tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55546446102513134802024-03-18T13:48:48.294+00:00Cycling and moreCycling and more.
This blog started as a way to broadcast my photography and how I created it, to document my thoughts about it. Then I talked about my other passion; cycling.
But with the events of 2020 it became much more.
I opened up about my depression. At first it was easier to type here than talk. Please click on the Macmillan cancer support link to sponsor my half marathon run in May.
AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-65600540997046788652024-03-13T10:55:00.000+00:002024-03-13T10:55:54.030+00:00Riding in Spain<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7x8w-4eXd2hHlmb4dHtGRSE8UeBPCnhRveWzfsryqcw-S6YlEhQoqIGNS52KqYyQ1P39PPF6b4PU07nQjZhqZoOJMDBN29k5p6HZcRm2OlRZZbibBvqiiCatqQ0t5RKbwWLir1Ozsag2MvSW0dHBBQ3Xr1OK-84j6c-y33YMyQd2HnA_WqjV2cBuLGA/s4032/IMG_1465.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="very steep hills great views" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7x8w-4eXd2hHlmb4dHtGRSE8UeBPCnhRveWzfsryqcw-S6YlEhQoqIGNS52KqYyQ1P39PPF6b4PU07nQjZhqZoOJMDBN29k5p6HZcRm2OlRZZbibBvqiiCatqQ0t5RKbwWLir1Ozsag2MvSW0dHBBQ3Xr1OK-84j6c-y33YMyQd2HnA_WqjV2cBuLGA/w640-h480/IMG_1465.jpg" title="very steep hills great views" width="640" /></a></p><p>I visited southern Spain recently staying with my brother and sister in law near Malaga. Whilst there I had two cycling adventures. They live in the hills around Triana. I borrowed Fitz's bike.</p><p>Whilst not hot it was definately warmer than the UK.</p><p>I rode twice, both times to <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">the Reservoir La Viñuela. The first was just a tester. I knew the hills were many and steep. They all averaged over 10% with max climbs of close to 20%. The picture above was at the top of the last climb before the descent to the lake. Both ways it hit over 20%. </span></span></p><p>We later went for a walk around more of the lake. So I planned a second ride, this time intending to go further.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3Qc7CVzwurG_Ik-poPafgvehZvh4Fft_dqnLOp1swEakbdERSBBQ1gSpy0Oe52wY-nfAIrnC_iKgnul1wPr6Xhd5suFAhR8xqIjAAdr7s84f_9aEfKn1DvwFoiLz2oj66jv0Zk6DqX_U4H2ebZo_wb-Yc9oZxF9DiUZhLHf_25ZXRA8AS-elKxDjoP4/s4032/IMG_1513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3Qc7CVzwurG_Ik-poPafgvehZvh4Fft_dqnLOp1swEakbdERSBBQ1gSpy0Oe52wY-nfAIrnC_iKgnul1wPr6Xhd5suFAhR8xqIjAAdr7s84f_9aEfKn1DvwFoiLz2oj66jv0Zk6DqX_U4H2ebZo_wb-Yc9oZxF9DiUZhLHf_25ZXRA8AS-elKxDjoP4/w640-h480/IMG_1513.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrMJQgU61ZynZb1Xq8RPopPj_hVeLfPOjr3IqbPABClnMFDukbAqg05PLayzwF4w_TirN26VwK42x5Ztf3OP-Bb06PePdnvCt9EeYF_DO9ahn6NjDNLFv3O3Duvw41f6uO76rRX3L25Tc7-Xa_Mr-EV76tRYh4EjAsfMqydHh067rMyfQ4RYSfrMo514/s4032/IMG_1511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrMJQgU61ZynZb1Xq8RPopPj_hVeLfPOjr3IqbPABClnMFDukbAqg05PLayzwF4w_TirN26VwK42x5Ztf3OP-Bb06PePdnvCt9EeYF_DO9ahn6NjDNLFv3O3Duvw41f6uO76rRX3L25Tc7-Xa_Mr-EV76tRYh4EjAsfMqydHh067rMyfQ4RYSfrMo514/w640-h480/IMG_1511.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <div class="bJzME tTVLSc"><div class="k7jAl miFGmb lJ3Kh " style="width: 408px;"><div class="e07Vkf kA9KIf dS8AEf" tabindex="-1"><div class="aIFcqe" style="width: 408px;"><div aria-label="Reservoir La Viñuela" class="m6QErb WNBkOb " role="main"><div class="ZKCDEc"><div class="RZ66Rb FgCUCc"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="jwfPme"></div><div class="YNB9Sd"></div><div class="zvLtDc"></div><div class="DUwDvf lfPIob"><span class="a5H0ec"></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Reservoir La Viñuela</span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I wasn't disappointed. The weather was great and the views incredible. I took many pictures, I'll just add them all. Enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbeNOZpzFhQ35mr3DVJT7mp__Ayrvor9eq9DG47_zX_xSOccETvfRC-qQUhyPRindLt22ElZMMoDsvIApJQeTMiZhXGtOSEMrXk7GqqXSQwJb8Z3knmhQAbpFICMvkepeyzhgUkMGabFd1pXahpLZPLUSRyj31HVF4sGpEPim-CSqW_hwqRYI3-qMqps/s4032/IMG_1467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbeNOZpzFhQ35mr3DVJT7mp__Ayrvor9eq9DG47_zX_xSOccETvfRC-qQUhyPRindLt22ElZMMoDsvIApJQeTMiZhXGtOSEMrXk7GqqXSQwJb8Z3knmhQAbpFICMvkepeyzhgUkMGabFd1pXahpLZPLUSRyj31HVF4sGpEPim-CSqW_hwqRYI3-qMqps/w640-h480/IMG_1467.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_9jPlQvzXYjVg8LEEI70soAoBJ4j_23qodjAr3FDx8cnHJMcwbpToJp56GbR7nTfAtJANjfFhq2xXASTKmcYPRFjBBRdKw540qyeh54nKnPHciqrJS6JtFElHWRkKhNRJZ5PIymIPaaKSUc2GCo8qPSQQt8CHBx5h8CCjokJngqQ8fPpj2-WvNLNrLQ/s4032/IMG_1468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_9jPlQvzXYjVg8LEEI70soAoBJ4j_23qodjAr3FDx8cnHJMcwbpToJp56GbR7nTfAtJANjfFhq2xXASTKmcYPRFjBBRdKw540qyeh54nKnPHciqrJS6JtFElHWRkKhNRJZ5PIymIPaaKSUc2GCo8qPSQQt8CHBx5h8CCjokJngqQ8fPpj2-WvNLNrLQ/w640-h480/IMG_1468.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBmUkq0OY9hNL_RbXiWP5fOoL__g09N45OVAEMmm8Q5CEGAFv3JKbMCLNufYf5nCYjFTDTRkuzTNA955mvmIofzbTikS0vHnJxuFTjDRhHAHUT2Cxo_zbF2vcYyrxsG84QBlh96nW7AznMsNzLYF-J9gVsFZ9lLmr5KVqcyktyGZkKVEJ_V3i14JEVhs/s4032/IMG_1500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBmUkq0OY9hNL_RbXiWP5fOoL__g09N45OVAEMmm8Q5CEGAFv3JKbMCLNufYf5nCYjFTDTRkuzTNA955mvmIofzbTikS0vHnJxuFTjDRhHAHUT2Cxo_zbF2vcYyrxsG84QBlh96nW7AznMsNzLYF-J9gVsFZ9lLmr5KVqcyktyGZkKVEJ_V3i14JEVhs/w640-h480/IMG_1500.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIfF-9ltwAgJK9e_J8H0ZMKezmE-z1m1P-zXoTHRh7Ff6stA1fBwO67ITGihdbqwfbw50bKh6vSx-9BSxgFpaxa-VjbqE-7MqYOjJ2QjXHEOYgnBtItfjh-PRkL_smRSy4JzMh2SWweFWjbgtEsebGRiN2JnzIh0MR0jS1svhynGO0idsrj7UUfytAxk/s4032/IMG_1501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIfF-9ltwAgJK9e_J8H0ZMKezmE-z1m1P-zXoTHRh7Ff6stA1fBwO67ITGihdbqwfbw50bKh6vSx-9BSxgFpaxa-VjbqE-7MqYOjJ2QjXHEOYgnBtItfjh-PRkL_smRSy4JzMh2SWweFWjbgtEsebGRiN2JnzIh0MR0jS1svhynGO0idsrj7UUfytAxk/w640-h480/IMG_1501.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ60eLefiNzEHSKkcGZsqEOk8Ita4VI5uIMjQQO2PEsT5tEJ6xG2RUbmg1jM6k2ddrRasV4BPQWAVb5wi84s_h8qUUtyViKDNiBCga-eVELvpYIAt3mv06usisTJHh6zE-wQhuqDYg0onb2csu7xM1uvqcXe7scA_bIsE2Doh9aAohgru5GskxjuKV1Ng/s4032/IMG_1502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ60eLefiNzEHSKkcGZsqEOk8Ita4VI5uIMjQQO2PEsT5tEJ6xG2RUbmg1jM6k2ddrRasV4BPQWAVb5wi84s_h8qUUtyViKDNiBCga-eVELvpYIAt3mv06usisTJHh6zE-wQhuqDYg0onb2csu7xM1uvqcXe7scA_bIsE2Doh9aAohgru5GskxjuKV1Ng/w640-h480/IMG_1502.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9i4FR4ngdEZw_oVvM2UZE525fvujUKvF6datwTX8wbdPRIOWZKuMHBteAkqbQwUGzgx2F3fP9M7_j8elzQrRSxDT_FiZCQslogvYAytB9abVqFPR_jnoC86BWKW2VhGY18JzsmtMBeIkmFj-4w0EfVo7snVlvnujbvgm0Pm6Chluq8NIf8fCWXSBXTM/s4032/IMG_1510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9i4FR4ngdEZw_oVvM2UZE525fvujUKvF6datwTX8wbdPRIOWZKuMHBteAkqbQwUGzgx2F3fP9M7_j8elzQrRSxDT_FiZCQslogvYAytB9abVqFPR_jnoC86BWKW2VhGY18JzsmtMBeIkmFj-4w0EfVo7snVlvnujbvgm0Pm6Chluq8NIf8fCWXSBXTM/w640-h480/IMG_1510.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8JjP6dP90KkVxphtyF5AnCR5HE_-wISt2nkKE7tXR7ZTUk9Hr4FAEt1wmj18020j1ZNcxYR-wuvuEajgbEJ651sBpofeCio4mSdJIovAd1kNJEvSL2LUP8cL7Kf5u0hmAm5ohJGAwFjl5HSDYRaPDSANTu-tWybGPkIUeJ4O9e-_XgZ965gD8P6vo4k/s4032/IMG_1509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8JjP6dP90KkVxphtyF5AnCR5HE_-wISt2nkKE7tXR7ZTUk9Hr4FAEt1wmj18020j1ZNcxYR-wuvuEajgbEJ651sBpofeCio4mSdJIovAd1kNJEvSL2LUP8cL7Kf5u0hmAm5ohJGAwFjl5HSDYRaPDSANTu-tWybGPkIUeJ4O9e-_XgZ965gD8P6vo4k/w640-h480/IMG_1509.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY03ijaMMd6Z0T0b9jx5nf46OUyeHNUQ1AdzJUhqSoPcDbKfF5ZZ9qd2fyYGM12w7JsrIzso1NK8NzyO-DYFL7VZkOurulKtJNungVKoYzZHA5NXh2GC0G_uQxRzVnDbKjss7FStIozW277GSo2-hgpg59bDTZqNutP2S4ue20FkZCDMQihzauCs4dVwE/s4032/IMG_1505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY03ijaMMd6Z0T0b9jx5nf46OUyeHNUQ1AdzJUhqSoPcDbKfF5ZZ9qd2fyYGM12w7JsrIzso1NK8NzyO-DYFL7VZkOurulKtJNungVKoYzZHA5NXh2GC0G_uQxRzVnDbKjss7FStIozW277GSo2-hgpg59bDTZqNutP2S4ue20FkZCDMQihzauCs4dVwE/w640-h480/IMG_1505.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC79jq7QNi0BrfIqE7sRr1bhjuE2KTwveFw_I1YhCrY_km58iefb5oEKLW2FG0DmF_Fqefh-MHa_5U_OyoF4tJjc6NzLzBcEmfEa2XAmLjvPPeJgaVOwkszg3OVsRnx1xbxB7Ms6COk-ZvGtmePj32yY0WVfFKrKJ8X-TEnM_aPTrvZxFcpOWG-XLxrs/s4032/IMG_1504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC79jq7QNi0BrfIqE7sRr1bhjuE2KTwveFw_I1YhCrY_km58iefb5oEKLW2FG0DmF_Fqefh-MHa_5U_OyoF4tJjc6NzLzBcEmfEa2XAmLjvPPeJgaVOwkszg3OVsRnx1xbxB7Ms6COk-ZvGtmePj32yY0WVfFKrKJ8X-TEnM_aPTrvZxFcpOWG-XLxrs/w640-h480/IMG_1504.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYJ3rAtgJAgxpyit5OJUDrf_Pngr_ABXs7uwIlnPk50T14X0ZRbBAAPFYYeCgLqIivBod4PJu7nn9c2xaFLhoWXPah6_INygiD7YbiDxgWcfhEdCxwkQ8kk0AAHqygQaaSJOjIG3GUlP_0EstsL6c9nEddd_0_blZ2gO-EW26eeNMnMYvPcJPej7gLAU/s4032/IMG_1503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYJ3rAtgJAgxpyit5OJUDrf_Pngr_ABXs7uwIlnPk50T14X0ZRbBAAPFYYeCgLqIivBod4PJu7nn9c2xaFLhoWXPah6_INygiD7YbiDxgWcfhEdCxwkQ8kk0AAHqygQaaSJOjIG3GUlP_0EstsL6c9nEddd_0_blZ2gO-EW26eeNMnMYvPcJPej7gLAU/w640-h480/IMG_1503.jpg" title="Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><p> </p><p>There was a campsite with barbeques. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrMxZcTyA5yd7_6J8g78f568mTbwjrzGS7KkIlT_g-sFpJf6ENxe_lf4lB4AEYcdE-h3wFXUXb_4cLC9GQOr9zJqB4e97buKHi3Of4_XCvnvSKTzgSq21YJ-qBh47ma0A9kDpBOiA-lZ5YMBqj7C74IXMk1RCxE8QmUdpP2XD7m-NTGRjr7r-XLcPCgc/s4032/IMG_1506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bbq Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrMxZcTyA5yd7_6J8g78f568mTbwjrzGS7KkIlT_g-sFpJf6ENxe_lf4lB4AEYcdE-h3wFXUXb_4cLC9GQOr9zJqB4e97buKHi3Of4_XCvnvSKTzgSq21YJ-qBh47ma0A9kDpBOiA-lZ5YMBqj7C74IXMk1RCxE8QmUdpP2XD7m-NTGRjr7r-XLcPCgc/w640-h480/IMG_1506.jpg" title="bbq Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>And a stream. I rode through it thinking is was shallow; it wasn't. I got wet feet. They dried very quickly though.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvnSfuYvKoNq8BWIdeXlSRK-zpRhfmD8Tyyc3CKr_fDFfH5rB39sUAU1ZTD1gu6x1WrxRb9XqUUXTOh9Mn1k6oJusXqxV1GVQ3KuvIIzCVR3VqbdKTkCyFNDoZtAa66HC4eQFeduchawTCzpLdevf4pskqc_hIBSej1J_sWi5NZS8Vz7rlG5m9YKA_C4/s4032/IMG_1508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stream Reservoir La Viñuela" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvnSfuYvKoNq8BWIdeXlSRK-zpRhfmD8Tyyc3CKr_fDFfH5rB39sUAU1ZTD1gu6x1WrxRb9XqUUXTOh9Mn1k6oJusXqxV1GVQ3KuvIIzCVR3VqbdKTkCyFNDoZtAa66HC4eQFeduchawTCzpLdevf4pskqc_hIBSej1J_sWi5NZS8Vz7rlG5m9YKA_C4/w640-h480/IMG_1508.jpg" title="stream Reservoir La Viñuela" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Most of Spain has had a drought for a few years. You are forbidden from using the barbeques. And the lake is at only 7% capacity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioDVHChyFNycrr0SQlEAfj4GXdex3pQHzFyD1LJlWM0y7AS2Un-qWFdLT3SQaOD-d0eK213RR77TeOOLR4UUAkrRV_2scgbTEJOkKeH18mXfR6lUMEl3gBIPyIGxif1A0c8-JY348gpfVfj_8E_-uns7WhhyLA7Fzg3qW8S5xp7Usldrv4pthqyEZmsw/s3935/IMG_1512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lake nearly drained" border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="3935" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioDVHChyFNycrr0SQlEAfj4GXdex3pQHzFyD1LJlWM0y7AS2Un-qWFdLT3SQaOD-d0eK213RR77TeOOLR4UUAkrRV_2scgbTEJOkKeH18mXfR6lUMEl3gBIPyIGxif1A0c8-JY348gpfVfj_8E_-uns7WhhyLA7Fzg3qW8S5xp7Usldrv4pthqyEZmsw/w640-h480/IMG_1512.jpg" title="lake nearly drained" width="640" /></a></div><p>I found this picture online to give you an idea of what it should look like.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsFkL3_msEA1B7IVis0WL0QsR6ot5zMSj6GKn7FpWz5dHhioc03e_En9QpfJG9SnSX2hKlgq9vOe2C3St8Oisy4Fm8Kt1tVgOFHa5RlB196XLB9h37psfKvUvK81wwvC6IyklQebEz5x5oUH84X_qv7GbIzRkJ0QaOFzLQMqFu2GJlIg_Urp5NKOd46Q/s620/presa-la-vinuela-embalse-620x436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="620" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsFkL3_msEA1B7IVis0WL0QsR6ot5zMSj6GKn7FpWz5dHhioc03e_En9QpfJG9SnSX2hKlgq9vOe2C3St8Oisy4Fm8Kt1tVgOFHa5RlB196XLB9h37psfKvUvK81wwvC6IyklQebEz5x5oUH84X_qv7GbIzRkJ0QaOFzLQMqFu2GJlIg_Urp5NKOd46Q/w640-h450/presa-la-vinuela-embalse-620x436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="bJzME tTVLSc"><div class="k7jAl miFGmb lJ3Kh " style="width: 408px;"><div class="e07Vkf kA9KIf dS8AEf" tabindex="-1"><div class="aIFcqe" style="width: 408px;"><div aria-label="Reservoir La Viñuela" class="m6QErb WNBkOb " role="main"><div class="ZKCDEc"><div class="RZ66Rb FgCUCc"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="jwfPme"></div><div class="YNB9Sd"></div><div class="zvLtDc"><br /></div><p></p>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-22036821780230687592024-03-13T08:12:00.000+00:002024-03-13T08:12:02.513+00:00Spain by train<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv0ETOhVwMJIo7DuCWDprzEmG7t1iCxvSRJk2dJLgFgGguwumnBx0y4hOi9TFhT7Khnl00eUU9PhqaPCIajcoORM6TC6b9Sy0BNcQLR-_ce6JiZc9CCpRFgC2p_PWqL4NYLgbqpEAQo3uIoeR1urYh-Po3SjSmku__Mk1AeOmf7qLdCOh29DQJljvcH4/s2698/eurostar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="eurostar" border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="2698" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv0ETOhVwMJIo7DuCWDprzEmG7t1iCxvSRJk2dJLgFgGguwumnBx0y4hOi9TFhT7Khnl00eUU9PhqaPCIajcoORM6TC6b9Sy0BNcQLR-_ce6JiZc9CCpRFgC2p_PWqL4NYLgbqpEAQo3uIoeR1urYh-Po3SjSmku__Mk1AeOmf7qLdCOh29DQJljvcH4/w640-h200/eurostar.jpg" title="eurostar" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>I was invited to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Spain. I have made a commitemnt not to fly. So how to get there? By train of course!</p><p>The journey was more expensive and took much longer but reduced GHG emissions considerably.</p><p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:18"><b>CO2 Emissions:</b></p><span>
