A late lunch! Monday 2 May 2011

Keen cycling friends Deborah and David from Staffordshire met me in Shrewsbury and I decided to take them on a favourite ride - Route 81 (most of the way) from my house and back via The Royal Hill pub in Pentre which is a lovely spot for lunch. We cycled the 10 miles there (actually did a few more as we were chatting and I missed the turning!) only to find that they do not serve food on Mondays (not even Bank Holiday Mondays!). A well deserved pint of beer and we cycled to the next pub - they had finished serving food for the day - on again to the next pub (didn't really like the look of it). Finally we reached a very nice pub, had a lovely lunch and drinks at about 4pm and cycled the remaining 8 miles back. A total of 24 miles. (Must remember to take some photographs on the next trip).

Women on Wheels Sunday 1 May 2011

A lovely sunny day! We set off from The Quarry on a beautiful spring day, cycling along the river, through a more built up area of Shrewsbury on cycle paths then out towards Betton and eventually (after a ride through a ford!) calling in at Attingham Park for a picnic and browse at the book sale. The return journey was made via Upton Magna (I seem to be cycling through there alot!) then back along route 81 (admiring the new surface which had just been completed) to the Quarry where we all enjoyed a well earned drink in The Boathouse. Another fine day out with new cycling friends, covering 22 miles.

Hola! Cycling in Spain

Spending a few days in a wonderful villa (the one in the background!) in Spain with friends. We spent a lovely morning cycling through the countryside. We cycled along the canal at a leisurely pace covering around 15k. Not realising the intensity of the heat, I arrived back with sunburned feet! The exercise during the morning was rewarded with an afternoon with by the pool in the sun with a glass of wine!

Our little cycling group! Four novices and one semi-professional cyclist out for a morning of fun! One of us (it wasn't me!) fell off but no-one had a camera handy!

Women on Wheels Sunday 3 April 2011

A lovely sunny day for Mother's Day! Five keen wheelers set off from the Quarry on route 81, along the river to Upton Magna and beyond. We passed through some lovely villages near Wellington then turned towards Haughmond Hill - what a hill! We approached it just as the heavens opened, to battle through the wind and rain and arrive at the top soaking wet and panting! The reward of hot drinks and food from the cafe in the carpark were much appreciated! Fully refreshed, we set off on route 81 again for Upton Magna (the fourth time I had cycled through the village in the past 24 hours!) and the Quarry where, in the sunshine, we said our goodbyes with promises of a future group cycling holiday in Holland. A lovely day covering 26.5 miles.

A drive, a cycle and a drink...

After loading my bicycle into the car (seemed easier than getting the bike rack out) I set off to Shawbury to meet friend Deborah. Map in hand, we began our cycle ride to Uffington, some 6 (or so we thought) miles away. After a few miles it became obvious that Deborah had a problem with the brakes on her bicycle binding and she was having to put in considerable more effort than I was! We flagged down a fellow cyclist for assistance with the brakes but he couldn't see the problem so we carried on. After a lovely ride through the quiet roads with lots of gossip and catching up, we reached The Corbet Arms in Uffington some 10.5 miles later. A well deserved glass of wine (then another) and we were off on our way again, not exactly the same way back but once off the main road, a really nice ride. The late afternoon sun warming our backs (Deborah still pushing against her binding brakes) we arived back in Shawbury after a total of almost 17 miles. A lovely day out with new cycling buddy!

The Daffodil Ride Sunday 27 March 2011

Many thanks to Eileen and Carolyn for joining me on the 12 mile sponsored cycle ride from Bridgnorth to Ironbridge and back in aid of The Severn Hospice. Thanks also to family and friends for sponsorship.

After chasing around Bridgnorth to find each other, we arrived at the registration desk where we had to tag our bicycles with a number and have the same number written on our hands! We were told that this was in the event of a 'pile up' we could be identified with our bicycles!! Not daunted by this, we had our photograph taken and set off! It was a lovely gentle ride, all off road, flat, and not too busy. Coffee in Ironbridge then the return journey. I am really enjoying the Sunday cycling - happy for anyone to join me!

Another Sunday ride 20 March 2011

It all started with a flat tyre, a broken pump and the rain! A ride out with Mark and Graham had a bad start but turned into a lovely 20 mile ride through the lovely Shropshire countryside. We cycled through villages and hamlets, passing through Plealey, Pontesbury (nice downhill bit!) then found ourselves, quite by accident, in Westbury! Lovely way to start a Sunday