wriggled up the hill and then through the tunnel under the voie-express to pick up the road to le Val. This road undulates a bit but with the wind behind me I had no problems with the dips and re-ascents – great views as well. I’ve got a new handlebar computer which tells me that I reached 48.2kph on the downhill past le Val – that’s plenty fast for me. Over the Ninian and up the other side of the valley – still going well. Risked a couple of kilometres on the D8 to get me into St Malo-des-Trois Fontaines quickly – but it wasn’t remotely enjoyable with cars and lorries hurtling past me at speeds well over the limit. Stopped by the small football ground to finish my supply of dates and bits of flapjack then onto the road towards Bosbaran. I’ve been on this road before with a SW wind pushing me onwards .. and it’s hard to get off it. I skipped the Bosbaran turn and kept going NE for a few more klicks until I reached the road to Kerbigot. Enough sailing along – it’s time to think about going home for some food. Headed towards Guilliers but pulled onto the D13 instead and going north again – decided to head down through la Ville Trémal .. the last time I went through here I was chased by five dogs so decided that I’d go through the village very fast. No dogs today! .. probably all inside this evening watching “Eastenders” (or whatever TV show French dogs watch).
Into Evriguet and I decided that if I included a loop out to Kerminy before going home that would get me over 90km for the afternoon and it would also justify me eating the last bit of chocolate cake in the fridge for dessert later.
Almost exactly six hours out on the bike with 5 hours 14 minutes cycling time – and 91.58km on the clock. Shame about losing all those photos but it was a good ride anyway.
Two photos that did survive the memory card suicide are here ..
Looking back on the rapeseed fields near la Ville Davy
An atmospheric view of Mauron from the north with the Forêt de Paimpont in the background
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
At last a fun ride instead of commuting ! Took the fully kitted out Pashley out with my youngest daughter on her MTB along the Roe Green Loop Line to Worsley for a drink and cake before heading down the Bridgewater Way and home.
Not massive mileage but so much fun
Roe Green Loop Line towards Worsley
Cake stop in Worsley next to the Bridgewater Canal
As it says on the wall
Even horses admire the old Pashley
Not massive mileage but so much fun
Roe Green Loop Line towards Worsley
Cake stop in Worsley next to the Bridgewater Canal
As it says on the wall
Even horses admire the old Pashley
Cool bike 😎 . Date wise 50s ?
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
Believe it or not it’s built around 1981 but based on a 40-50 bike. Pashley and Raleigh went all nostalgic at that time with rod brakes ect. It rides beautifully and the three speed gears are a dream
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
A dozen miles in the evening sun.
I saw one of my favourite wild flowers, sea campion.
Also saw a beautiful male yellowhammer singing atop an ash tree.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8844124243
I saw one of my favourite wild flowers, sea campion.
Also saw a beautiful male yellowhammer singing atop an ash tree.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8844124243
a.twiddler
Veteran
First reasonable ride this year
4/4/23
Destination -as far as I could get by 13:00 then turn back. Hoped to get to to Ellesmere, but due to a horrible headwind only got as far as just outside of Whitchurch.
First longish ride this year. Set off 09:25 on a sunny morning with a headwind that was stronger than it felt and a degree or two cooler than I would have liked. I wore gloves and was tempted to put on a windproof top but I anticipated that I’d soon warm up. Setting off in the direction of Wettenhall and Nantwich I was already feeling grumpy and out of sorts having spent all yesterday pressure washing the paving round the house. Full of aches and pains on rising, I’d got myself paracetamolled up as it looked as if this was going to be the only decent day for cycling this week. Rain tomorrow. No point complaining. Just got to get on with it. All the downhills I’d been looking forward to were cancelled out by the wind, so it was pedal, pedal, pedal without the bonus of any increased speed. My cruising speed isn’t great at the best of times, so this became quite tedious.
There were a lot of tractors about and I’d got used to their immense size and the need to give them space to get past.