</span><ul data-sourcepos="5:1-5:75"><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="5:1-5:75"><b>Flying:</b><span> A one-way flight from London to Malaga typically emits around </span><b>180-250 kg</b><span> of CO2 per passenger.</span><span> A return trip would double this amount,</span><span> bringing it to </span><b>360-500 kg</b><span>.</span></li><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="6:1-6:74"><b>Train:</b><span> Taking the train can reduce your emissions by a staggering </span><b>85-90%</b><span>.</span><span> A one-way trip emits around </span><b>20-30 kg</b><span> of CO2 per passenger,</span><span> with a return trip coming in at </span><b>40-60 kg</b><span>.</span></li></ul><p><span>The first downside is the cost. Flying is subsidised; public transport is not or at least not to the same degree.</span></p><p><span>For
the length of journey I made time is another negative. Shorter trips
may compare better when you factor in getting to and from the airport
and the extended check-in times.</span></p><p><span>Another way to think about it is as part of the holiday. I got to see Paris, Barcelona and Madrid, if only for short periods.</span></p><p><span>I
carried my clothes in a medium sized backpack. Some of the huge
suitcases I saw the last time I flew would be difficult to convey
between stations as was needed in Paris. So that would be a
consideration. As would transporting a bike. Fitz had a spare, or I
could have hired one.</span></p><p></p><p>The journey there and back turned into two mini holidays.</p><p>Eurostar to Paris, then TGV to Barcelona for an overnight stop, then one change in Madrid before arriving in Malaga. The return was the same in reverse.</p><p>It meant I had some time in Paris as I walked between stations, a morning and afternoon in Barcalona, and an hour in Madrid. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuoKtgzdZkVrI-XzZ8AgtYJCHqgDVMqkSdfH5jDXM0Df-aPbVODWhyphenhyphenuF_MUJvTtk3cVCtmam2k-QfDOuFOwmy2pXcgeLrMwdn1jO3gebMlGoJ1jwFkCcXRwhJb63HEv5xyZAIWFC7S5RqEpimGMJAXhwenQr5hxyKlbw6ITDGElfVG7OBPBUc-X-oTt0/s3015/Gare%20du%20Nord%20paris.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gare du Nord" border="0" data-original-height="2262" data-original-width="3015" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuoKtgzdZkVrI-XzZ8AgtYJCHqgDVMqkSdfH5jDXM0Df-aPbVODWhyphenhyphenuF_MUJvTtk3cVCtmam2k-QfDOuFOwmy2pXcgeLrMwdn1jO3gebMlGoJ1jwFkCcXRwhJb63HEv5xyZAIWFC7S5RqEpimGMJAXhwenQr5hxyKlbw6ITDGElfVG7OBPBUc-X-oTt0/w640-h480/Gare%20du%20Nord%20paris.jpg" title="Gare du Nord" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Caption-center">Gare du Nord</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg79o1Qfq-7qjNYgsH4UzBl00mK4WugaMB7Zr0eeQ-f2LUj0qXAJsT70PLjOS5Mh9umOlCImT86EDW37dmT5zYkslspZBftIikcS5NTK8Vo4C1p6hv0j-rUpFBWgcKiintOZczkgGXNNBV0i_-1qJgqzvkx9HYHMdZ-BbEEo6uaXAny8h5KkdufPNR4g/s3864/Gare%20de%20lyon%20paris.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gare de Lyon" border="0" data-original-height="2898" data-original-width="3864" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg79o1Qfq-7qjNYgsH4UzBl00mK4WugaMB7Zr0eeQ-f2LUj0qXAJsT70PLjOS5Mh9umOlCImT86EDW37dmT5zYkslspZBftIikcS5NTK8Vo4C1p6hv0j-rUpFBWgcKiintOZczkgGXNNBV0i_-1qJgqzvkx9HYHMdZ-BbEEo6uaXAny8h5KkdufPNR4g/w640-h480/Gare%20de%20lyon%20paris.jpg" title="Gare de Lyon" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Caption-center">Gare de Lyon</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Both are impressive looking buildings.<br /><p></p><p>It took me 45 minutes to walk the 2.6 miles from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon. It was raining and it wasn't very picturesque. I could have wandered more but I wasn't sure how long it would take me.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOdXkkMW9Y-VvSoLn-lLv86C6GnLTGDfivs81vzzBNaj4cDtd_RZRKrolu7aR_Sh4o9v7L9x49xP4M1NTvhHC0tiCCvWwzLC1qLN3x_Ibkq7BFcHiaxhiiRhvyf1ShrT2MB2Y5UGhJj4w8P4YqqSBolg6ya1t1iNyW9nR-Un8ylfdby1QK5XkqWYRjR0/s2041/paris%20day%20one.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Place de la République" border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="1674" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOdXkkMW9Y-VvSoLn-lLv86C6GnLTGDfivs81vzzBNaj4cDtd_RZRKrolu7aR_Sh4o9v7L9x49xP4M1NTvhHC0tiCCvWwzLC1qLN3x_Ibkq7BFcHiaxhiiRhvyf1ShrT2MB2Y5UGhJj4w8P4YqqSBolg6ya1t1iNyW9nR-Un8ylfdby1QK5XkqWYRjR0/w524-h640/paris%20day%20one.jpg" title="Place de la République" width="524" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="firstHeading mw-first-heading" id="firstHeading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Place de la République</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBhld1fDANKNZGnKWsm4d_V9-udyIzohJAa6yX-wLh985FcCGwwKuyxRGuknPmbM39Y_bYesbloYvp_HglUm0402XoQY4kkLKKIwhSID1TSfBud04AqtyN6OwO9BW4DPzVzNOvfw03HfRWvlOlcCgM8BOlN6qsVGWs4G0pox2MQy9KmrWkyeU29NMLpg/s3282/Bastille%20monument.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="July Column" border="0" data-original-height="3282" data-original-width="2462" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBhld1fDANKNZGnKWsm4d_V9-udyIzohJAa6yX-wLh985FcCGwwKuyxRGuknPmbM39Y_bYesbloYvp_HglUm0402XoQY4kkLKKIwhSID1TSfBud04AqtyN6OwO9BW4DPzVzNOvfw03HfRWvlOlcCgM8BOlN6qsVGWs4G0pox2MQy9KmrWkyeU29NMLpg/w480-h640/Bastille%20monument.jpg" title="July Column" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="firstHeading mw-first-heading" id="firstHeading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">July Column</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The trains displayed info much like planes do. Showing where you are and velocity. Through England I travelled at around 144kph (89mph). Once into France this rose to 245kph (152mph) after Paris the speeds increased. On the double deck TVG it was 293kph (182mph). <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVr3qQbd1OuJRR2W8Y_33POsqy2u_4EK3TaR2NN_jph0pYt6u1O5Sk8TghMkun1GslvkkaKwkdbiS_MYlQ1_bTfUoAIZItI2UgLbf2NA4_JrGXLd4WkKVhChIlJdGnmrmuF3sl_bIoqZtorlsnzu6zgfvDbOzdPZJNSYH2drX8hv04ttooYIy5qnb9oI8/s4032/tgv%20paris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="double deck TVG" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVr3qQbd1OuJRR2W8Y_33POsqy2u_4EK3TaR2NN_jph0pYt6u1O5Sk8TghMkun1GslvkkaKwkdbiS_MYlQ1_bTfUoAIZItI2UgLbf2NA4_JrGXLd4WkKVhChIlJdGnmrmuF3sl_bIoqZtorlsnzu6zgfvDbOzdPZJNSYH2drX8hv04ttooYIy5qnb9oI8/w640-h480/tgv%20paris.jpg" title="double deck TVG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Lijq8SOi7av2oTFxjPhj-XpFfqkMxGqJfszwNYE18q97DFBFEkrcPCtaAymplidQwWEALbAH9IV2t9RE7Q9H_3nZKbyxSroAPbOPaHTpqPzklcYtFl6pyYNNPCZ7dorBRgqBb9k5bx_x9re0NT3plWo4ignzB3CPq0oDw1F6fMxmlVdE3qc2z751fc/s3089/tgv%20double%20decker.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="double deck TVG" border="0" data-original-height="2317" data-original-width="3089" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Lijq8SOi7av2oTFxjPhj-XpFfqkMxGqJfszwNYE18q97DFBFEkrcPCtaAymplidQwWEALbAH9IV2t9RE7Q9H_3nZKbyxSroAPbOPaHTpqPzklcYtFl6pyYNNPCZ7dorBRgqBb9k5bx_x9re0NT3plWo4ignzB3CPq0oDw1F6fMxmlVdE3qc2z751fc/w640-h480/tgv%20double%20decker.jpg" title="double deck TVG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">double deck TVG</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The two trains in Spain both travelled at over 200kph (124mph) for much of the time.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPjeqMgROf6p2qennrV1nGHwvFRst-95g9OGvzxHeKFZ0-ctE2kZbAb56VhxqOcdGu6Fn6S4GJ05cXaFEbhA2PlharumKHWuHc2YkW2ueW67Us4v4r8XTHJKK0WD815cFAUDqd-9ApOQK7CTIcAlNW4T5P6I0nAGQWhQk9TVo0F2eL_QLqgt5WUdmkOo/s3800/last%20train%20to%20malaga.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="high speed train in spain" border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPjeqMgROf6p2qennrV1nGHwvFRst-95g9OGvzxHeKFZ0-ctE2kZbAb56VhxqOcdGu6Fn6S4GJ05cXaFEbhA2PlharumKHWuHc2YkW2ueW67Us4v4r8XTHJKK0WD815cFAUDqd-9ApOQK7CTIcAlNW4T5P6I0nAGQWhQk9TVo0F2eL_QLqgt5WUdmkOo/w640-h480/last%20train%20to%20malaga.jpg" title="high speed train in spain" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">high speed train in Spain</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On the way home the display proclaimed 298kph (185mph); very impressive.<p></p><p>What was less impressive is Barcelona station.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVP8XNGh24e1pYN8OqaPI_BQTW-h3JuX6cxF5TpsujSfKF43Vz4-K5bYwE40WT0oxUNwvq8EWHaom1y_3CsNpO_Ym3-QSZ49uMLWFu1sVT95D6za5lKp1JzHKiq-hBbnsDGVsVHy6mNCHInRJKmT8FrHiqEbqiLgfX48Jn-5otrhAlo-rTm9zijFUnCQ/s2660/barcelona%20sants.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Barcelona sants station" border="0" data-original-height="1951" data-original-width="2660" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVP8XNGh24e1pYN8OqaPI_BQTW-h3JuX6cxF5TpsujSfKF43Vz4-K5bYwE40WT0oxUNwvq8EWHaom1y_3CsNpO_Ym3-QSZ49uMLWFu1sVT95D6za5lKp1JzHKiq-hBbnsDGVsVHy6mNCHInRJKmT8FrHiqEbqiLgfX48Jn-5otrhAlo-rTm9zijFUnCQ/w640-h470/barcelona%20sants.jpg" title="Barcelona sants station" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barcelona sants</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Malaga station looked very similar.<br /></p><p>Madrid could have been more appealing. I'm sure it will when the rebuild is complete.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWdKAalEw4AHe8onBIFwRutMNvRqfZtCusZPLLnWIsgMh1ZOUmoQvZgOEJvLxVxvucUcm8eUn_2Fei9fWZGh6wHvGqH9t0IhjN3MXafPzmgvp1gFs9L1DxAYFmp7gLF5sxFj65r37c-AHoFYJDBq3i0zL3xfPlzDYrkaYmgSozoHVVxX0U52ZpqO0mwo/s4032/madrid%20station%20outside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Madrid station outside" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWdKAalEw4AHe8onBIFwRutMNvRqfZtCusZPLLnWIsgMh1ZOUmoQvZgOEJvLxVxvucUcm8eUn_2Fei9fWZGh6wHvGqH9t0IhjN3MXafPzmgvp1gFs9L1DxAYFmp7gLF5sxFj65r37c-AHoFYJDBq3i0zL3xfPlzDYrkaYmgSozoHVVxX0U52ZpqO0mwo/w640-h480/madrid%20station%20outside.jpg" title="Madrid station outside" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>It looks better inside.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Lv2BnwdWtuGyHRbiesKchOeWlkx3tOnCXSmFcHSJzByNOEgFRs-cGsIjkYJXcmK7UFbxeK9bn4eEiP6gTsodYHrxvAld3ElKrDVlaFFpUhZAyC6aPbdVDbMXJMAto_hB7u0W9TPclsMjuqEjGVDuAjfuq48OQZe1RNWIqci9fcM1t-QH6OZZBiY1GQ/s3795/madrid%20station%20inside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Madrid station inside" border="0" data-original-height="2846" data-original-width="3795" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Lv2BnwdWtuGyHRbiesKchOeWlkx3tOnCXSmFcHSJzByNOEgFRs-cGsIjkYJXcmK7UFbxeK9bn4eEiP6gTsodYHrxvAld3ElKrDVlaFFpUhZAyC6aPbdVDbMXJMAto_hB7u0W9TPclsMjuqEjGVDuAjfuq48OQZe1RNWIqci9fcM1t-QH6OZZBiY1GQ/w640-h480/madrid%20station%20inside.jpg" title="Madrid station inside" width="640" /></a></div><p><span>The morning in Barcelona wasn't enough time to see much. Just the La Sagrada Familia.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQ4Ad26fdaDjELHYFgJZ7jCDZ4hT2oNJOqzZ3zmzVCv5MJUy32X6iIeigtpKFELggUAX9rnBctYOELPZjSRUC-hU6A8nCaUQggnK_e6x4krTUtuQIAzrp11xcy_Gd2nP82c7l_qSyrDSXquOTzo6kQr02sQFkTO7T0Rzux2mL0IP_NxELtywe0xiZTu4/s3453/La%20Sagrada%20Familia%20barcelona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="La Sagrada Familia" border="0" data-original-height="3453" data-original-width="2590" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQ4Ad26fdaDjELHYFgJZ7jCDZ4hT2oNJOqzZ3zmzVCv5MJUy32X6iIeigtpKFELggUAX9rnBctYOELPZjSRUC-hU6A8nCaUQggnK_e6x4krTUtuQIAzrp11xcy_Gd2nP82c7l_qSyrDSXquOTzo6kQr02sQFkTO7T0Rzux2mL0IP_NxELtywe0xiZTu4/w480-h640/La%20Sagrada%20Familia%20barcelona.jpg" title="La Sagrada Familia" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span>It felt a little rushed. And before I knew it I had to catch my next train. </span><p></p><p>Maybe I was tired, but the return leg was more stressful. </p><p>Madrid caused me some confusion; no problems as I headed south the previous weekend. I had trouble locating the correct platform, and which level it was on. I suppose it might have been that I only had 20 minutes to make the connection that had me panicked.<br /></p><p>Also the Eurostar departure area in Gare du Nord is very small. When I got there it was full, and the passport control overly complicated. Two automatic gates that scan your travel docs and your face. Both didn't work for me at the first attempt. I eventually had to been seen by a real person.</p><p>Some lessons.</p><p>I used a travel agent to book the trains and hotel, maybe an extravagance. I could have done it all myself and saved some money, but it was quite complicated to get the timings right. I guess I could have had a simpler trip as my first go at international train travel, but I needed to get to southern Spain so that's what I did.<br /></p><p>A backpack is best for train travel. It's so much easier to move around between trains if you don't have to drag a suitcase.</p><p>Label your luggage; I didn't think I need this because it was carry-on. But it's mandatory.</p><p>All Spanish trains require you to pass through luggage control; airport style x-ray machines. As did Eurostar. It takes time and should be factored in especially when you're transferring to other services.</p><p>Eurostar gates close 30 minutes before departure, or at least that's what they say. But on my way home they didn't open until 20 minutes before the train was due to leave.</p><p>On Eurostar you go through passport control twice during departure; firstly for the country you are leaving and then for the one to which you are headed. This worked more smoothly in St Pancras.<br /></p><p>All seats have a power socket for charging devices. The Eurostar has one per two seats, the rest give each passenger their own. They aren't easy to use due to their location. Cafe's and restuarants rarely have accessible power. So I took a powerbank with me. It also meant that I could charge as I walked.</p><p>The train companies have apps to store your ticket, you can show an email or saved file using your phone. I had a paper version too, just in case of some device issuses. I couldn't get the Renfe one to work though.</p><p>I liked the ever changing view from the window; much better than clouds, or distant sea/landscapes.</p><p>There is a lot more legroom than on a plane.</p><p>I read sleeper trains are to be reintroduced. That would be excellent. It would cut journey times and cost. </p><p>By the time I got home I was tired. I think if I'd not changed trains so often I'd have felt better. <br /></p><p>I'm not a coffee expert, but I was not impressed with any of the hot beverages I bought at station cafes. I'd suggest you find an independent establishment locally. </p><p>Vegan food was very hard to find generally, but at the station it was
