has only been and gone!

A quick blink and February has gone to be replaced by March and as if by magic temperatures have even reached double figures. The weather has remained changeable, the winds have picked up, roadsides and hedgerows have burst into colour, thorn blossom, snowdrops, daffodils, primulas, crocus and even dandelions have all shown their faces.

Thursday i ended up fixing the bike after Wednesdays disaster, a new tyre and tube at the pointy end and a very bling gold coloured chain at the propulsion end. That sorted, i ended up stabbing at the keyboard for a while to complete another new Gaby chapter.

Friday was to be the new Wednesday, a different route and destination but the plan was for a goodly long day on the bike. The forecast looked mostly dry and by going south, in theory i should have the wind behind on the last leg through Brizz to the house. Down to Aqua Sulis, through the Two Tunnels then the lanes to Radstock where i deviated to collect a bit of unrideable Fosse Way. Well it might be just about rideable when the ground is dry but it was too steep and slippery both up and down on this occasion. (One of my 'side' projects is to ride everything its possible to do on the Fosse Way, a Roman road that runs from Exeter in Devon, diagonally north east to Lincoln. I've done quite a bit locally, this is one little stretch that you need to make more effort to cover.)

I found a sun kissed bench at Stratton on the Fosse for my lunchtime sarnies then set off anew to add some new lanes to my palmares as i headed generally north west across The Mendip, almost to the coast before starting the run in to Brizz. The tailwind didn't materialise and by the time i stopped the clock i was feeling somewhat weary. Not a surprise i guess, 126km, 1230m of up and over 6.5 hours of riding, a goodly effort tho i do say so myself.

Saturday was a 'recovery' day, just a 6km shopping trip before turning to the keyboard again to complete my third chapter of the week, all now on Patreon of course.

And so here we are on St David's Day, Wales' often overlooked saint day, the weather looking a bit iffy, the wind gusting over 30mph, not a day for the ride i had sort of planned. But i wasn't to be put off riding, so instead of a long ride up to Stroud, i set off on a smaller loop to the Cafe at Severn Beach for a cuppa and light lunch. I got a few heavenly sprinkles before lunch and again after, just as well that the ride was a mere 63km and under 500m.

It's Sunday so there is new Gaby for you, Chapter 36 of Balancing Trick.

So what's on the cards this week? I have a couple of rides i'd like to do, weather permitting and i'll be cracking on with the writing of course, i'd like to get two more chapters in the can by next weekend.

So that's it for today, i'll be back on Wednesday,
Byee,
Madeline Anafrid