The forecast for today was dry, overcast and chilly with a light northerly breeze.
For once (law of averages?) they got it right on all 4 counts. I've made a note in my diary...
It seemed to take an age to get ready this morning and when I was finally out of the door I slipped on the mat and nearly split my difference.
Literally 100 yards down the road, I passed a group of workmen who cheered me on shouting "Oh look it's Bradley Wiggins!"
To be honest, it was blooming freezing and the first five miles were a struggle, not helped by more than my fair share of numpty drivers - something getting out early doors on a weekend normally avoids. Through Scholes and Barwick and on to Aberford, where I nearly gave up and turned for home, but I told myself to STFU and get on with it so climbed the hill to Lotherton Hall and on to the Sherburn Road. By heck the road here is in a terrible state. Fortunately it was quite quiet as I spent a lot of time out by the centre line trying to avoid the worst of the potholes, craters and broken up bits.
Anyhow, up the hill to Saxton, then the road to Barkston Ash and straight on to Church Fenton.
I'd found a bit of a rhythm by now and pushed on over the East Coast mainline (no trains at all today...) and on to Ryther. Feeling like adding a few more miles, I turned right to Cawood and over the swing bridge. From there I followed the road, ignoring the turning for Stillingfleet and pushed on towards Escrick.
Just before there I spotted the turning to get onto NCN R65, the Solar Cycle Way. It rode down that very gingerly (it's not road bike friendly at all), then through the mud (see what I mean?) before getting onto the tarmac of R65 and heading north towards York.
This section was quite quiet, so apart from a couple of other cyclists i saw no-one until I was approaching Naburn, where it got busier. To be honest the lumpy surface was also making it a bit uncomfortable to go too fast anyway. And then I came to a section where the farmer had clearly been hacking at the hedges and had left all manner of twigs, branches and thorns scattered everywhere. Is it really beyond the wit of them to not do this on a cycle route?
Adjusted my speed to take into account the number of dog walkers, joggers and people aimlessly wandering three abreast right across the shared path.
To be fair, most other users were happy to engage in a bit of give and take so we all got along OK, apart from one grey haired couple who refused point blank to deviate from their route right in the middle of the path.
Through Bishopthorpe and the slightly surreal deviation through the housing development, then onto the P&R at Askham Bar where I made use of the facilities.
And took this photo:
Back on the bike and the cycle path alongside the A64 as far as the A1237, where I rode up to the roundabout and stopped to get my bearings, wanting to take the country route eastwards, rather than sticking to the A64 cycle route.
As I went to set off, my foot slipped off the kerb stone and I fell over. Oh dear, I said as I landed on the verge. Fortunately I don't think anyone saw me, and more importantly the bike escaped unscathed, so it was back on and up the horrible A1237, before taking the turn to Askham Bryan. from there towards Askham Richard, where a missing road sign meant I went slightly awry and had to ask a very helpful Postie for directions.
Through the picturesque Healaugh and Wighill (especially compared to the A64) and then picked up the turning towards Thorpe Arch Trading Estate, then Walton, Thorpe Arch village and down towards Boston Spa.
Across the river, then the climb up the other side where a helpful woman in a Vauxhall Vectra pulled out of the car park in front of me, then moved so close to the kerb in the queue to get out onto Main Street that I couldn't filter through.
Still, it gave me a few minutes rest...
Left then right in the village and on towards Clifford, where it took every last ounce of self determination not to stop at Clifford Fisheries who were just opening up as I passed. Have fish & chips every smelt so enticing?
Through Clifford and then the fast run down to Bramham, across the A1(M) bridge and the slog up to Wothersome, the fast descent into the dip and then climb up the other side before the grind up to Thorner. Down Church Hill at a good lick, until I had to slam on due to a group of locals chopping down trees and dragging them into the road - with not a shred of hi-viz amongst them. I'm not sure if it was some sort of community environmental project or if they were planning to make a Wicker Man....
Through the village, then the seemingly never ending climb up to Skeltons Lane, then onto Coal Road and local roads to home.
In total
51.8 miles, in
3 hrs 36 mins at a moving average of
14.3 mph, and 1788 ft climbed which I'm more than pleased with especially given how the morning had started out.
That's an imperial half century for February, to go alongside a handful of metric halves so I'm keeping that run going too in the Half Century Challenge.
Average temperature was 2.1 degrees C, with the first third of the ride at zero or below. I've just about thawed out now...
. Cow.
. Through Eastville Park and we spotted the resident Heron.
.