harder. I did locate this "burger", I would call it a pasty. And it
wasn't too bad. The chain called Como had falafel wraps which were nice. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Gn1DUtDsoF3XSqvwLU7bKxOd_OcXyUDtL8O6TIUP2oR5UtUbLV_Wvmb-0nqsn24sNKrJK_RHpQn5LJfBSZGM6lkFZV9iywsl7UHTa-PadoCH53o37XiKmDk9xcYDRHFztAFGRJ7tYRb0AeHcTiW8MqTLE42V-NSUUsAcJxrHhAUkX_VMahjH66lr9E/s4032/vegan%20burger%20malaga.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Malaga station coffee and food" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Gn1DUtDsoF3XSqvwLU7bKxOd_OcXyUDtL8O6TIUP2oR5UtUbLV_Wvmb-0nqsn24sNKrJK_RHpQn5LJfBSZGM6lkFZV9iywsl7UHTa-PadoCH53o37XiKmDk9xcYDRHFztAFGRJ7tYRb0AeHcTiW8MqTLE42V-NSUUsAcJxrHhAUkX_VMahjH66lr9E/w640-h480/vegan%20burger%20malaga.jpg" title="Malaga station coffee and food" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malaga station coffee and food</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A short walk from Barecelona station was the Areca Bakery. Very nice coffee, but only sugary treats. There we others that servered sandwiches etc. They looked nice and were reasonably priced but contained animal products.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHqfEf445FzjCHuLflwMVz91J8Ifvda_Kg4qErGLg5jlm5BpHIKtQZ-Yl9K8L0nnp3wZJp0XxQKLkkVlJQzFiQNW3EUWbkyxpo5aGLE872KJdcbDkni8WyoutDTEn6R80fXb-IvQ6IIO0RY3DUDOe9iklgLZUVySFIkaHmKiJ7Dc_eGsF4VCzB0-ZIJM/s4032/cake%20and%20coffee%20barcelona.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Areca Bakery barcelona" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHqfEf445FzjCHuLflwMVz91J8Ifvda_Kg4qErGLg5jlm5BpHIKtQZ-Yl9K8L0nnp3wZJp0XxQKLkkVlJQzFiQNW3EUWbkyxpo5aGLE872KJdcbDkni8WyoutDTEn6R80fXb-IvQ6IIO0RY3DUDOe9iklgLZUVySFIkaHmKiJ7Dc_eGsF4VCzB0-ZIJM/w640-h480/cake%20and%20coffee%20barcelona.jpg" title="Areca Bakery barcelona" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Areca Bakery Barcelona</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p>And to finish the post; I arrived very late so I didn't see what my surroundings would be for the week. I awoke and had a coffee to this.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeZnm7et4_do6KrRZjNnnX6A-p_HoUGK5sn6CB7J8tyDGUUzMfAEXm8vXjq1EJwQmGVHwme-IfyTQNZTowJt1tm-XJHBEavrV2S5xv7JM-j-nWAR-OpMriP_eCl9cwp7pBzBfDC1ctXhoD9Z8Oge3DK9ABuYTcNpyXGzhKRJxSTL1bHIdI4Ub700j7hM/s4032/a%20great%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="coffee with a view" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeZnm7et4_do6KrRZjNnnX6A-p_HoUGK5sn6CB7J8tyDGUUzMfAEXm8vXjq1EJwQmGVHwme-IfyTQNZTowJt1tm-XJHBEavrV2S5xv7JM-j-nWAR-OpMriP_eCl9cwp7pBzBfDC1ctXhoD9Z8Oge3DK9ABuYTcNpyXGzhKRJxSTL1bHIdI4Ub700j7hM/w640-h480/a%20great%20view.jpg" title="coffee with a view" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">morning coffee view<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OhG2ArLrDtU" width="320" youtube-src-id="OhG2ArLrDtU"></iframe></div><br />AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-54879004115214899782024-02-28T20:10:00.000+00:002024-02-28T20:10:15.228+00:00Black and white film<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzD3VtsFDM8AdDqxHSGPth_o6I4VX3z9byT1PSMRjMn95xiCn5QDu6AwPELPB2WVekXwM_gMDLcn5Is_BAvAsnADF3ZPi8T4bIjlk_3RJNCYFEm_igPDA1-hNaBz9HsCGHm3xidNQG0ssA2cEh_QWgQ2cnA8Hll9gkkcYD0IhDuYHdZ0cKCZOPjoGX7EA/s3784/film%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ilford xp2 super 400 black and white film" border="0" data-original-height="2838" data-original-width="3784" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzD3VtsFDM8AdDqxHSGPth_o6I4VX3z9byT1PSMRjMn95xiCn5QDu6AwPELPB2WVekXwM_gMDLcn5Is_BAvAsnADF3ZPi8T4bIjlk_3RJNCYFEm_igPDA1-hNaBz9HsCGHm3xidNQG0ssA2cEh_QWgQ2cnA8Hll9gkkcYD0IhDuYHdZ0cKCZOPjoGX7EA/w640-h480/film%20box.jpg" title="ilford xp2 super 400 black and white film" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was initially stumped for ideas. What theme could I use for this post? I'd never used this type of film so considered the shot before taking the picture. During the editing in the digital age I'd "test" to see if a picture might look better without colour. It was rare to think about it before pressing the shutter button. Maybe that wasn't the right process, but it's what I did.<div><br /></div><div>This genre normally produces gritty, arty images, or cityscapes decay and drama. I don't have this locally. I did have long shadows. I planned a walk around this idea. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdUaiDxYTvobsmqB9B4rllhL8CPkNNAYW97Q-TJd6iZ2JQYjMYqy1fDKBDc-wGjVT1QNZDZwZk8gSsRocVKTltbLMxtB73HL1FCjlCmr5j1N6zdVuPjn7QQTZxRsvzeb5o1GJ6x-KTu13dXsTFepVxO_ixMq25lfLQr_zUxlOSMpvLjsflzqJPCrrKzM/s1681/1-Photo04_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black and white goalpost" border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1681" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdUaiDxYTvobsmqB9B4rllhL8CPkNNAYW97Q-TJd6iZ2JQYjMYqy1fDKBDc-wGjVT1QNZDZwZk8gSsRocVKTltbLMxtB73HL1FCjlCmr5j1N6zdVuPjn7QQTZxRsvzeb5o1GJ6x-KTu13dXsTFepVxO_ixMq25lfLQr_zUxlOSMpvLjsflzqJPCrrKzM/w640-h430/1-Photo04_3.jpeg" title="black and white goalpost" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rUoxI4JcjSwgR7zMUBo7CNQudLhAW-GAd49a6uAptZmSYsPG5EbArTQ1EX0-d37bGgJrZI9QsGu2s8hxhwnXY6cl1gmoZGmm8UOyYl163htIKlB3Ldf1k5OmEt_ZSos8OTZ4JUtGUtuT2_DPWqxJ7gmfTkHSeO8ZPjlX4l31G7UtztEvYdHd-6118Eo/s1741/1-Photo07_6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black and white water fountain" border="0" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="1169" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rUoxI4JcjSwgR7zMUBo7CNQudLhAW-GAd49a6uAptZmSYsPG5EbArTQ1EX0-d37bGgJrZI9QsGu2s8hxhwnXY6cl1gmoZGmm8UOyYl163htIKlB3Ldf1k5OmEt_ZSos8OTZ4JUtGUtuT2_DPWqxJ7gmfTkHSeO8ZPjlX4l31G7UtztEvYdHd-6118Eo/w430-h640/1-Photo07_6.jpeg" title="black and white water fountain" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfZtO2XwXE4nnQqZA5LYG9c5KFNc3_sRH6XVM8gTWBVjVDjoUyh31xD078FW4bWoqm1dGxusT_7rCAUT2qSNy0DvZ8Gt03XBYbeM7glf9izaqjkwdFx9AE3bXb-IAq13p6yUTGU-fqHZdcrccnLUlG8lsamX20LIzOCvjucbXImsKEg8mojf1urrLYI8/s1586/1-Photo12_11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black and white bench" border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfZtO2XwXE4nnQqZA5LYG9c5KFNc3_sRH6XVM8gTWBVjVDjoUyh31xD078FW4bWoqm1dGxusT_7rCAUT2qSNy0DvZ8Gt03XBYbeM7glf9izaqjkwdFx9AE3bXb-IAq13p6yUTGU-fqHZdcrccnLUlG8lsamX20LIzOCvjucbXImsKEg8mojf1urrLYI8/w430-h640/1-Photo12_11.jpeg" title="black and white bench" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As I wandered around I realised I'd missed an opportunity; autumn. Not for the colours, but for a chance to create something a little different. You always see golds, reds and oranges during this season. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt3yHorLvRVuC1LLgQrc4EXRPeLdytKvbdLQUNv0-0wPztjvxAjPynecDI9tIzqOPvKHrDKrC-4R8dXgOwum_jwGkgf-EHg0p6NNyqauHoH3djl5Z34_hOcYyrFb2MDxoxW23lqtZftQcDhp5R488ATd4VqttoWPsMInk7pHWEf5OBiUN7eDWco2zf_8/s1753/1-Photo11_10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="autumn colours leaves" border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1753" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjt3yHorLvRVuC1LLgQrc4EXRPeLdytKvbdLQUNv0-0wPztjvxAjPynecDI9tIzqOPvKHrDKrC-4R8dXgOwum_jwGkgf-EHg0p6NNyqauHoH3djl5Z34_hOcYyrFb2MDxoxW23lqtZftQcDhp5R488ATd4VqttoWPsMInk7pHWEf5OBiUN7eDWco2zf_8/w640-h430/1-Photo11_10.jpeg" title="autumn colours leaves" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Could I have done it a little differently? I used what was still in evidence.</div><div> </div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div> </div><div>A few months have past since the above. Now into 2024 I went for a walk around Kenley airfield. </div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Established in 1917 aeroplanes were constructed from sections and flown to Europe for combat in the First World War. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kenley was a very important airfield in the Second World War, and during the Battle of Britain was responsible for the defence of a large airspace over southern England.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLBZaYdiRL1YQux4DqvobNGbcfrvGuVBDPUqEP1gDX4xkYHxI7AI1l2izEimyNwsnlD07u7Szu9PL1QKFDspZWPVazXIaT49cpsb_OcC6KnrPVufh9fITwZN-e_92ZhuZk1IU8A7NziypwEteqZEZVNfFLVoPLOLzTmb3ys3Or1zsxYyNpxlI7wy4tJg/s1895/1-Photo18_17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="RAF Kenley" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1895" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLBZaYdiRL1YQux4DqvobNGbcfrvGuVBDPUqEP1gDX4xkYHxI7AI1l2izEimyNwsnlD07u7Szu9PL1QKFDspZWPVazXIaT49cpsb_OcC6KnrPVufh9fITwZN-e_92ZhuZk1IU8A7NziypwEteqZEZVNfFLVoPLOLzTmb3ys3Or1zsxYyNpxlI7wy4tJg/w640-h430/1-Photo18_17.jpeg" title="RAF Kenley" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Most of what was there during the Second World War has gone or overgrown.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmYigk9OUKF_y1FCHr9UcBua8erLxDLYFM4SdGxJvtQ7dLmp76DCvwKAuTqpO9Qae6oPHUEcft1HbPWqLObX0FW9DogDAIg1uQIpRKNeeoJyBLcBXAjGPTLrf5S-23fpG46Pvw6drgNzeHIeKSqXd7xiJAQ86JXfdw6W-BvGECvYEoSqcJwjRUiUsqKg/s1734/1-Photo19_18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="RAF Kenley bomb shelter" border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1734" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmYigk9OUKF_y1FCHr9UcBua8erLxDLYFM4SdGxJvtQ7dLmp76DCvwKAuTqpO9Qae6oPHUEcft1HbPWqLObX0FW9DogDAIg1uQIpRKNeeoJyBLcBXAjGPTLrf5S-23fpG46Pvw6drgNzeHIeKSqXd7xiJAQ86JXfdw6W-BvGECvYEoSqcJwjRUiUsqKg/w640-h430/1-Photo19_18.jpeg" title="RAF Kenley bomb shelter" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw5Nl_YPw0VDLJSeCvtPpdTWyGsaaPutNSmy_a2SJB3kw5IrFuAEyje-1oUxAHS95J18nyglPzbnRKua28PJocNngbh2W0SzdsozpivHp7cFJcQSeTz0AKxTXNhWCMruopOoIELFzY3X6jDZq5Cmfgu5kc3yFaz0SGlhrXUlfH-nFN2jXCVEG4uaX2F8/s1895/1-Photo25_24.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="RAF Kenley blast pen" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1895" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw5Nl_YPw0VDLJSeCvtPpdTWyGsaaPutNSmy_a2SJB3kw5IrFuAEyje-1oUxAHS95J18nyglPzbnRKua28PJocNngbh2W0SzdsozpivHp7cFJcQSeTz0AKxTXNhWCMruopOoIELFzY3X6jDZq5Cmfgu5kc3yFaz0SGlhrXUlfH-nFN2jXCVEG4uaX2F8/w640-h430/1-Photo25_24.jpeg" title="RAF Kenley blast pen" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>There are information plaques and a memorial. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSP8VylBc9KrkhjHv17xl_HwnA82KolcxE5Bk0SggaWNJ3loKhaQULgS30bBRCn9FuN0EO4UArMwyQS21qV8j6zFYsOmzI8u9bCFogmQ7oV9TgoLieRu9fENxUdkeppPu2EcC8ZH0xJnMR_vIZ41hsMF5-35VAn-3VmhhwFD_kqHi62n66R1MKBb6zK0/s1228/1-Photo20_19.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="RAF Kenley information plaque" border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1228" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSP8VylBc9KrkhjHv17xl_HwnA82KolcxE5Bk0SggaWNJ3loKhaQULgS30bBRCn9FuN0EO4UArMwyQS21qV8j6zFYsOmzI8u9bCFogmQ7oV9TgoLieRu9fENxUdkeppPu2EcC8ZH0xJnMR_vIZ41hsMF5-35VAn-3VmhhwFD_kqHi62n66R1MKBb6zK0/w640-h430/1-Photo20_19.jpeg" title="RAF Kenley information plaque" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_aZJ9znhdZljpUkahqi0OQZ0zQG3l1VZPgPxZfB4zL0yJz98uhvJ9Q9aqBp5zNdCvRWCGVb6e0iAUpVLk8pyRib33GDkGGEX0tG3bo6atw2TAyVeQ3b3-e37RlULuUfEErSy8AAJ3sDSO6x2mjp3Dft_BvP6KOHDcC0Osl7ClEU8WCz2Fl6ab_uzj40/s1701/1-Photo22_21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="RAF Kenley memorial" border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1701" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_aZJ9znhdZljpUkahqi0OQZ0zQG3l1VZPgPxZfB4zL0yJz98uhvJ9Q9aqBp5zNdCvRWCGVb6e0iAUpVLk8pyRib33GDkGGEX0tG3bo6atw2TAyVeQ3b3-e37RlULuUfEErSy8AAJ3sDSO6x2mjp3Dft_BvP6KOHDcC0Osl7ClEU8WCz2Fl6ab_uzj40/w640-h430/1-Photo22_21.jpeg" title="RAF Kenley memorial" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I think black and white suited this walk.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-5029435772627660062024-02-25T16:52:00.002+00:002024-02-26T08:50:04.190+00:00Ch ch ch changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJsIsd0h_GD3VPn2eUS7eB1hbK-YPsE6IsKhHd34ANKidSjIgS6yKrtxXOIQ9dDW4hEG1VTwr6idLi2CAJgVI-H6_RkzNrxz_VnOB7n63eX_wq3k6DAhdInLMHcVuAvQOsQZDXBq_wXWJEPhD-PgjHpsV5_B-S5_TG3pTketsFSJ3_elIfRRxaIJfSYE/s4032/orange%20bar%20tape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="orange bar tap shimano ultegra" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJsIsd0h_GD3VPn2eUS7eB1hbK-YPsE6IsKhHd34ANKidSjIgS6yKrtxXOIQ9dDW4hEG1VTwr6idLi2CAJgVI-H6_RkzNrxz_VnOB7n63eX_wq3k6DAhdInLMHcVuAvQOsQZDXBq_wXWJEPhD-PgjHpsV5_B-S5_TG3pTketsFSJ3_elIfRRxaIJfSYE/w640-h480/orange%20bar%20tape.jpg" title="orange bar tap shimano ultegra" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>More bike news. In July I rode to the Isle of Wight, or at least most of the way. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2023/07/around-island.html">Link</a>.</p><p>Close to Portsmouth I was knocked off by an inconsiderate, impatient, stupid driver. In January I finally got a payout from her insurance. It wasn't the full amount I should have received, but that was because the police wouldn't prosecute for due care and attention. It seems unless there is video evidence they don't bother. I wonder if they use the same logic for other wrongdoing; I doubt it.