and other tales of the expected.

As I sit here, beyond the glass my washing is being rained on in the latest of a string of showers passing over Brizzle - I guess I'll eventually have to use the drier but you never know, the sun might just manage to win the battle of the elements!

Well I've sort of got back into my routine this week, Thursday saw me heading for the delights of Weston SM - its a handy stopping point and allows for rides to suit my needs - flat, short, long, hilly as well as the option of refreshments if I feel that way inclined. On this occasion it was a fairly direct route to the resort, the weather not too warm but neither was the prevailing westerly too strong so I settled for just my onboard sandwiches in an esplanade shelter.

I took a slightly meandering route back, up through Canada then looping back to Churchill before crossing the Yeo valley back to Yatton and a steady route back to Brizz. 125km, @ 900m - yep steady as she goes.

Friday turned out a little different than expected when I got up - in a good way. For something to do, I joined Bev in a quest for a grass cutter for the tiny patch of Serengeti hiding between the veggies. A simple enough task in theory however the local store was sold out of suitable machines so we started on what became a bit of a safari! Store 2 came up trumps, but it was heading towards lunch so Bev suggested we find a hostelry to eat - easier said than done! We ended up on the Cotswolds, whilst the steak & kidney pudding was okay, I've had much better.

Bev fancied a bit of a drive so we headed east, through Badminton and Sherston, via a garden centre to Malmesbury where we stopped for a look at the Abbey. It really was a nice day so rather than head directly back we ended up looking for canals at Swindon before turning westward past Chippenham and the return to Brizzle to end the excursion.

Saturdays weather wasn't looking so good, overnight wet was to be followed by more showers after lunch so I tailored my ride to fit in the gap. The more robust nature of my touring bike tempted me to some bridleway riding as I looped north on my way to a sunny lunch stop at Oldbury on Severn. It looked like it would stay dry a while longer so instead of the direct route back I'd planned I fitted in some more byway which lifted the distance to just shy of 90km by the time I got back - It rained almost immediately so my timing was impeccable!

Today is a new chapter of Ontario, will Gab's nefarious plan work? You'll have to read Not Quite to Plan to find out!

That just about brings us to a close for today, I'll fit in a short walk/shop after lunch, the sun is currently winning the battle of the clouds so maybe I won't need the drier after all!

For now though, its Wiedersehn until Wednesday,
Madeline Anafrid