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Had planned to have a little bonfire and drink a bottle of Barbera d'Alba, bit instead I'm sat inside the van sheltering from a mahoosive storm.
if it helps. No matter as you’re over 12 late.
Yesterday now but I rode Chase the Sun Italy. 172miles, 11.5hrs from near Rimini across the Alpenines via Florence and Pisa to the other coast. It was “a tad warm” in Florence but the central part of Italy (a place I haven’t ridden before) was spectacular. Beautiful countryside and miles and miles of incredibly quiet roads.
It’s the winter solstice where I am, you ignorant clod… 😀
On the bright side the days are only getting longer for me.
Bike build remains unfinished ☹️ front brake hose is too short, tyres require more persuasion to seat onto rims 🤬
Did the Bristol Rally bike packing pootle - bivvied 20km from Stonehenge and rolled through early doors Saturday. Many very tired hippies (though almost outnumbered by grumpy security) - Avebury a few hours later was pretty rammed.
Great ride though, would recommend!
Met a few folks doing Chase The Sun - cudos, scorchio conditions!
Had a sultry Solstice ride up at Aberfoyle on Saturday night. Trails are running as well as I've ever seen them. Did some world-class sweating and saw a slow worm - very cool; looked like he was made of liquid bronze. Finished just as the first claps of thunder rang out.
Would post pics but y'know...
Pulp at Coop last night. India test At Headingley today although the weather looks a bit iffy
Wanted to see the sunset from high up. Rode from home up the Wye valley and onto Gospel Pass, got rained on along the way, cloud and murk meant I didn't see the sunset from the top of Wales' highest road anyway, was windy up there too and it got worse later so I didn't sleep much under a flappy tarp, sunrise was nice then it drizzled at 5am as I fixed a flat I found before setting off, breakfast in Hay with a stove coffee as nowhere was open (had ridden down early to avoid any more drizzle), rode from there to the Malverns then home, got rained on again on the way and the headwind was a bit annoying at times. 200 miles done and I'm done. Not done anything like that since illness last summer and I'm more tired now than I've been in ages. All done on a 20" wheel bike too. Great weekend.
Was our winter Solstice. Went camping. Was gonna go to a rave at some dude's home made StoneHenge but he cancelled due to storms so we went camping anyway, somewhere else.
Forgot to update. Had an amazing time at Trottiscliffe. Beautiful weather, chatted to many peeps (no one turned up till fairly late, started thinking I'd got the date wrong!) then cooked some chorizo sausages on the fire.
Slept pretty well there on top of the burial mound and for reasons won't go into, I wasn't worried about the Blair Witch Charing my face off. 😁
Walked back home the next day but had to detour off the north downs way to get water. I was properly parched.
Turned out I am not "hiking fit" either but it was an amazing experience. My first, teeny, tiny adventure in a few years and a test for some other things this summer. Felt a little sad/jealous when I saw other cyclists on the trail but hopefully I'll return to riding in time.
Edit: uploaded some pics but they haven't worked unfortunately.