</p><p>The levers were functional but damaged. I also replaced the cranks. The later were okay but I was sourcing the parts from ebay and had a little money left to pay for them. I also didn't replace all of the clothing to save a bit more.</p><p>Why did I replace the cranks? I wanted a shorter set; since I broke my hip it hurts occasionally on longer rides and when I use the dropped part of the handlebars for an extended period. Both symptoms suggest there is a slight restriction to the range of movement; this change should help. And they have a power meter built in. This isn't really necessary, but I thought; why not? It would be interesting to see how much power I produce and if I improve as the year progresses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahtqsak8Mkd5Kw79J6hmdxnj6SjioOPZVdYaDFxZZJzR8P2hddZamOtJOwwHCpGTx79HksSVt1wyOWYYz6HBQ8giL1FMD5lL-IuTZ7PUkTou1qtL4mEYMsBnFE3-PDngBEd0wKdIm1rI1XMJM5aSfO3ClbNzyXVjA5JhQ1XppVTeCltH1INuNN3XC_C0/s4032/powermeter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Magene PES P505 Base Power Meter Crankset" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahtqsak8Mkd5Kw79J6hmdxnj6SjioOPZVdYaDFxZZJzR8P2hddZamOtJOwwHCpGTx79HksSVt1wyOWYYz6HBQ8giL1FMD5lL-IuTZ7PUkTou1qtL4mEYMsBnFE3-PDngBEd0wKdIm1rI1XMJM5aSfO3ClbNzyXVjA5JhQ1XppVTeCltH1INuNN3XC_C0/w640-h480/powermeter.jpg" title="Magene PES P505 Base Power Meter Crankset" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The saddle had started to fray and I think it's a bit too narrow. The replacement is wider, shorter, supposedly 3D printed and carbon fibre in its construction. I say supposedly because it comes from China via Aliexpress so you never really know. I could be doing the supplier as disservice. Maybe the only way it could have been produced would be by this method. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDs49wZ9evi9xu8jlBgxZ5RPY0Eulrl-J-kLp0de9Y9EuPdMcs7DbpW-afMau8Yw72TmadSdlp5YpRETCq6gR5SaEkM9EacrPgG7Ymq5p9_64M8wV5DyxMgN_ik-r74L1ID1-MvFqF3aDSRWirNvA0Eu5Dplg0GU8Z_C1ZUrMXnaoFEjPSvWfXai8u_g/s4032/3d%20saddle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="carbon fibre saddle 3d printed" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDs49wZ9evi9xu8jlBgxZ5RPY0Eulrl-J-kLp0de9Y9EuPdMcs7DbpW-afMau8Yw72TmadSdlp5YpRETCq6gR5SaEkM9EacrPgG7Ymq5p9_64M8wV5DyxMgN_ik-r74L1ID1-MvFqF3aDSRWirNvA0Eu5Dplg0GU8Z_C1ZUrMXnaoFEjPSvWfXai8u_g/w640-h480/3d%20saddle.jpg" title="carbon fibre saddle 3d printed" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The mountain bike has had one for a while, and it does feel better than the previous perch. Including a replacement carbon seat post it also shaved off an extra 200 grams. The Kona is now well under 13kg, a massive improvement. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2023/07/triggers-broom.html">Link</a>.<br /></p><p>The bar tape needed to be replaced, I went from black as it had been to orange to complement my Kona.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-h_pD9OqDnGf71JL8Us7rbEFgScHpRXmF9oBuyPvK6z_efVPpZAp3Ek7wkW_giwjkJTdWMCKujA-k9UGVPU0vsqimiFL7OOicY00KFbztN3Nmv9XuGhB_BY-aqY5Ay8j4y9BKTg9_xOdolrMJTEqiSPkYaf9p4dL2ruI0sg4tKgRFG_l76udWCKlsl4/s4032/new%20grips.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kona orange forks handlebar grips" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-h_pD9OqDnGf71JL8Us7rbEFgScHpRXmF9oBuyPvK6z_efVPpZAp3Ek7wkW_giwjkJTdWMCKujA-k9UGVPU0vsqimiFL7OOicY00KFbztN3Nmv9XuGhB_BY-aqY5Ay8j4y9BKTg9_xOdolrMJTEqiSPkYaf9p4dL2ruI0sg4tKgRFG_l76udWCKlsl4/w640-h480/new%20grips.jpg" title="kona orange forks handlebar grips" width="640" /></a></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-70450431416084122042024-02-15T10:07:00.006+00:002024-02-20T11:27:36.157+00:00It ain't easy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATtFO8HjLisimA5Lm77rzhloXGIOgXnF971WSq-5nx9n_IZt3-53UT0b8ip2gwFkxPWtkeGVjeNsTA39a6j-fWWPcjODJgaeTAreZxLSkIxw-VFMBx2mbjnc_NrMtXenr5Tbq7Av840Ln3-VNvDUfL3FgPBTRrh_3MT6buSz3GFnXnwzZbOrXHPPhZtM/s7500/1906.i003.014.fitness%20sport%20health%20text.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="fitness it ain't easy" border="0" data-original-height="3184" data-original-width="7500" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATtFO8HjLisimA5Lm77rzhloXGIOgXnF971WSq-5nx9n_IZt3-53UT0b8ip2gwFkxPWtkeGVjeNsTA39a6j-fWWPcjODJgaeTAreZxLSkIxw-VFMBx2mbjnc_NrMtXenr5Tbq7Av840Ln3-VNvDUfL3FgPBTRrh_3MT6buSz3GFnXnwzZbOrXHPPhZtM/w640-h272/1906.i003.014.fitness%20sport%20health%20text.jpg" title="fitness it ain't easy" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As we get older keeping fit gets harder. I think it's tougher than getting fit in the first place.</p><p>When you start to exercise you have a great goal; improve from where you are. And you're younger.</p><p>There are many reasons for becoming less fit.</p><div _ngcontent-ng-c808825196="" class="resize-observable"></div><p data-sourcepos="1:1-1:228"><span>I</span><span>t's a natural process. </span><br /></p><span>
</span><p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:28"><b>Muscle loss and changes:</b></p><span>
</span><ul data-sourcepos="5:1-7:0"><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="5:1-5:245"><b>Sarcopenia:</b><span> This refers to the age-related decrease in muscle mass and strength.</span><span> It starts around 30 and accelerates after 50,</span><span> mainly due to a decline in protein synthesis and hormonal changes like reduced testosterone and growth hormone.</span></li><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="6:1-7:0"><b>Fiber type shift:</b><span> Older adults lose more fast-twitch muscle fibers,</span><span> responsible for power and speed,</span><span> than slow-twitch fibers used for endurance.</span><span> This contributes to decreased strength and performance in activities like sprinting and jumping.</span></li><span>
</span></ul><span>
</span><p data-sourcepos="8:1-8:26"><b>Physiological changes:</b></p><span>
</span><ul data-sourcepos="10:1-12:110"><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:160"><b>Metabolic shift:</b><span> With age,</span><span> our bodies become less efficient at using energy and tend to store more fat,</span><span> leading to weight gain and reduced fitness levels.</span></li><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="11:1-11:179"><b>Cardiovascular changes:</b><span> The heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood,</span><span> and arteries lose elasticity,</span><span> affecting oxygen delivery to muscles and reducing exercise capacity.</span></li><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="12:1-12:110"><b>Joint stiffness and pain:</b><span> Arthritis and other joint issues can limit mobility and make physical activity uncomfortable,</span><span> leading to reduced participation.</span><span> </span><br /></li></ul><div><ul data-sourcepos="10:1-12:110"><span>
</span></ul><span>
</span><p data-sourcepos="14:1-14:22"><b>Lifestyle factors:</b></p><span>
</span><ul data-sourcepos="16:1-18:0"><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:224"><b>Decreased physical activity:</b><span> As we age,</span><span> we tend to become less active due to various reasons like changing priorities,</span><span> health issues,</span><span> or limitations.</span><span> This inactivity further accelerates muscle loss and fitness decline.</span></li><span>
</span><li data-sourcepos="17:1-18:0"><b>Poor diet:</b><span> A diet lacking in protein,</span><span> essential nutrients,</span><span> and antioxidants can hinder muscle repair and recovery,</span><span> contributing to weakness and fatigue.</span></li></ul><span>I took part in a study a few years ago. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2022/01/lab-rat.html">Link</a>. It was to investigate how muscles change and the affect of exercise on the speed of decline.</span></div><div><span> </span></div><div><span>Now that I am fairly fit for my age motivation plays a big part in maintaining it. At the back of my mind is the fear of undoing what has taken many years to accomplish. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I also have to enjoy being active. </span></div><div><span> </span></div><div><span>I have the balance right at the moment. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Boredom is the reason I have started a new regime. The bad weather meant that I was spending more time on the trainer in the garage. I used to ride for an hour, now twenty minutes is as much as I can bear. Running gave me a goal: to complete a marathon before I'm sixty. I'll be 58 this year so I have some time, a half marathon in May will be the first big test. I now ride before work and run after it. At first I felt very stiff as I pounded the pavement. Whilst I don't yet feel 100% comfortable it is getting better. </span></div><div><span> </span></div><div><span>Running was my chosen sport at school, but that was primarily because I wasn't good at football, cricket etc. Cross country was the best; I ran out of the school grounds, then walked chatting with mates. Remembering to sprint a bit near the end to ensure we were out of breath at the finish.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I have a daily routine, but it would be very easy to start skipping parts of it. Gradually I'd fill my days with other activities, or worse just sit and do nothing. This is when having others involved makes a huge difference. I have always had Matt to meet at various locations on the weekend. I know neither of us would have cycled regularly without the camaraderie this brought. But, as it did for so many people, covid changed that. For months we rode alone. When we were allowed to mix and stop at cafes etc we had altered our tradition. I had joined a cycling club. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2022/10/why-i-joined-oxted-cc.html">Here's a link to why I joined Oxted Cycling Club</a>. Saturdays are for club rides, and Sundays are for chats with Matt at Sheree's cafe in Tatsfield.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>So how do I keep motivated to run? Apart from the fact it means I'm out of the garage I now have a goal. And a running buddy. My local bike shop owner runs a few days a week. On a Wednesday he starts from the workshop. He is quicker than me so the rest of the week is training to improve my speed. Also a mate signed up to a half marathon, noticed I had started running and mentioned it to me. So I signed up to do it.<br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Hopefully this will mean I stay fit and active for many years. </span></div><div><span> </span></div><div><span>Please keep checking my blogs for the adventures good health allows.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Logo provided by <a href="<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/fitness-concept-illustration_16027486.htm#query=health%20fitness&position=1&from_view=keyword&track=ais&uuid=d43571ab-48e3-4001-b591-70dc26488c34">Image by macrovector</a> on Freepik" target="_blank">link</a>.<br /></span></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-70520358482642072572023-12-31T14:56:00.002+00:002023-12-31T14:56:30.396+00:00NegativityLife is tough. It can be hard to cope. It can feel like you have no control or influence.<div><br /></div><div>Part of how I made a change was to remove negativity.</div><div><br /></div><div>Social media was a big factor. It's too easy to follow a downward spiral of reading and engaging in other people's problems. I don't mean ignore their pleas for help or support though. I don't get involved in the arguments they have, the promotion of only the dark side of every situation. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't participate in group discussions about others. If their actions or inactions cause stress then time I spend talking is unproductive. It perpetuates that negativity, so I don't invest my energy.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not easy to change, it took many years.</div><div><br /></div><div>This blog helped me to see it, and slowly alter my internal monologue.</div><div><br /></div><div>My process for a post is to start with a title and then random sentences. I'll often leave it and return a number of times over a week or sometimes longer. Slowly it will make sense and have a structure. I try not to make it into a list of actions or instructions. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I read, alter and re-read it I remove negativity. The first time I wrote about my depression was <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2020/01/depression-how-i-cope.html">here</a>. It was a watershed moment. It allowed me to really think about the direction I was going. To reflect on what I allowed my inner voice to say. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've written many since then. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/search/label/depression">Link</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gradually I noticed a change in what I wrote and thought. I had slowly reprogrammed myself. I still have dark moments, days or weeks. But I don't feed them by seeking out anything that might reinforce those feelings.</div><div><br /></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-89717916066434662472023-12-28T02:29:00.003+00:002023-12-28T02:29:40.131+00:00My bread journey continues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KPG-nNS_p_PErJ73TJ14kcscfuFcEkiGdBlZyHOUQKhQ-hK4VTOkcfbr4oEvt_aPSXPG2UCjrsVfFlwu7EKFnxfpq6bnz_YQuSMVLBxD-KBT2UVTo51sjvqJikBvtO0ZzbecI3hjYcwJZLnfvrWwbOa2_1F1ycKTAPPqF3NSY7ie9EnlNwDB0nUHrb0/s4032/warm%20bread.