on the feast of Stephen. there were all sorts of exotic goodies, Stephen really had pulled out all the stops, blackbird pie, crab apples but he must've of misread the recipe for pigs in blankets - the swineherd was fighting a losing battle trying to keep his charges wrapped!

The week has been 'interesting' so far - not in a bad way just different to normal. Despite my compulsive cycling disorder, Monday i didn't touch a bike at all, instead i walked the mile or so to get my 3rd Covid jab which was done in an honest to god (you pick which one suits you), Sikh temple! There was even some sort of blessing going on as we queued in a fashion reminiscent of The Full Monty to receive our respective shots. There was a queue all the time i was there but considering it was in the heart of a multi racial community, its perhaps a bit of a concern that everyone getting stuck was of white European stock - well apart from one of the nurses there was no sign of anyone anything but caucasian.

The forecast for Tuesday was overcast but dry, reasonable to start my last surge of riding for the year. I headed over the Severn intending to do a loop through the Forest of Dean however it was far from dry, a steady mizzle was settled onto the high ground which meant a shortening of my route - damp and cold for several hours is not my idea of fun! Even so, i got over 100km in and a leg breaking 1250m metres of ascent so it wasn't a complete disaster.

I don't generally ride on Wednesdays but this week is special so i was up and at it again this morning - similar forecast but will it actually stay dry? To stand any chance of reaching my target, today needed to be a bigger ride, with that in mind i set off for some lunch at Weston. Bigger today, a bit over 120km but i need to keep it rolling, i still need @ 500km and i've only got 4 rides to do it in (i've got 15593km banked so far)

I've posted the next part of Ontario for you this evening, Face Off takes us a bit closer to the first official action.

I will post the following chapters closer together so that the final part goes up @ New Year.

Thats all for today,
Tschuss,
Madeline Anafrid