Unusually, at Poole House Bridge there was a traffic jam of tractors and a couple of box vans. I stopped on the downhill to give them a chance to clear in the hope that I could get a run downhill and up the other side.
A harassed looking cyclist came over the narrow bridge towards me with two of these vehicles right behind him which passed at the first opportunity. I said, “Hi” but he just looked grim as he stomped his way up the hill away from the bridge.
I reached the Chester-Wrexham road which was busy but there were decent gaps. A large truck came up behind me but I was able to nip across into Welshmans Lane without waiting too long.
Despite the hedges the wind was still in my face and everywhere felt like an uphill. I came into Nantwich, rolled through Welsh Row then right to the access road route for Wrenbury. As usual, one lane was filled with parked cars but there was little traffic so it was not a problem.
A gradual slope, then over the steep bridge which crosses the Llangollen Canal, and head to head with the wind again until I came to Wrenbury. I turned left into New Road joining NCN 45. A pleasant interlude followed, sheltered from the wind and fairly level. I could see sheep with lambs in nearby fields, the mothers with their range of comedy bleating being answered by the plaintive cries of their offspring.
I thought I would make up some time but I was wrong. I turned left under a railway bridge following the NCN 45 sign and immediately started climbing. Then it was several miles of seemingly pointless up down up down with the wind frustrating any downhill speed gains. The lanes were featureless and high hedged with few views. I pulled in at one point to let a large truck pass me going uphill. While I was waiting a horse whinnied and stamped about bad temperedly behind the adjacent hedge. I know how you feel mate. Feeling a little hoarse myself, I fumbled in my pocket for a mint. I restarted and plodded up and over the hill.
13:00 came and there was just a vista of hedges. I stopped under a tree and had a sandwich and a drink. I was just fed up with fighting the wind. Another large truck went by while I was stopped. Surely I must be close to Whitchurch by now? I’d even settle for Yockings Gate. At least it was on the map.
In fact, looking at an old map online when I got home I realised that if I’d persisted, within a mile or two I’d have crossed under the Crewe -Whitchurch railway line and soon reached Yockings Gate. A branch, now dismantled, left the main line to connect with the Crewe -Chester line which would at least have given a photo opportunity from the road bridge at Yockings Gate before I turned back. According to the map, presumably dated before 1923, the village was then called Yokingsgate, and the railway was the LNWR. Another dismantled branch, formerly a Cambrian Railways line, leaves the main line south and west of Whitchurch for Ellesmere and Oswestry, part of which is used by NCN 45.
All very well in hindsight, but at that time I couldn’t face much more pointless hill climbing for no gain, and time was getting on. I went up and down a couple more hills but didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. I turned round hoping to benefit from the wind on the way home.
It certainly helped, though at one stage I struggled up something I’d had to pedal down earlier. Finally, the last long downhill, going well, but at the bottom, a RH bend. Sure enough, a tractor appeared. Not just any tractor, but one pulling a roller wider than itself which filled the road. I took refuge in an entrance until it had passed.
At last, a sign for Wrenbury. Starting to feel a bit weary now but the wind helped me on my way. I wondered if running before the wind would help to balance out the slow average I’d had in the other direction. I suspect that it doesn’t quite work like that. There were a lot of cyclists about, all slowly passing me. Perhaps there was an event on. I reached Nantwich in good time, heaved over the canal bridge and freewheeled to Welsh Row. Soon I was on Welshman’s Lane, mostly wind assisted. I arrived at the crossroads with the Chester -Wrexham road to find that the traffic was fast and intense. Another cyclist arrived while I was waiting to cross. I decided to use a short cycle lane which led to an island to break up the two lanes. I looked back to see the other cyclist stopped in the middle of the road between the two lanes of traffic. Rather him than me! I got across and plodded on down Wettenhall lane. Down a dip, over the narrow bridge, up the other side with welcome wind assistance, with easy going most of the way to the marina at Cholmondeston. Here I stopped to inspect the plumbing and had an ice cream. I was aching all over so I took a couple of paracetamols.