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="spelt flour pumpkin sunflower seeds" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KPG-nNS_p_PErJ73TJ14kcscfuFcEkiGdBlZyHOUQKhQ-hK4VTOkcfbr4oEvt_aPSXPG2UCjrsVfFlwu7EKFnxfpq6bnz_YQuSMVLBxD-KBT2UVTo51sjvqJikBvtO0ZzbecI3hjYcwJZLnfvrWwbOa2_1F1ycKTAPPqF3NSY7ie9EnlNwDB0nUHrb0/w640-h480/warm%20bread.jpg" title="spelt flour pumpkin sunflower seeds" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>A while ago I baked some bread. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2023/11/bread.html">Link</a>. It didn't go exactly to plan, it tasted ok though. I've had a few more goes since then.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first was following a recipe on the flour packet. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfprLZZtzcCQAhyPVYQsS3RsjuSoVpBjHoSKfYylGm39sjK0iKVE9_QuLtt2ISH3DaNp3gloKXPBfEtRPdP7ckPL-mnKZveucz4fal6jdTd0PBa7VkxiFiUG8Hu-uNSOOVm-H4zynbMWc_ysR5nRQzG2xGqeMFDiWMb5PDrdwUhXtqHNk0oSWC6YBOko/s3808/sliced%20bread%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sliced spelt flour loaf" border="0" data-original-height="2904" data-original-width="3808" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfprLZZtzcCQAhyPVYQsS3RsjuSoVpBjHoSKfYylGm39sjK0iKVE9_QuLtt2ISH3DaNp3gloKXPBfEtRPdP7ckPL-mnKZveucz4fal6jdTd0PBa7VkxiFiUG8Hu-uNSOOVm-H4zynbMWc_ysR5nRQzG2xGqeMFDiWMb5PDrdwUhXtqHNk0oSWC6YBOko/w640-h488/sliced%20bread%201.jpg" title="sliced spelt flour loaf" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The house smelt more bready than it had before. This time the dough rose and it was less dense. And it tasted great. </div><div><br /></div><div>A work colleague told me he baked a yeast free loaf. So this second version used self raising flour and appletiser. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEBUqH1qWPUvCpNAVuAe874Fbtv0Lqj8uSOn7ccKhjqlvqj0i7648R0-Ieo2XTY6ZXq81LbK7yRzN81N6S1_dc9RgOXI4ztAD0JGqXrc600XUxDjK7rNUzISr-Nkhmq37DPSYqVvaEYifyue1cskb3bca-B56HaZ21bZkFv_8YfF8htCHDz2TauBJVr0/s3813/appletiser%20bread.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="appletiser bread" border="0" data-original-height="2857" data-original-width="3813" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEBUqH1qWPUvCpNAVuAe874Fbtv0Lqj8uSOn7ccKhjqlvqj0i7648R0-Ieo2XTY6ZXq81LbK7yRzN81N6S1_dc9RgOXI4ztAD0JGqXrc600XUxDjK7rNUzISr-Nkhmq37DPSYqVvaEYifyue1cskb3bca-B56HaZ21bZkFv_8YfF8htCHDz2TauBJVr0/w640-h480/appletiser%20bread.jpg" title="appletiser bread" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I expressed surprise at the inclusion of this sparkling apple drink. But went ahead the next weekend when the spelt loaf was finished.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxt-zoadulqqlSvBxdGXDGZJot9KPQoKtDpdFstqbsdZ7lsTx8amREH3Ku8vCbhf0h3EsQaobwGOiySxaUcMBMMLhF7SELwJzKEaXsJdP0ZQexLen27euqo_GF1EbjPaxgu6R6eN2D64nbjXJ-E5WZHa-THJQyBXM8vSHAXYvanmLev4kNgWOpSbKLrQ/s4032/appletiser%20bread%20sliced.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sliced appletiser bread" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxt-zoadulqqlSvBxdGXDGZJot9KPQoKtDpdFstqbsdZ7lsTx8amREH3Ku8vCbhf0h3EsQaobwGOiySxaUcMBMMLhF7SELwJzKEaXsJdP0ZQexLen27euqo_GF1EbjPaxgu6R6eN2D64nbjXJ-E5WZHa-THJQyBXM8vSHAXYvanmLev4kNgWOpSbKLrQ/w640-h480/appletiser%20bread%20sliced.jpg" title="sliced appletiser bread" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A little burnt on top. Very crunchy, and tasty. And lighter, even if it doesn't look like it. </div><div><br /></div><div>This did mean I had two packets of flour. I decided to do what some commercial bakers do; create a 50/50 loaf, using all the items I now had in my cupboard. They combine wholemeal and white flour, my bread was a little more "radical".</div><div> </div><div>The first sign that this new "Frankenstein" loaf might be different was after the second proving stage. I had kneaded it, left it to rise. Then kneaded again and left it to rise in the bread tin. The dough was overflowing. I gathered the extra flow and scooped it back into the mix. Placing it in the oven I was not sure how this was going to turn out. Would it burst out all over? What shape would it grow into? </div><div> </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPM7n1m4uN_id58beyNYGCzTyQBaPK9b4X8c5q94y1f3PXDrdO-b8-DdLMoIbRcy7gx8tUKBqMfepOwxLemTfHecnotuPooLO3rvnNZN-cYQ7VUJwr3iMdOFhUi_yIsbzjoNDld0rGIatkH1ObJ-5_0u-DW_jKj1fAEmrvrTC0sfz89jUlSb6jo2Hj7dU/s4032/bread%20journey.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="spelt and self raising flour loaf" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPM7n1m4uN_id58beyNYGCzTyQBaPK9b4X8c5q94y1f3PXDrdO-b8-DdLMoIbRcy7gx8tUKBqMfepOwxLemTfHecnotuPooLO3rvnNZN-cYQ7VUJwr3iMdOFhUi_yIsbzjoNDld0rGIatkH1ObJ-5_0u-DW_jKj1fAEmrvrTC0sfz89jUlSb6jo2Hj7dU/w640-h480/bread%20journey.jpg" title="spelt and self raising flour loaf" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spelt and self raising flour loaf cooling<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </div><div>The house had the best "bready" smell so far as it baked. So an initial win.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktbTuPOe13tkUS_7oaXMikvQc6KwQi2rlgL2rl-DcV_JNYhSKxgVKkYtw7lHvWyoYXSIUy74f-FAm9EBhTrY1lPRQRG92SncxvhCpzckuheOzZr79mRXvBXPkYeRjL1SRWhQbfOtmdFF15vd8z4H99-aWFGnuYWD86GrfdmlWVcY0GJKuN9A51HHN-JE/s4032/IMG_1333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="spelt and self raising flour loaf sliced" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktbTuPOe13tkUS_7oaXMikvQc6KwQi2rlgL2rl-DcV_JNYhSKxgVKkYtw7lHvWyoYXSIUy74f-FAm9EBhTrY1lPRQRG92SncxvhCpzckuheOzZr79mRXvBXPkYeRjL1SRWhQbfOtmdFF15vd8z4H99-aWFGnuYWD86GrfdmlWVcY0GJKuN9A51HHN-JE/w640-h480/IMG_1333.jpg" title="spelt and self raising flour loaf sliced" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spelt and self raising flour loaf sliced</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I am really impressed with how it tastes, it's the lightest so far and still has a nice crunchy crust.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to get a bigger bread tin so that I can produce a loaf closer to shop bought size.</div><div> </div><div> <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-19098033857396160812023-12-20T07:01:00.002+00:002023-12-20T07:59:12.979+00:00Loss and grief<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This a deeply personal post. It's taken a long time to write. Although I have talked about it face to face and have started to come to terms with my loss. I needed to also write about my thoughts and feelings. It is what this blog has evolved into afterall. And as I have hoped in the past; it may help others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wrote this using the terms us and we. I can't in reality know what Marcia was thinking. We did talk a little, but she wanted to keep her thoughts to herself, and I respected that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She had Multiple Sclerosis for nearly the whole time I knew her. It's affects took many years to manifest themselves. That was the first loss and grief we experienced. We had lost part of what Marcia had been. She didn't let it affect her everyday life. Despite the limitations that had been imposed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the years the progression took more, adaption and to an extent an acceptance allowed us to get by. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then the diagnosis of cancer landed on us. Again a certain amount of acceptance and resignation overtook us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a rollercoaster of emotions. At first the outlook was better than expected. But there were consequences. Marcia couldn't support herself to sit up, and her hands and arms were almost completely immobilised. Assistance with eating and drinking was required. I ensured I visited for at least one meal time each day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Various infections would come and go, causing temporary escalations in symptoms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the beginning of December a move to a care home for rehabilitation seemed to be a positive step forward. But after a week Marcia started to feel very unwell. A trip to A&E followed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then the news confirming what we had both worried about. The cancer had returned, spread extensively and was now untreatable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After this it was back to dealing with the everyday stuff. Making sure she was comfortable and being as normal as possible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found myself looking forward to the new year. As is normal during December. That's when it really hit; I'd not have Marcia with me. We were married for 26 years, and had been a couple for a few more previously.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's okay to have shed some tears while reading this, I did while writing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please take away from this some thoughts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't let anger or resentment of others control you. Or take up your time; it's too precious and fleeting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laugh more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Talk more. Incredible people in our lives meant so much to us. And still do to me. I could not have coped without them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't always take life too seriously.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't waste time and energy competing with and comparing yourself to others over houses, cars, holidays and money.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cherish the people in your lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I feel very raw and in pain at the moment. But I know this will pass. Eventually I will be able to focus on the joy having Marcia in my life brought me. And the memories we created between us and with others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will always love Marcia; not having her physically with me won't change that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you to everyone who improved our lives by being part of it.</div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-82456599626131648972023-12-17T05:18:00.003+00:002023-12-17T05:49:49.466+00:00Let's talk cycling apparel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-um1s3wesNsAcBKkMjR_CBQDjxrlgvq2lvj8Ma_fwjuhXRJoH7EcCeEAI1mZ-cqWCTKCUNh5KDKZySQUrpU9PRhleLlyuPWN6I97wBXDGU8U0noYGFskvSGBTN7bHATxgqEiPZ0yALOff5bSEY-PaAVeWbnCITD0VHQY6gFQrM9FoXcCUemqMv2sEZY/s900/kisspng-cloakroom-cartoon-icon-an-open-closet-5a713a48dba364.9728759215173699288996.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Let's talk cycling apparel" border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="900" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-um1s3wesNsAcBKkMjR_CBQDjxrlgvq2lvj8Ma_fwjuhXRJoH7EcCeEAI1mZ-cqWCTKCUNh5KDKZySQUrpU9PRhleLlyuPWN6I97wBXDGU8U0noYGFskvSGBTN7bHATxgqEiPZ0yALOff5bSEY-PaAVeWbnCITD0VHQY6gFQrM9FoXcCUemqMv2sEZY/w640-h370/kisspng-cloakroom-cartoon-icon-an-open-closet-5a713a48dba364.9728759215173699288996.jpg" title="Let's talk cycling apparel" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>It's winter so here is another post about what I wear on the bike. The first time was Sept 2020. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-tail-of-two-jerseys.html">Link</a>. I had just started my journey into cycling specific clothing. And I was pretty unimpressed, especially with the items bought to keep me warm and dry. Priory to this I wore shorts and a t-shirt, or jogging bottoms and a normal jacket when the sun wasn't out. I got sweaty in the heat; cold and wet for the other 50 weeks of the year. And at times I must have looked very scruffy. It's debatable I look better in my current wardrobe, but at least it's functionable.<div><br /><div>In the intervening three years I've bought more clothing. My opinion hasn't changed much. One example was a very expensive rain jacket bought during an end of production sale. It doesn't keep me protected from the rain and I get soaked in sweat. Both promises made by the manufacturer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've added to my glove collection too. An expensive pair let in water and allowed windchill. A pair from <a href="https://stolengoat.com/product/stolen-goat-unisex-climb-and-conquer-4-seasons-full-length-cycling-gloves/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAvdCrBhBREiwAX6-6Uo39hbx1b-JmdwbHOomaSZyfHR1HT6im7jthviFhTaCcT4xSAr3__RoCOm4QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Stolen Goat</a> showed great promise. But their longevity was short. They now leak and my hands freeze.</div><div><br /></div><div>The latest acquisition is from <a href="https://www.galibier.cc/product/barrier-deep-winter-cycling-gloves/" target="_blank">Galibier</a>. They are a little more bulky when compared to the Stolen Goats, but not overly so. The digits, especially the thumb could be longer. I guess I could have gone up a size, but then the hand part would have been too big. I have mostly mitigated this by adjusting the levers to reduce their reach. Importantly they work. I'll have to wait to test their durability. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also bought a <a href="https://www.galibier.cc/product/tourmalet-3-waterproof-cycling-jacket/" target="_blank">jacket</a> from them. And would you believe it; I didn't get soaked in sweat. I wasn't completely moist free, it doesn't employ magic in the manufacturing process. But it's noticeably better than anything I've owned before. Admittedly my longest ride so far is just over 20 miles. I bought a size small, and the fit is just right. Not so tight I can't wear layers underneath, not so loose it flaps about in the wind. It's also bright blue. Most others are only available in black.