debuting today!

Well i'm back in zyder land, (iykyk) and life is slowly returning to pre GOC normal. But lets bring you up to date with what's been happening in my world.

So, i mentioned last time that i'd been for a bit of a walk on Wednesday which was okay but not exactly what i'd hoped for. When Thursday came around, i vowed to do better which is how i found myself doing a route march across the S8 postcode to catch a bus out into the Peak District. I reached the stop with seconds to spare and barely ten minutes later i was getting off again in Baslow, still not v=certain of where i was going.

I bought a pasty for lunch by which time i had a sort of plan, a walk up to Eaglestone Flat then along Curbar and Froggatt edges to reach Longshaw and a bus back into Sheffield. The day was bright if a bit breezy and i was soon climbing up, what was at one time, the main route towards Sheffield. You don't need all the ins and outs, it took me a couple of hours for the 10km walk, soaking up the views and enjoying just being there.

Then things went a bit awry, a hole in the bus timetable left a two hour wait or a walk back into the outer reaches of Sheffield - so i set off over the moors once more. When i did reach an appropriate bus to get me back where i was staying, i'd added another 8km and best part of two more hours hiking. By the time i got my boots off, i'd covered a total of 23km, with @ 500m of ascent, not an easy day by any reckoning! On the plus side, i really enjoyed reconnecting with a landscape i've known quite intimately for over 45 years.

Friday was my return south, the previous day's walking had me aching somewhat but there was little foot travel to get back to base. Yep, after 5+ hours on the coach, when i got indoors i literally dumped my bag and climbed into bed. And so Saturday was a bit of a wipeout, still a bit sore and tired from the travel and walk, i just about managed to buy some milk.

Today has been better, i won't say my legs have forgiven me but at least they didn't complain too much on todays 100km, 1100m ascent ride into the south Cotswolds. The weather was near perfect, only about 10c but sunny and the light wind pushed me back, sort of. It was a bit different to the usual, 17km of new to me route, fifteen of which being 'gravel' on byways and bridleways taking me up and down the edge a couple of times and certainly through hamlets and past grand houses that most folk wouldn't even know exist.

So that was that, i have now, as promised, posted the first instalment of a new to BC story that i started last year, May Queen. The first 'book' is complete and i'll post new 'chapters' each Sunday, the first you can read here.

I'll be pushing on with writing the latest Gaby this week, the plan is to get three chapters down by next weekend. In between i'll be skimming the tarmac again, maybe there will be more 'off road' adventure thrown in, i'll know when i decide where the rides will take me.

That's all for today, back on Wednesday,
Ciao,
Madeline Anafrid