Golden Autumn
One of the pluses about not working at the moment is being able to cycle whenever (and wherever) I please with friends or family or just on my own. I just can't believe that the weather is continuing so well into October. The countryside just doesn't look like late Autumn countryside. I guess I'd better brace myself for a very sudden turn when it does happen. But at the moment, it's glorious.
My victim of choice to come out with me yesterday was my oldest friend and schoolchum, Lynda. She's recently treated herself to a new hybrid bike to replace the rather rickety old mountain bike that's been in service for a long time, and we were keen to take it for a spin. I thought we'd give my favourite route to Stockbridge a try as she lives in Rownhams (despite the fact I'd done the exact same route with my sister Jessica the previous weekend!! It is a lovely ride.).
As it turns out, cycling with the natives has some very good advantages, especially when it comes to teashops.
Mmmmm, mmmmmmm-mmmmmm!! Quite delicious. I highly recommend this hidden gem of a teashop tucked away in a small garden centre on the A3057 just outside of Romsey.
We had a lovely ride into Stockbridge and back along the wonderfully quiet road that runs parallel to the A3057 for quite some way. We stopped at the John O'Gaunt for a drink. The temperature was dropping on the way back however, and the sky began to cloud over. We were being given a reminder of how quickly the weather can change at this time of year, and a warning not to take the warmth of the sunshine for granted.
We stopped at a farm shop for me to stock up on local cooking apples to add to my panniers, and to giggle at the gregarious chickens wandering the yard.
We walked our bikes up the painful Cemetery Hill and then disaster struck; depending on your point of view! Poor Lynda suffered a CDE (Catastrophic Deflation Event) in her front wheel.
Unfortunately, not spanner nor repair kit was to hand (I only carry spare tubes and have QR on my wheels). The very unfair result of this was Lynda's husband was summoned from only a few miles away to collect Lynda and bike to ferry them home in comfort. I still had the long hill between North Baddesley and Rownhams to ride!
Still, I made it and felt very virtuous. Another lovely day.
My victim of choice to come out with me yesterday was my oldest friend and schoolchum, Lynda. She's recently treated herself to a new hybrid bike to replace the rather rickety old mountain bike that's been in service for a long time, and we were keen to take it for a spin. I thought we'd give my favourite route to Stockbridge a try as she lives in Rownhams (despite the fact I'd done the exact same route with my sister Jessica the previous weekend!! It is a lovely ride.).
As it turns out, cycling with the natives has some very good advantages, especially when it comes to teashops.
Mmmmm, mmmmmmm-mmmmmm!! Quite delicious. I highly recommend this hidden gem of a teashop tucked away in a small garden centre on the A3057 just outside of Romsey.
We had a lovely ride into Stockbridge and back along the wonderfully quiet road that runs parallel to the A3057 for quite some way. We stopped at the John O'Gaunt for a drink. The temperature was dropping on the way back however, and the sky began to cloud over. We were being given a reminder of how quickly the weather can change at this time of year, and a warning not to take the warmth of the sunshine for granted.
We stopped at a farm shop for me to stock up on local cooking apples to add to my panniers, and to giggle at the gregarious chickens wandering the yard.
We walked our bikes up the painful Cemetery Hill and then disaster struck; depending on your point of view! Poor Lynda suffered a CDE (Catastrophic Deflation Event) in her front wheel.
Unfortunately, not spanner nor repair kit was to hand (I only carry spare tubes and have QR on my wheels). The very unfair result of this was Lynda's husband was summoned from only a few miles away to collect Lynda and bike to ferry them home in comfort. I still had the long hill between North Baddesley and Rownhams to ride!
Still, I made it and felt very virtuous. Another lovely day.
posted by Catherine at 18:40
1 Comments:
Thanks Cath for a fab day - the CDE is now "scabbed" over & there is now a tool & CDE repair kit in the pannier! I'll be off to buy Slime at the earliest opportunity!
Lesson Learnt!
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