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I've started running to bring some variety. But I don't have any specific clothing. So I wore a long sleeved base layer, a short sleeved cycling jersey and the jacket. It drizzled for most of the route and I was a little overdressed. It didn't let in any rain, and allowed most of the sweat to escape. </div><div><br /></div><div>The little side pocket is a genius idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>In summary: I haven't worn them in very heavy rain, but they do keep me just the right amount of warm.</div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-63117398877920164582023-12-06T10:10:00.001+00:002023-12-06T10:10:21.577+00:00Zzzzzz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qnLb7TbdFR0mokMSJHEKCHqObs5XTpLa4uZ6S15DzFIMTL42_HtSwtRREUoJb7rxoYoGo79jIyIzrUpd7eiBTjOU5I2SK9Kwni5_RHekx7IMneOuL2adDsvCRlStjIDY8jYN6aaomKkdCsjY8F6ZK7UMzXP5FePSZ_RwJ1B0SEm1HEGlSNxStyaMEw8/s1800/sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Zzzz sleeping" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qnLb7TbdFR0mokMSJHEKCHqObs5XTpLa4uZ6S15DzFIMTL42_HtSwtRREUoJb7rxoYoGo79jIyIzrUpd7eiBTjOU5I2SK9Kwni5_RHekx7IMneOuL2adDsvCRlStjIDY8jYN6aaomKkdCsjY8F6ZK7UMzXP5FePSZ_RwJ1B0SEm1HEGlSNxStyaMEw8/w640-h480/sleeping.jpg" title="Zzzz sleeping" width="640" /></a></div>Sleep is very important. It's when the body recovers and rebuilds. Lack of it causes many longterm problem both physically and mentally. <p></p><p>I often read that as we age sleep duration shortens. I don't think it's because we need less, although I'm no expert. It seems that lower levels of the hormone <span>melatonin</span> and a less precise <span>hypothalamus can make it difficult. The amount of deep sleep is also reduced; this is the period when the magic happens.</span></p><p><span>I don't drink caffeine in the afternoon, and try to keep to a sleep schedule. I still wake most mornings a little fatigued. I also follow a pattern. Many nights I'll awake after five or six hours, around 4 am, and not be able to return to slumber. I'll get up and have breakfast, watch the television or youtube, often I'll start writing a blog post. And start my day. It's not ideal because it means there is a long time until lunch. Then after a few nights like this I'll sleep solidly for eight or nine hours, and feel a little more refreshed. Then start the cycle again. The only problem is when a short night coincides with a busy day, I'll often increase caffeine consumption to three cups, still trying not to drink any in the pm. This works most of the time.</span></p><p><span>This morning was a little unusual, I got up at 4 am and had my normal oats and fruit, with a coffee. This prompted the idea for the post, after watching youtube </span><span>for about forty five minutes</span><span> I went back to bed. The alarm went off a six, I silenced it and unusually for me went back to sleep. Waking at 7 am I had just enough time for a session on the bike trainer, some cardio and to get ready for work. Drinking another coffee as I sat writing this.</span></p><p><span>I wrote about calories and mood, maybe when they are consummed has an affect. Is hunger waking me? I eat my last meal </span><span> at around 4 pm </span><span>before visiting Marcia in hospital. So I think this is a contributing factor. The alternative is to eat quite late, which can have a detrimental affect on being ready for siesta time. <br /></span></p><p><span>Unfortunately starting my day so early does mean it's a long wait for my next meal. I get very hungry as the morning passes. When Marcia comes home I'll have a better daily routine, and hopefully see an improvement.<br /></span></p><p><span><br /></span></p>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-80463646020225874382023-11-26T14:46:00.003+00:002023-12-01T09:34:45.811+00:00FatiguedWhat's the usual assumption when you hear fatigued? I bet it's physical exhaustion. I do feel this. But it's most likely, for me, to mean mental depletion. <div><br /></div><div>I know what causes it: monotony; every day seems the same, isolation; my life lacks face-to-face interaction, cold weather; the motivation to get out waines. </div><div><br /></div><div>All of this contributes to me doing less exercise. Which if I'm not careful causes a spiral that is progressively harder to break out of.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lately I have been hit hard, and have modified my routine to cope.</div><div><br /></div><div>I used to ride ten miles on the trainer after breakfast during the week. Using the social rides at the weekend to lift me. Gradually energy levels dropped, so I reduced the garage sessions to seven and sometimes five miles. I became concerned and added a lunchtime walk. But the temperature plummeted recently the weekend socials have been paused. A double whammy of demotivation. I can't do much to improve the chats without hastening the onset of spring. So I've added variety. Yesterday I went for a run. The last time I did this, it hurt. My non-cycling muscles and tendons objected in a big way. This time I had different new running shoes, which I think helped a lot. I returned without pain. Today my muscles were just a little tight, which is a good sign. It means they are adapting to new stimulus. </div><div><br /></div><div>And more importantly it's given me a lift.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be running once a week to start. With a goal of doing a marathon to celebrate my 60th in a couple of years time. There; I've said it. Can't back out now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just writing this all down has also made me feel better. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've said it before, I hope my words help others. This blog helps me immensely too. It's a place to get my thoughts together, just like exercise does. Maybe also to hold myself to account. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know exactly what it does. I know that I want it to be a positive place. It should be an inspiration not a road map. You don't have to follow what I do. I may change my mind about some of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>If nothing else it should illustrate a scenario or process that made a difference to me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-59018282631906876762023-11-19T05:54:00.002+00:002023-11-23T14:38:04.566+00:00Calories and mood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAEnvAynoJTNJupTYIhCRHtJY-Buuv9N1__JwfL5M9FNUtLEewQ2pH1kvXl21fNOnAm5tERv5oqBsJ2R7zbE2ulBL8tc8sdZAFZJmvizNla1EdGooCxwGak1t-64pyrD2S0zLpwp-KEthsjPGwnPtJ0ZiXDXi52Hb7U6ya6gnYHBgkKJRwttsOQYhzh0/s820/scales%20mood%20depression.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="low mood depression low calories" border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="820" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAEnvAynoJTNJupTYIhCRHtJY-Buuv9N1__JwfL5M9FNUtLEewQ2pH1kvXl21fNOnAm5tERv5oqBsJ2R7zbE2ulBL8tc8sdZAFZJmvizNla1EdGooCxwGak1t-64pyrD2S0zLpwp-KEthsjPGwnPtJ0ZiXDXi52Hb7U6ya6gnYHBgkKJRwttsOQYhzh0/w640-h440/scales%20mood%20depression.jpg" title="low mood depression low calories" width="640" /></a></div>I've recently had trouble maintaining my weight. You might think that would be great; not for me. I was already where I wanted to be. Looking for a reason for my low mood and motivation I considered the tough last few months and worsening weather.<div><br /></div><div>I now realise it has more to do with calories than I appreciated. </div><div><br /></div><div>This will perhaps not come as a surprise to my family and friends. They have said for a long time that I was perhaps losing too much weight. I countered that I am the ideal BMI, and healthy. Society nowadays has accepted heavier than is healthy as normal. Having said that I don't want to cause myself any problems, or health issues.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the last couple of days I have increased my food intake, and it's made a difference. I do feel a little more positive; despite my situation not changing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've had variable endurance, especially on faster club rides. Reviewing my meal logs I can see that weeks where I was consistently not meeting my needs resulted in disappointing performance. </div><div><br /></div><div>Science, as I understand it, says lower intensity longer lasting exercise uses fat reserves and intervals of high load, carbohydrates. Well I don't carry much fat and so I must be using carbs to fuel most of my efforts. I'm also in danger of losing muscle mass; in addition to the amount lost due to advancing age.</div><div><br /></div><div>I seem to sleep better when I eat more. It would be easy to just eat calorie dense foods, but that tends to be more processed than I like, and/or none vegan. I kid you not, some meals barely fit on my plate.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always it's a work in progress, that I am now getting right more often. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-49645647252492608452023-11-15T08:44:00.000+00:002023-11-15T08:44:45.203+00:00Searching for Success<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbj1Da7FC5Z-7YcyxihTZIC0_LKOeIQSwbJBogvVHfvPV2F0UfVs-iDxDivfj9wd7SjO0O4X-S_B_6j8HNj5XGRJiQ0O7ZsIPsH0JVEb9QDETLAGoIKWjGr-s2mEuTCuVOKFuyZiz9b-0xpEvDl5e1J46lr5ApPmajGaZtl3hMuuUcxl5WHdsF8kHSCk/s626/stickers-winners-podium.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="podium" border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="626" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbj1Da7FC5Z-7YcyxihTZIC0_LKOeIQSwbJBogvVHfvPV2F0UfVs-iDxDivfj9wd7SjO0O4X-S_B_6j8HNj5XGRJiQ0O7ZsIPsH0JVEb9QDETLAGoIKWjGr-s2mEuTCuVOKFuyZiz9b-0xpEvDl5e1J46lr5ApPmajGaZtl3hMuuUcxl5WHdsF8kHSCk/w400-h400/stickers-winners-podium.jpg.jpg" title="podium" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="aj35ze" style="transform: rotateZ(-180deg);"></div><div class="L3Ezfd" data-ved="2ahUKEwj3kZmbh8OCAxVcXUEAHWo5ApEQuk56BAhbEAI" style="visibility: hidden;"></div><span class="ILfuVd NA6bn UiGGAb" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc" style="font-family: inherit;">Being successful means the achievement of desired visions and planned goals. </span></span><p>For too many I think it's more about the trappings. They have a big house, an expensive car, lots of holidays. They are trapped into trying to maintain or improve these aspects. And comparing to others.<br /></p><p>This is not for me.</p><p>How do I measure my achievements?</p><p>Looking at the above; I have a house, a car that fits my needs, holidays with my wife and on the bike. None of which I spend any time comparing to anyone.</p><p>I must have reached my goals; right?</p><p>I don't feel that I have. What am I missing?</p><p>I have other markers on my journey. Keep kit and healthy, look after my wife as best I can, be available to help family and friends, do well at work. I think and hope I'm on course for these.</p><p>So why is there a hole? Why do I feel unfulfilled? How many others feel this way?</p><p>I don't usually end a post with questions. But I don't have any answers.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-20147749968285449022023-11-12T07:21:00.003+00:002023-11-13T08:39:23.220+00:00S.A.D<div><span style="background-color: #f0f4f5; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32; font-size: 19px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4hJNSlKaLdXz6tQeu-gYN5FiV_JC6PBlEgbnKsrbi3IZWaD2jx7LtkY2gRKy4CQUIVzm7GCQ0yDiDxQmllkCkFwXIUYgBQ2UQj6lgLFxijVzUANYfiOSmIt93vXjudI9ckeKKNiCNy1qEqkLy6PdQH9thAl624rF1AOXWQwe-4QNz1obU8-YH1nrQZE/s4032/cutty%20sark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cutty sark" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4hJNSlKaLdXz6tQeu-gYN5FiV_JC6PBlEgbnKsrbi3IZWaD2jx7LtkY2gRKy4CQUIVzm7GCQ0yDiDxQmllkCkFwXIUYgBQ2UQj6lgLFxijVzUANYfiOSmIt93vXjudI9ckeKKNiCNy1qEqkLy6PdQH9thAl624rF1AOXWQwe-4QNz1obU8-YH1nrQZE/w640-h480/cutty%20sark.jpg" title="cutty sark" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seasonal affective disorder. I suspect most experience it some degree at this time of year. It's cold and the view out of the window is dominated by wind and rain. With every passing day I fell lower. The session in the garage on the trainer keeps me active but it doesn't satisfy. Knowing the potential for the weekend weather to be bad makes it worse. But of course I'm getting very little natural light, a trigger for S.A.D. It means that Friday afternoon rides are harder to motivate for, even though they are vital for my mood. With this in mind I arranged to meet a good mate. He comes from north of the river so it seemed Greenwich with it's pedestrian tunnel under the Thames would be ideal location. As the day drew closer, and especially when I awoke to heavy rain I was close to cancelling. I knew I'd get a big boost, so I didn't. And as we sat outside a cafe on a quiet corner of the covered Greenwich Market it was the right decision, even though it rained for the first twenty minutes of my route.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The ride home was dry and warmer, I even made it before the rush hour became too intense.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have doubts that without a coffee arranged I would have gotten out, and I'd have felt more depressed about that.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a similar experience on Saturday, it was cold by the club had a ride organised to a very nice cafe.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And Sunday was a ride to meet another good friend.