on the line, yep its looking like a fine if slightly cool day.

Over the last 15 years, more often than not, today would be the day I set off for the Spreewald Marathon in Germany, 200km around the German countryside, sometimes with friends but often alone, the lone Brit amongst the thousands of people taking part in the annual sports fest. It was cancelled last year and once again this year through Covid - will it ever return to the amazing weekend it used to be in the future? That I can't answer but I'm sad that I'm not making that trip on so many levels.

Let's get on, Monday was much like today weatherwise, bright without too much wind if a little cooler than ideal for outdoor activities - we are still struggling to get into consistent double digits! I had a longer walk than of late, about 5 miles then it was straight into the garden with Bev to continue the pigeon defences, all that's left now is for the wire to be fitted to the frames and the first brassica beds will be safe from flying rats!

Tuesday was looking quite nice, 10c was forecast so I decided to do a Severn circuit, that is up to Gloucester the back down the west bank to return over the Severn road bridge - its not actually that far using the A38/A48 both of which, despite being main roads have little traffic as it mostly uses the M5/M4 motorways instead. The only catch is the collection of Valley crossings from Blakeney to a little south of Lydney, a handful of surprisingly steep, draggy ramps but they are easier going south than north. So I set off, for once with a fairly good idea of a route to follow.

The A38, after I joined it, is mostly wide, fairly flat and most of the ride up to south Gloucester has a bike lane - it's a bit boring to be honest, I usually only use short stretches to connect the lanes but today I was on a sort of mission. It wasn't my quickest ride up the road but I made decent time to Dr Fosters nemesis, continuing around the city to pick up the Chepstow bound A48. I was however, ready for a fuel stop so when I spotted a burger van I didn't need a second invite!

By now it was actually quite warm, the headgear and gloves were no longer required and it was quite relaxing sat in the sun with my burger and mug of tea. Which is when an idea that had started to brew on the way up got the nod from the rest of my body - rather than follow the main road south, I'd take the 'scenic' route. Well perhaps scenic is pushing things but a loop through the Forest of Dean would be a bit more pleasant than the trunk road, right?

The die was cast, I set off again, nicely refuelled, after a couple of miles taking the B road signed for Cinderford, the biggest town in the 'Forest'. Now in case you aren't a geographer, the Forest of Dean occupies a roughly triangular patch of England between the Severn and Wye rivers, Offa's Dyke runs up the western side and whilst these days its mostly a leisure destination, in the past it was heavily industrialised, coal mining, timber, ironworks, charcoal, rail lines fingered in from the Severn vale to transport the goods into the rest of the country. Not dissimilar to Sherwood Forest except that where Sherwood is pretty flat, Dean sits over a well creased upland that reaches above 250m in places - doesn't sound a lot but it does make for some hard work on a bike!

I clawed my way up to Cinderford taking the Coleford road next, a long down then the next up and down then up to Speech House lodge before starting several km of down. I could've got all the way to Lydney but instead I turned off towards St Briavels, a choice which had even more climbing through Bream the along to my second stop of the day. St Briavels (pronounced brevels) is the old administrative centre of Dean and sits @ 240m above the Wye valley, i stopped by the castle to gather my self and eat my sandwiches hoping that the spots of damp would hold off.

Back on the road, a last couple of lumps then it was downhill to Chepstow and back over the Severn. I wasn't gonna stretch the ride this time, I was feeling a bit weary to be honest so a fairly direct route finished the days efforts, 137km, almost 1300m ascent - bleh!

Todays Gaby chapter is Mum's Visit, with the 'mericans gone life in Warsop returns to normal - well sort of. Its another longer instalment with racing and friends and a complete absence of Gaby - almost!

That's all for today,
Widersehn,
Madeline Anafrid