here in Brizz, just ahead of the Equinox and in time for Mothers Day!

Yep, temperatures are into double figures, the sun, and showers, are here and i've not been quite as wrapped up as the last several months! There is still a distant threat of late snow so i'll not be counting my chickens just yet, the winter kit will still see some use for a week or two yet just with fewer layers.

So what's been happening? Well Thursday was a bit showery on the forecast and my go had got up and gone, i really wasn't minded for going out at all but i got myself sorted and set off for a short ride a bit before lunch. It was at least dry at this point if a tad breezy (Yorkshire for blowing a hoolie!), there was the sickening squidgy feel from my rear tyre which suggested a deflation. Tube changed i set off again but my heart really wasn't in it so instead of the route i'd planned i turned for home, within minutes it was wetting so i missed the coffee stop and arrived back damp and with just 30km in the legs - so much for getting the miles in!

Friday was quite mild and bright but even so, i still got caught in a shower when i went to the shops.

The forecast for Saturday was showing a slightly breezy but otherwise dry and bright day so i hatched a plan, to get in a proper big ride, a hundred mile jobby, the last time i did one was June last year! Rather than some far flung destination i picked a route that could be cut short if need be right up to the furthest point, out to Swindon then south through Marlborough towards Burbage and then through the Vale of Pewsey to Devizes and thence back to Brizzle. There would be a 'breakfast' stop at Royal Wootton Bassett @ 1/3 distance and a second at Devizes @ 2/3 distance. That at least was the plan.

I set off a bit earlier than usual but even so i wasn't expecting to be back before 18.00 even id things went to plan. I was just about spot on my timing prediction at RWB, tea and a bacon sarnie stoked the boiler and i returned to the tarmac hatless and without the wet coat. For my purposes you don't need to go into Swindon, a loop through Wroughton took me to the Marlboro' road, the sun was out and the wind wasn't causing any issues so far. Marlboro' was just about half distance for my proposed 100 miler, from here it was, if not downhill, at least counting down to the next stop and the run back to base.

I'd barely turned towards Pewsey when i hit the first shower, well shit happens, a second downpour after the town had me donning the rain jacket, it then rained on & off right into Devizes. It was just turned 15.00 when i stopped at a tea room oppositethe canal, by now a cuppa and food were required in equal measure, especially as i'd forgotten to load up my bidon! A pot of tea and piece of cake put me in a better mood, by the time i departed it was a bit cooler but the wet was replaced by weak sunshine.

It's @ 40km as the crow flies but i reckoned on @ 50km using a more benign route avoiding any semi serious up hill. Long before reaching Bath i'd upped the estimate, i'd finish well over my target and perhaps 30 minutes later. Well the first was true enough, the clock stopped at 171km, 1140m of up and 7'40" riding time but it was just 18.10 so that last stretch had been further and faster than i'd anticipated. For those of you metrically disadvantaged, 171km is a little over 106 of those mile things, my target was well and truly smashed and augers well for the Spreewald next month.

I've also fulfilled my commitment to my charity effort for PROPS, of riding 100 miles in March, as i'd easily do that i upped my target to a single 100 mile ride. Thanks again to those who have donated, large or small, your contributions all help. If you haven't done so and would still like to, this will take you to my donations page (yes despite the name it is me), thank you in advance.

On to today then. Its another fine day, a bit breezy at times but otherwise quite nice. I'll go for a bit of a walk in a bit. Just as important, i've posted the next Gaby chapter, Home Time for your delectation and delight - nothing like blowing ones own trumpet, afterall, no one else will!

So thats it for today, i'll be back after the equinox with more witterings from the west country,
Ciao,
Madeline Anafrid