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212b32;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A positive weekend to end another tough week.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-91427333934163918892023-11-05T14:55:00.004+00:002023-11-17T08:57:58.493+00:00Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrV51zyesNQ5fS3827Kfd5TVOCTYo8nvvQhzo-MY5kvbg-9nleVovEc8BFAmRRvXWUqYZ2Ixs2JLEDRI83Gntb6HK_top1T3ILBaKEdr7v74-e7mIN4X_krzw4GpOsLnLbK2cizYtPxrvrdNYm7vy2H9M8J97Gu3FIoAb-Ovrx6uEWZdHMLk09ip4OMw/s4032/sliced%20bread.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="seedy spelt bread" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrV51zyesNQ5fS3827Kfd5TVOCTYo8nvvQhzo-MY5kvbg-9nleVovEc8BFAmRRvXWUqYZ2Ixs2JLEDRI83Gntb6HK_top1T3ILBaKEdr7v74-e7mIN4X_krzw4GpOsLnLbK2cizYtPxrvrdNYm7vy2H9M8J97Gu3FIoAb-Ovrx6uEWZdHMLk09ip4OMw/w640-h480/sliced%20bread.jpg" title="seedy spelt bread" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>You might be expecting cycling or photography content. Occasionally I'll write about depression. Very rarely you'll read about my cooking expertise.<div><br /></div><div>I made bread.</div><div><br /></div><div>It started badly. I wanted to produce a loaf quickly so chose a baking soda recipe. As I followed the instructions I hit a problem. For some reason I had changed my mind as I shopped for ingredients earlier in the week, and forgot that I bought yeast. I didn't have time to become a baker until this weekend. It was then that I discovered this deviation from the original path to bread.</div><div><br /></div><div>A consequence was that it would take longer. Baking soda bread doesn't need time to rise before baking; damn.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hadn't bought bread flour, nope I'd decided on spelt wholemeal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another sign of derring-do: I'd wanted a seedy loaf. So in went an amount of pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Does this make me an artisan?</div><div><br /></div><div>So with "he who dares Rodney" from a little voice in my head, (Only Fools and Horses), I pressed on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Would it rise, how would it turn out? I'd have to wait a day to find out. The new instructions said to refrigerate the dough overnight after allowing to rise for three hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>I took it out of the fridge, placed in on a baking tray and left it to stand for 45 minutes. What I saw didn't fill me with much confidence. Should it look like this?</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3O31AigiGaIFjRF-o8ZW6-cJcvNIUe3S49aYcy1hmcO_Dz2CvOBp5aStvaYpZoCrU4u5dry_y1Wq5e0ZMzCtq1cOnexRgxykjqxmqJUjiD_Cbv0NKtzZ3CWG594URVNf6ixz930oAAYGen9PrrTrwFA4mcfQpiYBkODQyJxmLaSiNauaxg6XCAHoWy-I/s3508/seedy%20spelt%20bread.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="bread fresh from the fridge" border="0" data-original-height="2559" data-original-width="3508" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3O31AigiGaIFjRF-o8ZW6-cJcvNIUe3S49aYcy1hmcO_Dz2CvOBp5aStvaYpZoCrU4u5dry_y1Wq5e0ZMzCtq1cOnexRgxykjqxmqJUjiD_Cbv0NKtzZ3CWG594URVNf6ixz930oAAYGen9PrrTrwFA4mcfQpiYBkODQyJxmLaSiNauaxg6XCAHoWy-I/w640-h466/seedy%20spelt%20bread.jpg" title="bread fresh from the fridge" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fresh from the fridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Twenty five minutes in the oven and it looked okayish. It certainly hadn't risen as expected. Tapping it produced a sort of hollow sound, which means it was done.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHaA2gZ2Fy14pnrk2Avxom0ov4UHCxk4Y7z9f9hELfGevpXIN5kGezwX5zXjPjiEMdG_2i8dKu2ybEXK7vgtf3YC3OKMjxfcIruvCRIUA90534FKEiWpvTmPDAX5qrlbhtREppw9T-a8o3s08lZmiZ944Dri_x3Xx7xEVjjG9B-1J3IiY6TpPMzoDP1o/s4032/cooling%20bread.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cooling bread" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHaA2gZ2Fy14pnrk2Avxom0ov4UHCxk4Y7z9f9hELfGevpXIN5kGezwX5zXjPjiEMdG_2i8dKu2ybEXK7vgtf3YC3OKMjxfcIruvCRIUA90534FKEiWpvTmPDAX5qrlbhtREppw9T-a8o3s08lZmiZ944Dri_x3Xx7xEVjjG9B-1J3IiY6TpPMzoDP1o/w640-h480/cooling%20bread.jpg" title="cooling bread" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It felt very heavy and once it had cooled was tough to cut. The house wasn't filled with the smell of fresh bread, it's hard to describe aroma. A faint whiff of alcohol greated me. Maybe the yeast had gone wrong.</div><div>It didn't look like the pictures accompanying the steps I had followed. Maybe because I had used different flour, or something else wasn't right. Who knows.</div><div><br /></div><div>The important thing was how it tasted. </div><div><br /></div><div>It tasted nice, with a great crunch as I bit into it. So I call that a success.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll try again next weekend. What other seeds etc can I add?</div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-21547712061762346412023-10-31T14:00:00.000+00:002023-10-31T14:00:31.574+00:00Being remembered<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wYVM5eQ840FfQrfPaFmNfHiM-Q0HSfGP7hpvLDwSz9xdUli-qCNRh4OegnaOeFqXbxJbZeiybms_RWPXkxMIVN1WubDKkElRsS870M1djCo9ZUyAp1VXpYrjEnp6T3pjVO6IExP7T-RT9YDaEsrM3pVF1JgvdXhs-nCcHWSISVddRfcBY4xhtJfi_X4/s736/1843322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="leaving memories how will I be remembered" border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wYVM5eQ840FfQrfPaFmNfHiM-Q0HSfGP7hpvLDwSz9xdUli-qCNRh4OegnaOeFqXbxJbZeiybms_RWPXkxMIVN1WubDKkElRsS870M1djCo9ZUyAp1VXpYrjEnp6T3pjVO6IExP7T-RT9YDaEsrM3pVF1JgvdXhs-nCcHWSISVddRfcBY4xhtJfi_X4/w640-h640/1843322.jpg" title="leaving memories how will I be remembered" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span class="break-words"><span><span dir="ltr">How would I like to be remembered? My good friend; Stefan <a href="https://tinyurl.com/35mvkcau">Isle of Wight host back in July</a>. Posed this question. He went on to answer in his usual elegent way. I thought I'd give it a go.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="break-words"><span><span dir="ltr">As I have aged I care less about how most people view me. I place more importance on family, friends and my employer. </span></span></span></p><p><span class="break-words"><span><span dir="ltr">Hopefully most will retain that I was helpful and easygoing.</span></span></span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">If we met again, it would be on good terms which is what I want.</span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">The more permanent in my life get more attention. </span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">I hope to have been empathetic to their lives and troubles.</span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">Been there when I was needed. To help or listen.</span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">Provided support for their endeavours, be that professional or personal.</span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">Encouraged them to do and be their best.</span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">Celebrated their successes and triumphs.</span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">Offered an example to follow or learn from. This is probably the hardest to achieve. I'm not perfect and may not have always made the right decisions.<br /></span></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading">Often people say they want to leave a legacy, mine would be to have touched lives in a positive way. I know that won't always be possible. But it's something I attempt.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span aria-level="1" class="yKMVIe" role="heading"><br /></span></p><p><span class="break-words"><span><span dir="ltr"><br /></span></span></span></p>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-49567763018306725772023-09-30T20:00:00.002+01:002023-09-30T20:03:59.794+01:00Digital photography means your mistakes are never seen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10F3qYC20B93RXIA39GmuPCVPtBLqbMP1NHpadli1L_Q2zKiSjckQ-hSPM55NNrRR8g_beYq5wPJQ5i8hRyIoZ6HzKix4sQJnRX7LIDDIdYpON2WjUlKKm-0yHcOhVcah9TxPQW0hWYQ9Q4ICrTN15WhvLXzRLZr3_LZJ10M-IbyTMWdy4-g9y6pX1qA/s3720/f80%20and%20lenses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="nikon f80 and nikkor sigma lenses" border="0" data-original-height="2789" data-original-width="3720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10F3qYC20B93RXIA39GmuPCVPtBLqbMP1NHpadli1L_Q2zKiSjckQ-hSPM55NNrRR8g_beYq5wPJQ5i8hRyIoZ6HzKix4sQJnRX7LIDDIdYpON2WjUlKKm-0yHcOhVcah9TxPQW0hWYQ9Q4ICrTN15WhvLXzRLZr3_LZJ10M-IbyTMWdy4-g9y6pX1qA/w640-h480/f80%20and%20lenses.jpg" title="nikon f80 and nikkor sigma lenses" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I've been without an SLR camera since I sold the Nikon D700. The Nikon 1 I had as a walk around camera failed. This is the second one. They don't seem very reliable so I didn't buy a third. Instead I returned to the <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2023/05/cornwall-2023.html">Kodak</a> when I went to Cornwall. I was happy with the results but still hankered after something a bit better. I could have bought another digital Nikon, but for what I payed it would have been very low spec. The F80 was well reviewed and it was good to compare it with the rangefinder FED 4 of my youth.</p><p>I wrote about the <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-link-to-my-dad.html">film cameras I have</a>; two belonged to my dad, and the third I hadn't used since I was a teenager. Here is a link to the FED 4 <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2022/06/film-photowalk.html">photowalk</a>. It does have a low spec lens, so that may have been why the results were less than impressive.<br /></p><p>I can use it with my remaining four lenses: Nikkor 50mm F1.8, 35-70mm F2.8, 80-200mm F2.8 and Sigma 300mm F4. It's not much heavier than the Kodak, and lighter than D series cameras.</p><p>I didn't see the results until the film was developed.</p><p>I had what I think you'd call developer anxiety. Knowing that someone would see every picture I took before I did, and maybe judge it. Many people say using film slows you down and makes you consider each shot. It did; but not in the way they mean. Everytime I pressed the shutter button I thought; what if it was out of focus, badly exposed, or shaky. When I left the film to be processed and then collected it I made a point of saying I was testing an old camera. Why!? When film was the only option I never gave it a thought. </p><p>The first picture used the 35-70mm, the rest were shot through the 50mm. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nCzqZ3ZFyXwAwRdIWH575dEQXbBATh9nURO1HvvQX32KAfBh69Yj5ZnBA1aKEEP21tvjYwo36jrtXEMxjXd5jseJXuRu4dVebHbv5wxzSGg4AXuW0Y5gfF-Aks-kP1S2c7-qWOZvG4Y1y_VrWl3hRZ58PbZWFvzUbAdLye6NvuKWB7oTXtMAMc-cXGE/s1198/1-Photo05_5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blackberries" border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="804" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nCzqZ3ZFyXwAwRdIWH575dEQXbBATh9nURO1HvvQX32KAfBh69Yj5ZnBA1aKEEP21tvjYwo36jrtXEMxjXd5jseJXuRu4dVebHbv5wxzSGg4AXuW0Y5gfF-Aks-kP1S2c7-qWOZvG4Y1y_VrWl3hRZ58PbZWFvzUbAdLye6NvuKWB7oTXtMAMc-cXGE/w430-h640/1-Photo05_5.jpg" title="blackberries" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div>I need to experiment more with the zoom lens. I'm not sure how much processing is done to produce the files I received. Some were noisier than I expected. </div><div><br /></div><div>A walk about didn't give me much inspiration.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLpID5nuHwOUGdKK9m_uDyZH_WbLaoBTH0ffjG_OsIF5Oxqx0pEUYGQ-dEYEWYL80gEdvNt83zkjaiibrHIaXfp9VvQcLYCtMBGABuAtMMyxXpkbg5vC0Xn7yrfMJ_CsJpLzM81VI_l9WsNHFmjur2ZNGf6_y42lo6286gCPRZXPKzqgEhg9wXSBAF1o/s1566/1-Photo09_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tractor" border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1566" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLpID5nuHwOUGdKK9m_uDyZH_WbLaoBTH0ffjG_OsIF5Oxqx0pEUYGQ-dEYEWYL80gEdvNt83zkjaiibrHIaXfp9VvQcLYCtMBGABuAtMMyxXpkbg5vC0Xn7yrfMJ_CsJpLzM81VI_l9WsNHFmjur2ZNGf6_y42lo6286gCPRZXPKzqgEhg9wXSBAF1o/w640-h430/1-Photo09_9.jpg" title="tractor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdDq1Sf2e66Vn0n5WLucla6YjtsB3WDAOsA640GiX9Pb9-1G6YkcWPhNs0aM9bq5FyEIueayaSMl2fku0v4-SD4FAN1r04u2DUB_mikw0Tf95ljchK0xyQ9A2XqbKrSFqLbT_vryZ0oARjCGg-iwq42447wSILFUSG0dhzPNDL0J0OXuY51qE1oZuOws/s1296/1-Photo11_11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="small flowers" border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1296" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdDq1Sf2e66Vn0n5WLucla6YjtsB3WDAOsA640GiX9Pb9-1G6YkcWPhNs0aM9bq5FyEIueayaSMl2fku0v4-SD4FAN1r04u2DUB_mikw0Tf95ljchK0xyQ9A2XqbKrSFqLbT_vryZ0oARjCGg-iwq42447wSILFUSG0dhzPNDL0J0OXuY51qE1oZuOws/w640-h430/1-Photo11_11.jpg" title="small flowers" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDig_a4RQ-6BGQQSUkCnPWeoVtcoLWotdJiaiGT4RUKFw89zAHnhwEkuEibY8dk9DXhj5hdEPctSk7atB1ZrxGS-VwTBo9GKMSrmdLX9S0wr4apat2wD2iYJmckMaydxe6ENm5BJOOA6qh_0_o8Y6VNbGm-tv4UC6xRwXJ5x3RHdWHyAV3jmqy9GvqVU/s1485/1-Photo07_7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tangled undergrowth" border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1485" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDig_a4RQ-6BGQQSUkCnPWeoVtcoLWotdJiaiGT4RUKFw89zAHnhwEkuEibY8dk9DXhj5hdEPctSk7atB1ZrxGS-VwTBo9GKMSrmdLX9S0wr4apat2wD2iYJmckMaydxe6ENm5BJOOA6qh_0_o8Y6VNbGm-tv4UC6xRwXJ5x3RHdWHyAV3jmqy9GvqVU/w640-h430/1-Photo07_7.jpg" title="tangled undergrowth" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>So I had a coffee. And am very pleased with this shot.