After watching a couple of boats pass through the locks and feeling a bit better I set off towards home. Everything went well for a few miles when a weariness set in again. I still had some of my sandwich left and a drink in my bag so when I spotted a bench near Darnhall Village Hall I stopped to take another break.
Feeling energised I stopped uphill from the newly refurbished traffic lights at Darnhall bridge and awaited a passing car to trigger the green but they changed, so I belted down the hill to gain momentum for the other side. As the speed ebbed away and I went down through the gears, a large lady in lycra and a white helmet passed me going uphill. She was hardly a speedster, but she was still losing speed more slowly than me. By the time I crested the hill and started increasing speed again, she was in the distance. Ah well, not far to go now. A mile or so further on I spotted the white helmeted lady on the pavement on the other side of the road, busy on her mobile.
Soon afterwards I rolled up at my back gate. Today wasn’t the life enhancing experience that I usually get when I’m out on my bike. I’d hoped to do a lot more miles, for a start. Where had my easy cruising gone? Must get some more miles in. I’d forgotten how NCN routes in their obsession to keep away from traffic at all costs were fond of dragging users up lots of needless hills. I have an idea for a different route next time.
I’d managed a reasonable test run with my front panniers attached, even though they were full of air. Hard to say whether they helped in any marginally aero way against the wind, or just acted as an air brake. They give the the bike a more balanced appearance, regardless of functionality.
Ellesmere will have to wait for a less windy day later this year, when I’ve built up a few more miles.
Distance 40.02 miles. Max25.9 mph. Average speed 7.3 mph.
According to Garmin.
According to Bikehike.
Ascent 45 ft per mile approx.
4/4/23
Destination -as far as I could get by 13:00 then turn back. Hoped to get to to Ellesmere, but due to a horrible headwind only got as far as just outside of Whitchurch.
First longish ride this year. Set off 09:25 on a sunny morning with a headwind that was stronger than it felt and a degree or two cooler than I would have liked. I wore gloves and was tempted to put on a windproof top but I anticipated that I’d soon warm up. Setting off in the direction of Wettenhall and Nantwich I was already feeling grumpy and out of sorts having spent all yesterday pressure washing the paving round the house. Full of aches and pains on rising, I’d got myself paracetamolled up as it looked as if this was going to be the only decent day for cycling this week. Rain tomorrow. No point complaining. Just got to get on with it. All the downhills I’d been looking forward to were cancelled out by the wind, so it was pedal, pedal, pedal without the bonus of any increased speed. My cruising speed isn’t great at the best of times, so this became quite tedious.
There were a lot of tractors about and I’d got used to their immense size and the need to give them space to get past.
Unusually, at Poole House Bridge there was a traffic jam of tractors and a couple of box vans. I stopped on the downhill to give them a chance to clear in the hope that I could get a run downhill and up the other side.
A harassed looking cyclist came over the narrow bridge towards me with two of these vehicles right behind him which passed at the first opportunity. I said, “Hi” but he just looked grim as he stomped his way up the hill away from the bridge.
I reached the Chester-Wrexham road which was busy but there were decent gaps. A large truck came up behind me but I was able to nip across into Welshmans Lane without waiting too long.
Despite the hedges the wind was still in my face and everywhere felt like an uphill. I came into Nantwich, rolled through Welsh Row then right to the access road route for Wrenbury. As usual, one lane was filled with parked cars but there was little traffic so it was not a problem.
A gradual slope, then over the steep bridge which crosses the Llangollen Canal, and head to head with the wind again until I came to Wrenbury. I turned left into New Road joining NCN 45. A pleasant interlude followed, sheltered from the wind and fairly level. I could see sheep with lambs in nearby fields, the mothers with their range of comedy bleating being answered by the plaintive cries of their offspring.
