Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
I had precisely an hour and three quarters to spare this morning before taking the lovely Mrs Donger out to the flicks, so thought I'd cram in a quick spin down the lanes to Frampton and back. What could possibly go wrong? This is my regular bread-and-butter ride, so the 20 miles normally take me a leisurely hour and a half with stops, so fifteen minutes to spare .... Right?
Wrong!
Got to Frampton, and the swing bridge on the canal was closed (or open, depending on your mode of transport). There go ten minutes I'l never get back. Never mind, I just turned right and rode along the canal path to my usual destination, the wonderfully named Splatt Bridge. The lanes I ride regularly are on a narrow strip of land between the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and the River Severn. In this shot you can can tell it is close to Slimbridge , as it is such a species-rich wetland wildfowl environment (or goose-infested bog, depending on your viewpoint):
I overtook the tour boat that had held me up, and got to Splatt Bridge just in time. The bridge keeper actually came across the bridge to open a gate for me, which was very decent of him. One look at my watch, and it was time to head for home. Rode back through Frampton just in time to see the same bridge opening (or closing) once again. Sod this! I thought, and did a clever turnabout and detour to the bridge at Saul Junction about a mile away. Guess what? Yep, that was closed too. In fact four of the six bridges I tried to cross were closed when I got there today. That is normally a Summer problem around here as people take to the water in droves. No place for time trialling, this.
Headed back home via Saul, Framilode and Epney, and spotted an old WW2 pill box at Framilode that, in hundreds of bike rides in these parts I somehow seem to have failed to observe ever before:
Unaware of the strategic location, I had previously had no idea of the efforts that had been put into ensuring that Adolf Hitler never annexed Lower Framilode.
Steamed along nicely, making up time when I came across an old cycling buddy heading in the opposite direction, and it would have been rude not to stop and chat for a moment. No sooner had I got going again than I hit my final canal bridge. It was actually open, so I was going to make it back home on time after all ... until I came across a retired work colleague out with his grandchildren, feeding the ducks on the canal. Got home slightly late and had the world's fastest shower and change so as not to upset the missus. Nice bright weather, lovely ride in spite of all the rushing about. Got to the movie on time, and I can recommend "Bastille Day", by the way.
Cheers, Donger.
Wrong!
Got to Frampton, and the swing bridge on the canal was closed (or open, depending on your mode of transport). There go ten minutes I'l never get back. Never mind, I just turned right and rode along the canal path to my usual destination, the wonderfully named Splatt Bridge. The lanes I ride regularly are on a narrow strip of land between the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and the River Severn. In this shot you can can tell it is close to Slimbridge , as it is such a species-rich wetland wildfowl environment (or goose-infested bog, depending on your viewpoint):
I overtook the tour boat that had held me up, and got to Splatt Bridge just in time. The bridge keeper actually came across the bridge to open a gate for me, which was very decent of him. One look at my watch, and it was time to head for home. Rode back through Frampton just in time to see the same bridge opening (or closing) once again. Sod this! I thought, and did a clever turnabout and detour to the bridge at Saul Junction about a mile away. Guess what? Yep, that was closed too. In fact four of the six bridges I tried to cross were closed when I got there today. That is normally a Summer problem around here as people take to the water in droves. No place for time trialling, this.
Headed back home via Saul, Framilode and Epney, and spotted an old WW2 pill box at Framilode that, in hundreds of bike rides in these parts I somehow seem to have failed to observe ever before:
Unaware of the strategic location, I had previously had no idea of the efforts that had been put into ensuring that Adolf Hitler never annexed Lower Framilode.
Steamed along nicely, making up time when I came across an old cycling buddy heading in the opposite direction, and it would have been rude not to stop and chat for a moment. No sooner had I got going again than I hit my final canal bridge. It was actually open, so I was going to make it back home on time after all ... until I came across a retired work colleague out with his grandchildren, feeding the ducks on the canal. Got home slightly late and had the world's fastest shower and change so as not to upset the missus. Nice bright weather, lovely ride in spite of all the rushing about. Got to the movie on time, and I can recommend "Bastille Day", by the way.
Cheers, Donger.
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was aided by a great tailwind - just about two hours to do a 27 mile pootle. We then headed up to Westleton and The Crown and then on to Great Glemham and 
)
so a real ride was order of the evening!
