Bike ride from Totton to Beaulieu and Lyndhurst

 Tuesday 22nd August with Harry.

Another beautiful day, sunny not too hot, with a noticeable breeze in places.  After coffee we took the bikes out for a leisurely ride to Beaulieu and back via Lyndhurst . Mocha swirl ice cream at Beaulieu, and a dried up orange near the lake.

 

We returned via Beaulieu Road and Lyndhurst, where we stopped for sandwiches and a pot of tea at The Greenwood Tree.

Just over 20 miles in all.

Short cycle ride to Hangers Farm and Calmore Road

Four miles with Harry. Partly to check our route from yesterday’s walk, partly to test drive my new padded inner shorts. Satisfactory on both counts, especially since we had the ice cream we missed yesterday.  A gentle pootle, bimble or bike stroll. 

Cycle ride round Rutland Water

 Wednesday 9th August 2023

With Harry. Glorious weather for an afternoon’s ride of 14 miles.  

Not a walk…

N.I. APRIL - Rathlin Island with the bikes

Friday 28th April

Still grey and misty - we plan to visit Rathlin Island - here’s hoping the weather smiles… 

We set off about 11am to catch the 12 noon ferry from Ballycastle to Rathlin. 

Man chatted about bikes when he saw ours were made by Dawes. He used to race and rode a Dawes in1960s -cost 2 grand then. (did it have wings? I asked.)

‘Are you going to Rathlin?”

‘Yes”

‘Have you been before?’ 

‘No’

‘It’s hilly’

25 mins crossing, with bikes. As we approached we saw the sun shining on the island, and it stayed with us most of the day, with a bit of atmospheric mistiness near the seabird centre.

Rode to ‘visitor centre’ staffed by a Liverpudlian (ish) young woman, now living on Rathlin.

There is a very steep hill from the harbour settlement up to the road to West Lighthouse, and then several more uphill stretches on the way over. 

Once we arrived at a fairly high point we stopped for our frugal lunch, then continued on to the RSPB point, where we got another coffee.

We paid to access the  Seabird Centre and Lighthouse. This lighthouse is at the bottom of the cliff.

From the seabird centre we could see fulmars and other seabirds, and just the one puffin, seen through the telescope, set up by an Italian RSPB worker. We didn’t visit the lighthouse as we were a bit concerned about getting back to the ferry on time.

The ride down was less strenuous, much more downhill!  Donkeys, goldfinches, and at the shore eider ducks with their ‘Kenneth Williams’ calls, and three seals.

We were warned that it might be cold and foggy in Ballycastle, but when we arrived the sun had followed us as well.We deposited the bikes and stuff in the car, then sought out fish and chips at Morton’s.

(Scene: the piercing whistler with Jimi Hendrix tee shirt on a large beer belly.)

Then a short walk through the seafront park before returning to Cushenden. The swans are the children of Lir cursed by a jealous stepmother to be transformed into swans and to spend 900 years wandering.

Gretton to Eyebrook by bike

Just over 12 miles on a fine  and sunny afternoon.  Via Lyddington, Stoke Dry, round the reservoir to Great Easton and back via Caldecott. 

Around 500 feet of ascent. 

Stoke Dry Pumpkins

Cows by Eyebrook Reservoir

Cycling the High Peak Trail from Earl Sterndale

 Wednesday 21st September

Fine weather, so we had to take full advantage of it.We set off by bike at 10 am, just as the church clock was striking.  By road to Parsley Hay,

where we had a coffee before continuing on the High Peak trail towards Middleton Top. 

Various pauses on the way - including a chat near Hopton Top 

to a couple of blokes with a mobility scooter  they appeared to be sharing. We mentioned The Quiet Woman, and they were surprised to know it was closed. They had some good nights there, so not too many Quiet Men? The landlord used to sell half lambs.  The convesation wandered to black pudding anda couple of American women being horrified at the thought.

Onward to Middleton Top

where we wandered about a bit,

looked at the Redhill Quarry Nature reserve,

and then had a frugal lunch before turning back. We had left our hard-boiled eggs back at the cottage. 

We decided to give the incline and final miles to Cromford a miss.

I was asked if I knew the cycle route to Tissington Trail. Harry was asked to take a photo of a woman cyclist.

Return quite an uphill pull to begin with, but luckily the wind was not as strong as we had originally thought it might be.

All good until we came to the end of the trail and met an uphill section on loose stones - this was seriously hard work, but the uphill bit on the road afterwards seemed relatively easy with its much smoother surface.

Down into Earl Sterndale meeting the road we have come in before.  Grand views of High Wheeldon

and the Dragon’s Back.

Home by 1610 to cuppa and lemon drizzle cake.

34 miles approx. Around 770 feet of ups and downs. More than I have done since this time last year on the Rhins of Galloway. 

By bike to Eyebrook Reservoir

Wednesday 14th September

 After lunch another bike ride - Lyddington.,( 3 pauses on the long hill up to the A6003!)  Stoke Dry, Great Easton, Caldecott, Gretton. 12.2 miles. 600 feet of ascent.  Paused at bottom of Station Road Hill, and got up it in one go.

At the bench near Eyebrook, someone had parked their car with boot open directly in front of it, and there were two young men looking at their phones - looking slightly sinister!

This looks a bit odd!

Just over 12 miles.

A short bike ride, a short walk, a theatre performance

Wednesday 7th September

 After coffee I did another circuit of the valley, Harringworth and Mill Road. Once again managed Station Road without stopping, after a pause at the bottom of the hill.  The whole ride was almost 8 miles including round village at the start.

Twelfth Night at Kirby Hall

A superb performance by The Handlebards, two men and two women, who performed this play revelling in all the chaos and confusion caused by the twins Sebastian and Viola and the convoluted love triangle/quadrilateral that Shakespeare created.

All in the perfect surroundings of Kirby Hall, helped by the weather remaining dry after a short initial shower.

We walked our usual route from Gretton, down the Fullen Lane track and across the fields, carrying picnic chairs.

Of course it was dark for our return, but our head torches served us well.

A grand walk and an excellent evening out.

Bike ride - Gretton via Kirby Lane and Harringoworth

Thursday 1st September

 Harry continued to prune the holly tree.

I took the bike out and rode round via Kirby Hall - that road seems to be a serious rat run from the A43 to Priors Hall - huge amounts of traffic.

 I turned left before Deene, went close to Spanhoe lodge and down into Harringworth. Chatted to bloke cycling 40 ish miles. He passed me as I was having a brief pause on the hill up into Gretton.

10.28 miles according to Walkmeter.