that i would just touch base and add my appreciation of the the tech team's efforts.

Of course you would of heard from me earlier but i was tired on Wednesday after my trip, then i missed the opportunity on Saturday but hopefully the more stable situation will now prevail.

So lets catch up a bit, as i mentioned in my last post, I did a micro adventure on Tuesday / Wednesday. The idea was to explore a few roads that are maybe a bit far from base to do on a day ride, the inn was booked, the route decided and the bike cleaned and serviced and off i went. As it was only an overnighter the luggage was minimal, the security weighing as much as the change of clothing but the route didn't have much climbing of note once i was clear of Bath. It was cool and grey but the forecast was for a dry couple of days, it was quite nice to be on even a tiny adventure after the weather restrictions of the last few months.

Down past Frome then i took a chance on the road past Longleat Safari Park and through the estate, whilst the attractions were shut the road wasn't, a pleasant interlude which offered great views of the Longleat House as i climbed out along the south drive. I emerged onto the northern edge of Cranborne Chase, an area of rolling hills similar to Salisbury Plain but three times the size straddling the Wiltshire / Dorset border with chunks of Somerset and Hampshire thrown in for good measure. But today the plan was to follow the River Wylye down to Wilton before heading to my overnight stop so i descended from the heights and joined the lesser used valley road with views across to Salisbury Plain across the valley.

Then there was a clunk, everything seemed to still be working but there was a noise from the rear wheel. I found somewhere to sit for my sandwich lunch and investigated, it sounded like bearings but other than the noise, which was only apparent when not pedaling, everything seemed to be working. It wasn't far to the accomodation so i pressed on without adding the extra loop i'd had in mind which left me just shy of 100km's for the day.

The accomodation was at a 'traditional' inn, the accomodation, in a modern annexe, was nice and allowed Foxy to be parked securely in the room. But there were issues, the promised availability of breakfast, an essential when i booked, wasn't available and working on the premise that you always get at least soap supplied, i hadn't brought any so that lack soured my shower experience! I had a reasonable evening meal with a pint before taking a walk around the village - not much to see in the dark, then ended up watching a Bond film the one that inspired the current Gaby postings, until lights out.

Awaking on day two, i had a decision to make, head into Salisbury and take the train back to Bristol or keep my fingers crossed that the noisy but working wheel would let me ride. First though was sorting the puncture which had manifested overnight - an easy job but on this occasion a stuck lock nut and time expired patches meant a trip to the garage next door! I eventually departed just before ten and the lack of breakfast sent me up onto Salisbury Plain to the Stone Henge visitor experience where i knew i could get some food.

Fed, i had sort of decided to catch the train so i headed down towards Salisbury but the wheel seemed to be essentially fine so instead of going into the city i ended up following the Avon valley up towards Amesbury. Amongst archaeologists, this is the route that the Stone Henge blue stones probably came, pulled upstream on rafts maybe as far as Bulford before taking an easy gradient to the site. Today it was in spate, the recent wet turning the usually placid waterway into a wide torrent filling the valley floor.

Up onto the downs around Amesbury meant i avoided crossing the busy A303 directly and i soon dropped back to the river at Burford. The bike was holding up, the sun was out and it was quite pleasant on the quiet lanes tracking the Avon (this is the Wiltshire edition not the Bristol one) up to Upavon. From here its a fairly straight run back through Devizes and Melksham but my stomach was growling so when i spotted a cafe cum tearoom i stopped for a late lunch.

The light wind was behind me as i set off anew, i was pretty much flying along, all felt good then, as i approached Devizes there was another clunk and all sorts of weird stuff started happening! When i stopped to investigate i again couldn't clearly identify the issue other than the freehub (the bit that lets you freewheel) was sometimes sticking. I've had this before, its rideable but you need to avoid freewheeling as much as possible. The nearest train option was Melksham so i set off cautiously, fingers and toes crossed. Long story short, i actually limped the bike all the way back to Brizz, almost 120km from my morning departure. It was late by the time i'd eaten and showered so i missed that chance to blog here at BC.

After taking some advice on Thursday, Friday i started what should have been a simple job of fitting a replacement freehub, i have a dead wheel with the same part. Imagine my surprise when instead of the freehub it was actually the inboard hub bearing that had failed, bits of broken balls being the apparent cause of the locking up. Freehub i had but bearings not, i rang the dealer, ordered the bearings and that's where i am now, waiting for them to arrive, just in time is fine until you need something now. So Foxy is off the road, the wheel in bits and the weather has taken a turn for the damp!

Think that'll do for today, hopefully by next time i'll have the wheel sorted but for now,
Tschussie,
Madeline Anafrid