I thought I would make up some time but I was wrong. I turned left under a railway bridge following the NCN 45 sign and immediately started climbing. Then it was several miles of seemingly pointless up down up down with the wind frustrating any downhill speed gains. The lanes were featureless and high hedged with few views. I pulled in at one point to let a large truck pass me going uphill. While I was waiting a horse whinnied and stamped about bad temperedly behind the adjacent hedge. I know how you feel mate. Feeling a little hoarse myself, I fumbled in my pocket for a mint. I restarted and plodded up and over the hill.
13:00 came and there was just a vista of hedges. I stopped under a tree and had a sandwich and a drink. I was just fed up with fighting the wind. Another large truck went by while I was stopped. Surely I must be close to Whitchurch by now? I’d even settle for Yockings Gate. At least it was on the map.
In fact, looking at an old map online when I got home I realised that if I’d persisted, within a mile or two I’d have crossed under the Crewe -Whitchurch railway line and soon reached Yockings Gate. A branch, now dismantled, left the main line to connect with the Crewe -Chester line which would at least have given a photo opportunity from the road bridge at Yockings Gate before I turned back. According to the map, presumably dated before 1923, the village was then called Yokingsgate, and the railway was the LNWR. Another dismantled branch, formerly a Cambrian Railways line, leaves the main line south and west of Whitchurch for Ellesmere and Oswestry, part of which is used by NCN 45.
All very well in hindsight, but at that time I couldn’t face much more pointless hill climbing for no gain, and time was getting on. I went up and down a couple more hills but didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. I turned round hoping to benefit from the wind on the way home.
It certainly helped, though at one stage I struggled up something I’d had to pedal down earlier. Finally, the last long downhill, going well, but at the bottom, a RH bend. Sure enough, a tractor appeared. Not just any tractor, but one pulling a roller wider than itself which filled the road. I took refuge in an entrance until it had passed.
At last, a sign for Wrenbury. Starting to feel a bit weary now but the wind helped me on my way. I wondered if running before the wind would help to balance out the slow average I’d had in the other direction. I suspect that it doesn’t quite work like that. There were a lot of cyclists about, all slowly passing me. Perhaps there was an event on. I reached Nantwich in good time, heaved over the canal bridge and freewheeled to Welsh Row. Soon I was on Welshman’s Lane, mostly wind assisted. I arrived at the crossroads with the Chester -Wrexham road to find that the traffic was fast and intense. Another cyclist arrived while I was waiting to cross. I decided to use a short cycle lane which led to an island to break up the two lanes. I looked back to see the other cyclist stopped in the middle of the road between the two lanes of traffic. Rather him than me! I got across and plodded on down Wettenhall lane. Down a dip, over the narrow bridge, up the other side with welcome wind assistance, with easy going most of the way to the marina at Cholmondeston. Here I stopped to inspect the plumbing and had an ice cream. I was aching all over so I took a couple of paracetamols.
After watching a couple of boats pass through the locks and feeling a bit better I set off towards home. Everything went well for a few miles when a weariness set in again. I still had some of my sandwich left and a drink in my bag so when I spotted a bench near Darnhall Village Hall I stopped to take another break.
Feeling energised I stopped uphill from the newly refurbished traffic lights at Darnhall bridge and awaited a passing car to trigger the green but they changed, so I belted down the hill to gain momentum for the other side. As the speed ebbed away and I went down through the gears, a large lady in lycra and a white helmet passed me going uphill. She was hardly a speedster, but she was still losing speed more slowly than me. By the time I crested the hill and started increasing speed again, she was in the distance. Ah well, not far to go now. A mile or so further on I spotted the white helmeted lady on the pavement on the other side of the road, busy on her mobile.
Soon afterwards I rolled up at my back gate. Today wasn’t the life enhancing experience that I usually get when I’m out on my bike. I’d hoped to do a lot more miles, for a start. Where had my easy cruising gone? Must get some more miles in. I’d forgotten how NCN routes in their obsession to keep away from traffic at all costs were fond of dragging users up lots of needless hills. I have an idea for a different route next time.
