of this daylight stuff - I think!

Its been a lovely day here, blue skies, just a light wind, a day for skimpy tops and short skirts and relaxing with a capital R. Which is what I've done mostly but the last few days, well where do I start? Thursday I guess.

I don't know about you guys, but whenever I go anywhere 'new', whether its for a few days or a longer stay, the first thing I do is get the maps out to see what there is nearby to maybe visit or see, get the lie of the land so to speak. Over time, stuff that was on the fringes becomes less so and new places are added, extending the required range, since I've been in Bristol, and particularly with Covid, my 'range' has increased from 40 kilometres to 50 and beyond. Well, you might have spotted that this month its got even more serious, 80, 90 kilometres from Cabotville and Thursday took things to new heights.

I know I mention rides into the Cotswolds regularly but to be honest, the bit I'm usually in isn't the picture postcard stuff that most people conjure up, that's all further away to the north, maybe a bit far for a day ride from Brizzle. Or maybe not, on Thursday I decided to put that to the test with a ride to Bourton on the Water, the quintessential Cotswold tourist trap. First off I had to get to Cirencester, a decent ride in its own right, it was a pleasant enough day and I made good time but then it was into unknown territory.

Well okay, not quite unknown, I've ridden through and used some of the roads to get to Gabycons but this time I was heading the other direction. Unlike the gentle rolls of the south Cotswolds, this northern end is defined by a much more challenging landscape, the climbs longer and often steeper, the villages further apart, the roads busier. Up, down, up, down, a quick stop to look at some archaeology then a rolling descent to my destination.

I've been to Bourton a few times in my life, the last occasion probably thirty years ago, I barely recognised the place! Oh the river is still there flowing beside the High Street, the 'attractions' mostly reopened post Covid, but even so, it didn't fit my memories! Anyhow, I found a bench for my lunch, the comp claimed just over 90km to get here. But that's only half the story, I still had to get back.

A more easterly return took me through villages with the weirdest of names but significantly, avoided the hillier terrain to the west. I stopped for ice cream but was appalled to realise I still had @ 3 more hours riding to do and it was 15.30! Pushing on, the speed increased a bit but even so, it was past 19.00 when I got back with 203km to show for my efforts. A day ride yes, but not an easy one.

Friday then went from 'lets go for a walk' to 'i'll just do some writing', not that that's a bad thing - I got another chapter finished between a trip to the shops and doing laundry!

Having previously visited Stonehenge and nearby Woodhenge, the idea of going just that little bit further to Salisbury was less pipe dream and more check the weather! So hard on the heels of Bourton, I set off Saturday morning for the third capital of Wiltshire (its on its fourth now!). The plan was for a triangular route, the first leg, almost due east took me through Chippenham, Calne and up onto the North Wessex Downs. Then it was past Silbury Hill and the Sanctuary to Marlborough where I turned south to climb over to the Wiltshire Avon valley which I then followed to Amesbury.

Its only 'over the hill' to Salisbury from here which meant that when I saw the tea waggon I had no hesitation in pulling in! Well I had over 100km showing and it was lunch time so I got beverages and a burger and sat on the grass enjoying the sun for a bit. But of course, the journey was only half done, a couple of miles further on I paused to visit capital number two, Old Sarum. A decent visit would take a couple of hours at least and with the Covid restrictions you have to pre book a visit to the more interesting bits so after looking at the view for a bit I descended to Salisbury itself, down in the valley bottom, the cathedral spire, the highest in the land, dominating the still very medieval scaled city.

I've spent time here before so I didn't join the crowds of visitors but pushed on along the third side of my triangle, following the quiet A36 north west. A stop just after crossing into Somerset for a late lunch, another not far further for ice cream and beverages then it was the last leg to the Cotswold Avon. It had been warm and even sunny most of the day but as I neared my target the first of the evenings showers damped the roads but it was almost a relief after a long day in the saddle.

And long it was, 208km, my longest day in the saddle since 2016! The weather is promised good until next weekend - I hear the bleating of sheep in my future, of place names lacking vowels and hills that have aspirations to be mountains....

And so to other stuff, hopefully the next revised Gaby book will be ready tomorrow but for today you will have to make do with Testing Times from book 2 and Entitled from book 21.

That's it for today

Tschussie

Madeline Anafrid