Your ride today....

[Donger]

Just a fettling ride for me today. I'd picked up a pack of lambswool fleece insoles from a Christmas market stall back in December, and if I'm ever going to use them it should be on my winter audax this weekend. Realised this morning that they were just sat there in their unopened packet in the spare room, so I thought I'd try them out today. Better to do that than try them out for the first time on a 63 miler.

Rode out South from Gloucester to Eastington and back via Frampton on Severn and Epney, making a nice little 20 miler. Toes were toasty, and the insoles stayed put nice and firmly, so I reckon they'll get a proper work out on Sunday. At one point, while on the road that runs alongside but below the level of the canal at Moreton Valence, I realised I was being a bit too casual and carefree, as I came across a few patches of ice that I hadn't anticipated. No big deal. Stayed upright. Home and hosed.

 

[Maverick Goose]

Drunken Duck. I like that

Apparently the name comes from the then landlady's ducks eating leftover mash from the pub's brewery and getting somewhat intoxicated...Well worth a visit if you're in the Hawkshead/Coniston/Ambleside area.

 

[snorri]

Just a local 5 mile spin this morning, mild weather, very pleasant.
The amount of litter exposed by the lack of growth on the roadsides is annoying me.

 

[Reynard]

Apparently the name comes from the then landlady's ducks eating leftover mash from the pub's brewery and getting somewhat intoxicated...Well worth a visit if you're in the Hawkshead/Coniston/Ambleside area.

A bit like watching the blackbirds get sozzled on my windfall fruit then.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well the forecast for today was a high of 3° when I looked last night. Ran an errand in the car this morning. Bright clear sky brilliant sun and 7°, can't pass that up. Out at about midday up the hill and out through the lanes towards Canterbury. Took a couple of lanes I've never ridden before. Turned off before Canterbury to have a quick cuppa at my mates house before getting back out into the lanes again the other side of the main road heading towards Sandwich where I ended on 35 glorious miles and got the train home as I have dinner with the folks later and me and the bike both need a wash.

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Nonington, down a lane I've never cycled.

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Bekesbourne next and one for @Hill Wimp and @Fab Foodie , didn't stop for cake though, less than 10 minutes to my mates.

View attachment 334738 just outside Wickhambreaux.

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Middle of nowhere.

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Finally in Sandwich....

I so need to get out there soon :-(

 

[Salty seadog]

I so need to get out there soon :-(

Today was a great day for it. Could have done more but a pressing engagement for food needed to be met.
Pork steaks with a spiced plum marinade, non cancer causing roasties and associated veg.

Service in 15 minutes.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Today was a great day for it. Could have done more but a pressing engagement for food needed to be met.
Pork steaks with a spiced plum marinade, non cancer causing roasties and associated veg.

Service in 15 minutes.

Fab!!! Enjoy, Masterchef

 

[Salty seadog]

Fab!!! Enjoy, Masterchef

All credit will go to my mum on this one...

 

[Jon George]

The amount of litter exposed by the lack of growth on the roadsides is annoying me.

That's something I noticed today, too. But the word I want to use is not 'annoying' ...

 

[booze and cake]

Over to Trinity Buoy Wharf this afternoon. London traffic is glacially paced, even tree growth is considered too fast for some

The real reason for being here is to see Stephen Turner's massive Exbury Egg, which is on show in the Chainhouse. He lived and worked in it for nearly 3 years and blogged about a year he spent there. More info here
https://exburyegg.me/
http://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/whats-on/event/stephen-turner-everything-comes-from-the-egg
Its made from red cedar, and floats, and oh my, its so brilliant. I really, really wanted it.

.

Inside it has a toilet shower on one side, and on the other is the living space, desk on left, bed at back, and kitchen on the right. It was
perspex-ed off hence the reflections and poor pic quality.

On my return to civilisation I visit East India Dock Basin, still frozen solid, brrrrrr.

I then went in search of the neon benches I'd missed on last weeks visit to the London Lights Festival in Canary Wharf. I saw some at the London Lumiere Festival a few years ago and thought they were just better than normal benches in every way, and a few years on I'm still convinced of this, all benches everywhere should be like this.

Its Chinese New Year this weekend, the year of the Rooster apparently. I decided to detour via Chinatown on my way home to see if they had any lanterns up, they did, yay.

Just 22 miles out east and back and hungry now, strangely I have a craving for egg fried rice.

 

[PeteXXX]

Back in north Norfolk for a long weekend after a beautiful starlit night ride here on Friday night. Today, a shortish 16 miler to Wells-next-the-Sea and back.

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Much of the ride is through the Holkham Estate. The 'Triumphal Arch' above is always fun to ride through.

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Holkham Hall.

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Near Wells, this row of evergreen holme oaks caught my eye.

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A couple of pics of Wells Harbour.

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Heading back through Holkham from Wells.

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The road home.

A sparkling day in the sunshine here today. Back to home turf tomorrow with my usual 24 mile ride to Kings Lynn station, train to Ely then the last 15 miles back to my village. Just hope the old legs are up to it.

I've ridden through the Holkham Estate several times on the Norwich 100. Smashing scenery

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Over to Trinity Buoy Wharf this afternoon. London traffic is glacially paced, even tree growth is considered too fast for some...
(SNIP)...
Just 22 miles out east and back and hungry now, strangely I have a craving for egg fried rice.

Fabulous ride report and pics, my favourite of the week.

 

[booze and cake]

Fabulous ride report and pics, my favourite of the week.

Thanks, I really enjoyed today, it far exceeded expectations. I love the contrasts in photos in this thread, from cities to way out in the wilds and everything inbetween. This thread could be used as an advert for the UK Tourist board.

 

[EltonFrog]

Thanks, I really enjoyed today, it far exceeded expectations. I love the contrasts in photos in this thread, from cities to way out in the wilds and everything inbetween. This thread could be used as an advert for the UK Tourist board.

It's the best thread on CC.

 

[PeteXXX]

First ride of 2017 wearing shorts today, albeit with knee warmers!
After a relatively early finish from w*rk, at midnight, and having prepped the full-sus and packed my bags, a mate picked me up just before 09:00 for a blast around Woburn Sands.

It was a bit chilly initially, riding over a frost covered lane, in Bow Brickhill, to the entrance to Woburn Sands woods, but with the initial ascent testing the lungs, we soon warmed up.
The chap I was riding with knows the area but with all the logging and new access trails for the heavy machinery, we had to double back several times throughout the ride.
Still, it's a working wood, so it's to be expected. Shame that they've flattened many of the great trails there though
Last time I rode there, quite a few years ago, it was easier to find the single tracks and downhill runs without emergency stops half way down due to dual digger tracks across the trail

After some off piste meandering, we got to the more 'official' Longslade Trail. That too was cut off in several places by logging, with the signed diversion noticeable by its absence! 'Follow the red striped tape' it said.. What red stripe tape, we thought?!
Never mind, we found some trails that headed in the general direction we wanted to go, and were rewarded with some great riding

It's not a grimace.. honest

We got back to the car on 12 miles, but lots of it 'up' and the rest of it 'down'! with one amusing hiccup..



Note my cornering and anticipation skills

Back in the village, I'm not sure who this is aimed at, but I live to ride another day

Crackin' ride, in lovely sunny winter weather. -2 at first, then a balmy +3 at the finish. With cake, and a flask of coffee.

https://www.strava.com/activities/842696997