I’d managed a reasonable test run with my front panniers attached, even though they were full of air. Hard to say whether they helped in any marginally aero way against the wind, or just acted as an air brake. They give the the bike a more balanced appearance, regardless of functionality.
Ellesmere will have to wait for a less windy day later this year, when I’ve built up a few more miles.
Distance 40.02 miles. Max25.9 mph. Average speed 7.3 mph.
According to Garmin.
Total Ascent: | 901 | ft | |
| Total Descent: | 901 | ft | |
| Start Elevation: | 192 | ft | |
| End Elevation: | 192 | ft | |
| Min Elevation: | 123 | ft | |
| Max Elevation: | 380 | ft |
Ascent 45 ft per mile approx.
bluenotebob
Veteran
- Location
- France
Today’s ride was a reverse of Wednesday’s – with an ENE wind, an anti-clockwise Josselin loop seemed like a good idea. Unlike Wednesday, I managed to make an earlyish start today .. out of the door by 9.30am, even though it was only 4 degrees and a misty-twisty morning.
Little deviations to take in la Plaisance, Kerminy, Chateau Trô and la Ville Oger then through St Malo-des-Trois Fontaines and along the Ninian valley to Penros. Over the tops via le Val and then down into Josselin. Bumped into a French plumber I haven’t seen for a good 10 years so chatted to him and his son for a few minutes before heading down to the canalised river Oust (the Nantes-to-Brest canal). Beautifully quiet and very springlike.
Having more cycling time available today, I decided to head for le Roc St André and then le Pont de Bagotais before heading back N on the V3 Voie Verte – I reckoned that would make this ride my first metric century of the year (and my first since September 2021 – what happened to 2022? – perhaps I simply forgot to do one last year).
Stopped to scoff a mince pie by the grotte in le Roc St André and spotted my first swallows of the year – I heard the first cuckoo yesterday in the woods near SBdM – so more confirmations of the arrival of spring in Brittany.
Started to run out of energy on the long trek back north on the Voie Verte but I had had the foresight to put some vanilla fudge in my lunch box and that gave me a lift.
Home 7 hours after setting out – with 104.35km on the clock and 6 hours 2 minutes of cycling time.
I had replaced the memory card in my camera before leaving this morning and it was fine. Here are the three best photos from today
The chateau at Josselin (shame about the scaffolding)
On the canal towpath east of Josselin
The grotte in le Roc St André, looking very Eastery
Little deviations to take in la Plaisance, Kerminy, Chateau Trô and la Ville Oger then through St Malo-des-Trois Fontaines and along the Ninian valley to Penros. Over the tops via le Val and then down into Josselin. Bumped into a French plumber I haven’t seen for a good 10 years so chatted to him and his son for a few minutes before heading down to the canalised river Oust (the Nantes-to-Brest canal). Beautifully quiet and very springlike.
Having more cycling time available today, I decided to head for le Roc St André and then le Pont de Bagotais before heading back N on the V3 Voie Verte – I reckoned that would make this ride my first metric century of the year (and my first since September 2021 – what happened to 2022? – perhaps I simply forgot to do one last year).
Stopped to scoff a mince pie by the grotte in le Roc St André and spotted my first swallows of the year – I heard the first cuckoo yesterday in the woods near SBdM – so more confirmations of the arrival of spring in Brittany.
Started to run out of energy on the long trek back north on the Voie Verte but I had had the foresight to put some vanilla fudge in my lunch box and that gave me a lift.
Home 7 hours after setting out – with 104.35km on the clock and 6 hours 2 minutes of cycling time.
I had replaced the memory card in my camera before leaving this morning and it was fine. Here are the three best photos from today
The chateau at Josselin (shame about the scaffolding)
On the canal towpath east of Josselin
The grotte in le Roc St André, looking very Eastery