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_wU0nwk6fvr4IRG2uaKEJIGj_-arTL-SjUmc2R2K9PTBqRBzVWxGszQJg8nMiBEsmzgq3I3Qn00hwOCbE2FV5M3w7cQIkcWw-Kqi-jNKp_Lml7tHHaEs0YSS1YlwewAkBpjG4x3BM9WvQZhWFKAL2x_TTnN44c9m-dY1s07bn_rnw6y25_KZY1lnZA8/s1895/1-Photo13_13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="latte" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1895" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_wU0nwk6fvr4IRG2uaKEJIGj_-arTL-SjUmc2R2K9PTBqRBzVWxGszQJg8nMiBEsmzgq3I3Qn00hwOCbE2FV5M3w7cQIkcWw-Kqi-jNKp_Lml7tHHaEs0YSS1YlwewAkBpjG4x3BM9WvQZhWFKAL2x_TTnN44c9m-dY1s07bn_rnw6y25_KZY1lnZA8/w640-h430/1-Photo13_13.jpg" title="latte" width="640" /></a></div><div><p>I rode to a cafe with great views, and used the last few exposures. It wasn't comfortable carrying the camera; I once thought nothing of doing so. Having anything on my back now feels very odd, and sweaty.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M5Yb_mEKYVlx8gmPrzOtkHI7ln9Ofz2Fr0k0dZJH-N8KhHmnqtPRWQxT0Dr2tFZ9IHE6jNZ0d3NHNbAcxjba6XCjanW24tz5g7T5hxtXleF8cMpZfK9shVPFvYHaudvB0amcXKh5QATB1XR8v4ORJOFbP4YDkBV0SB8t6iSyhBMNyWcBXCAr9iYsWnI/s1895/1-Photo19_19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bike and sky" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1895" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0M5Yb_mEKYVlx8gmPrzOtkHI7ln9Ofz2Fr0k0dZJH-N8KhHmnqtPRWQxT0Dr2tFZ9IHE6jNZ0d3NHNbAcxjba6XCjanW24tz5g7T5hxtXleF8cMpZfK9shVPFvYHaudvB0amcXKh5QATB1XR8v4ORJOFbP4YDkBV0SB8t6iSyhBMNyWcBXCAr9iYsWnI/w640-h430/1-Photo19_19.jpg" title="bike and sky" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUngl5_9-vFq6oECB_1hQNNXKtuA6RNWQfqy9ArRIVXN_1AWcQFgYBaLRpSR910PzjyGisr4rEYTZebyonuWj1tZQMGxug7Yle_oYvS_Fn0Gb8Kr52WEELTk5rrUYoWxwF8Km_Mu2d4JMlM-LIti4cmnwTIxUrMfN_qsUInxbb_cT60SZpEnRsUcLPL0/s1895/1-Photo20_20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="coffee and cake" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1895" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUngl5_9-vFq6oECB_1hQNNXKtuA6RNWQfqy9ArRIVXN_1AWcQFgYBaLRpSR910PzjyGisr4rEYTZebyonuWj1tZQMGxug7Yle_oYvS_Fn0Gb8Kr52WEELTk5rrUYoWxwF8Km_Mu2d4JMlM-LIti4cmnwTIxUrMfN_qsUInxbb_cT60SZpEnRsUcLPL0/w640-h430/1-Photo20_20.jpg" title="coffee and cake" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKg0r5vC45eknDlsCvvVX0uucncAr5V_UFy4V5YMjMdJ2VH1nxGBAP10y94Qhwlm7xnqJDiyg9EPTy5THT2M4HdTosGLp7Lt-s8g-WAxK4Or3mRtSLxag1p4tdsd7nZbAYzV3iN8PL3pdvRTD6cz5wcP7LhC48A9ajZOUwNd3e9SniTpPgNcYL3_nsxc/s1863/1-Photo18_18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="coffee and cake" border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1863" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKg0r5vC45eknDlsCvvVX0uucncAr5V_UFy4V5YMjMdJ2VH1nxGBAP10y94Qhwlm7xnqJDiyg9EPTy5THT2M4HdTosGLp7Lt-s8g-WAxK4Or3mRtSLxag1p4tdsd7nZbAYzV3iN8PL3pdvRTD6cz5wcP7LhC48A9ajZOUwNd3e9SniTpPgNcYL3_nsxc/w640-h430/1-Photo18_18.jpg" title="coffee and cake" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDza60nS2c4jk3d9agKYb21M2WCdcwpDutLNXvowCUnzE9K3kjidIUkMFxo2qckNtuK13eUS-O7iNuBJjHt4MCyViBC1Yz-10YZlow5HMenzJkJ-eoS6JvTeD791Pjw0zSjzpXfmn6L4g5Sk7lWwucf48Vyicn54a5I_Nc1wpU0menDrh5ky0e2OARxug/s1895/1-Photo23_23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tree sign" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1895" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDza60nS2c4jk3d9agKYb21M2WCdcwpDutLNXvowCUnzE9K3kjidIUkMFxo2qckNtuK13eUS-O7iNuBJjHt4MCyViBC1Yz-10YZlow5HMenzJkJ-eoS6JvTeD791Pjw0zSjzpXfmn6L4g5Sk7lWwucf48Vyicn54a5I_Nc1wpU0menDrh5ky0e2OARxug/w640-h430/1-Photo23_23.jpg" title="tree sign" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGRFci9C8ikiG4w1nQrY73ZxYKoxKt0d5saPZE9f_3q7mROeAErV2MOFkr5AQzOncbBFsb7yGrTnuGnHeDz81Y2vs8i-_KQWQJXo2d881lr74JTpVr14ms5M9P-R0P9xfxi-qkJjg2mkErObiVMV83Hh2ipWnJCDxL5hWlpS5jSPSr0FrsFjRsZKasHc/s1706/1-Photo22_22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="renault van" border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1706" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGRFci9C8ikiG4w1nQrY73ZxYKoxKt0d5saPZE9f_3q7mROeAErV2MOFkr5AQzOncbBFsb7yGrTnuGnHeDz81Y2vs8i-_KQWQJXo2d881lr74JTpVr14ms5M9P-R0P9xfxi-qkJjg2mkErObiVMV83Hh2ipWnJCDxL5hWlpS5jSPSr0FrsFjRsZKasHc/w640-h430/1-Photo22_22.jpg" title="renault van" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpBRBYg7cNORtRgwrrX012XGqK9_ZbAISgu7YYGBsHCw_wejOM4ptRbKhttoqpSIiV9xiQuUyB3YGyA7tAOaomPa-cfk_w1rTL1QEnAmIvQWszTNsOmT9pSfLIwvVrHlox7cQpNUQMK_V2zt81vVDpnExq_Mm3z0oMA0F6yvj38BbIp3QeamDLRIC1bI/s1895/1-Photo14_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bike autumn leaves" border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1895" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpBRBYg7cNORtRgwrrX012XGqK9_ZbAISgu7YYGBsHCw_wejOM4ptRbKhttoqpSIiV9xiQuUyB3YGyA7tAOaomPa-cfk_w1rTL1QEnAmIvQWszTNsOmT9pSfLIwvVrHlox7cQpNUQMK_V2zt81vVDpnExq_Mm3z0oMA0F6yvj38BbIp3QeamDLRIC1bI/w640-h430/1-Photo14_14.jpg" title="bike autumn leaves" width="640" /></a></div><p>The results were much better than from the FED. But I do wonder that if I could develop the film the results would be vastly different. Again, it's not something I would have considered before digital. I received the prints and remember being relieved there was no sticker on them saying they had been over or under exposed.</p><p>The next film is black and white. Two reasons for this: it was all the shop had, I've not used it before. It got me thinking about the possible subjects. I don't think it suits landscapes. Instead I'll look for grittyscapes. It's a different thought process than converting colour into monochrome. I'll try not to create clichés. </p><p>I have also got the two long lenses to try.</p></div></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-13768556283228614342023-09-06T09:49:00.000+01:002023-09-06T09:49:33.689+01:00Evolving holiday plans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOrwtjciq3iWj-e70WKfjBX5KuCChtBfh3mLqFryzzvZ06Mud7WmJ7mIkXX52z_QqTRcXoD85xRjgl1139ophCbQnbnIeqhuJhbaeHCT0oddITir78ecmf2iNqxoCKJC-OXGUMrpZcqnzzJDZsbjLypxVOraORYVm-MdEqgMZIKeA2ARLZ2ebhzoaYPo/s733/which%20cc.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="which cc" border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="733" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOrwtjciq3iWj-e70WKfjBX5KuCChtBfh3mLqFryzzvZ06Mud7WmJ7mIkXX52z_QqTRcXoD85xRjgl1139ophCbQnbnIeqhuJhbaeHCT0oddITir78ecmf2iNqxoCKJC-OXGUMrpZcqnzzJDZsbjLypxVOraORYVm-MdEqgMZIKeA2ARLZ2ebhzoaYPo/w640-h182/which%20cc.jpeg" title="which cc" width="640" /></a></div>The type of cycling holiday I'm planning has changed; again. They had been attempts to cover long distances in a day. Going to Cornwall in 2022 was meant to be such a journey. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2022/06/riding-for-mind.html">Link</a>. The daily distance was reduced in the end but it still remained a tough two days.<p></p><p>For the first adventure of this year I rode many days of lower mileages and this was much better. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2023/06/somerset-circle.html">Link</a>. But solitude was still an issue. The second trip was much better. Arranged with Stefan, someone I hadn't prevously met, now definitely a friend. It is a template for the future. <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2023/07/around-island.html">Link</a>.</p><p>I'll either ride to a place or take the train, and stay for a few days. Local loops will allow me to experience the area. But how to combat the insular nature of such endeavours? </p><p>Contact local cycling clubs of course. I've extolled the advantages of membership. Why not enhance my trips by riding with these groups?</p><p>Most clubs run weekday rides, so it should be straightforward to organise. I'll base my accommodation and destination searches on the availability of this resource.</p><p>With all this in mind what are the likely plans for 2024?</p><p>I've always wanted to do the Dunwich Dynamo. It's a 120 mile overnight ride from London to the Suffolk coast. I then plan to ride a short distance to my accommodation for the week. Diss looks to be a contender. There is the Diss Cycling Club who have a Thursday ride. <a href="http://www.disscc.com/" target="_blank">Link</a>. It would be good to have a club ride with another group. A possibility is Godric Cycling Club. <a href="http://godriccycling.club" target="_blank">Link</a>. They ride on a Wednesday, but start around 18 miles from Diss. So a good warm-up to get there.</p><p>Hopefully I'll have a second break. Considering the New Forest. I can take the train to the area to start the week without pressure. <br /></p>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-17838030999900694672023-09-04T07:52:00.001+01:002023-09-19T09:52:33.744+01:00Finding the time<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpiqqW1gPjd0-DTseOi0BYmDzWpzdCIarJkNzj6NHOK0lsukykFsP1vTbXdmag5d7oZrQKT9W13Pl-o9r-md0W1DEHBCWVJrr_GBuv25aMGXA_JAMLksQ1JXCSBphRSHXgaOMFI-A6ibnKNUSkM6BOyxMFXjqpSqWr5X29RrW3NyqfXXgj39h_LPF9h4/s1920/slowing%20time.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="finding slowing down time" border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1920" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpiqqW1gPjd0-DTseOi0BYmDzWpzdCIarJkNzj6NHOK0lsukykFsP1vTbXdmag5d7oZrQKT9W13Pl-o9r-md0W1DEHBCWVJrr_GBuv25aMGXA_JAMLksQ1JXCSBphRSHXgaOMFI-A6ibnKNUSkM6BOyxMFXjqpSqWr5X29RrW3NyqfXXgj39h_LPF9h4/w640-h424/slowing%20time.jpg" title="finding slowing down time" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>When I am faced with new tasks. The default response is; how I am going to do it? </p><p>Thinking about my day it seems that I fit a lot in, especially at the moment. Every use of my time has a priority </p><p>What does my day comprise?</p><p>Eating, sleeping, exercise, visiting Marcia in hospital, shopping, working and household chores/gardening. You could add; reading, watching television, writing on this blog, and listening to music.</p><p>The priorites I apply are:</p><p>Eating.</p><p>Sleeping.</p><p>Visiting Marcia in hospital.</p><p>Exercise. Riding my bike is the main one. It also gives me contact with friends. <br /></p><p>Working.</p><p>Shopping.</p><p>Writing on this blog <br /></p><p>Reading. I listen to music at the same time.<br /></p><p>Watching television; or more likely youtube. I have built a list of vlogers whose style I like.</p><p>Household chores/gardening. The garden areas are becoming what I like to call a nature reserve.<br /></p><p>The top three don't move, the next two are unlikely to change, and the others are shuffled as necessary.</p><p>If a new item is added to the list it's position is determined by importance.</p><p>Not doing the above can mean I begin to feel overwhelmed and out of control.</p><p>It's not always easy to keep everything as I want it. Sometimes I feel like dropping one of the important items; exercising being the most likely candidate. But there is a reason for the position it holds and I push myself to do it. Everything else is possible because of this activity. That might sound over dramatic; if you have read a few of my posts though; you'll know what I mean.</p><p>If I have missed a session I miss that boost. If the day has been particularly bad and I've worked out in the morning; by the evening I can still feel really down and dispondent. That's when I call my sister Michelle. We chat for a while, maybe have a bit of a cry and I start to feel better. I'm not afraid to write about tears. It's what happens and it helps. For too long men have been conditioned to contain and not admit to have feelings. And that's a toxic position to hold. I have many people I can talk to; I'm very lucky. But we all need that one person we can completely open up to, <span class="selectable-text copyable-text">and that person is Michelle.</span></p>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-50542672963840188982023-09-02T00:30:00.001+01:002023-09-02T00:30:00.149+01:00Oxted Cycling Club 10th anniversary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVKuLg55mH2XXphsK2uvWzFbcFUnNbNEsgXoECtTatfekUlYNYWWJWDh3CkzsXVi6387LyktUzzfxNMiYUDhI9jOCq6OFAmCChfgZpNXVMybASj0_FEAer1jy7p1jJMaqyjdT-2mR90_0Sdv77fAM2Hyj23OBlBcIOzhm-98WKJlmCbkpVKWmZqBJNNM/s1641/oxted%20cycling%20club%20big%20group%20pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="oxted cycling club big group pic" border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1641" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVKuLg55mH2XXphsK2uvWzFbcFUnNbNEsgXoECtTatfekUlYNYWWJWDh3CkzsXVi6387LyktUzzfxNMiYUDhI9jOCq6OFAmCChfgZpNXVMybASj0_FEAer1jy7p1jJMaqyjdT-2mR90_0Sdv77fAM2Hyj23OBlBcIOzhm-98WKJlmCbkpVKWmZqBJNNM/w640-h322/oxted%20cycling%20club%20big%20group%20pic.jpg" title="oxted cycling club big group pic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oxted Cycling club is entering it's teens. I've been a member since 2020. I have made many good friends, discovered plenty of great cafes, and eaten lots of cake.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Russell, the club chairman, takes us down memory lane.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"In the summer of 2013 I started exploring the idea of a new cycling club in East Surrey I considered a few towns as 'centres' but Oxted had a lovely, traditional, family bike shop, Petra Cycles and I approached them to help. The boss was a lovely South African man, he had named the shop after his daughter, it's a name from the First Testament. I told him my plans and said I'd send business his way if he could send customers my way! And the first lovely people he introduced were Richard & Gilly Byford and Ollie Orchard.</i></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is the first Oxted CC Club Ride, to Four Elms on the 17th of August 2013! They haven't aged at all!</i></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEBkofKQkz5XXePy1hhvRGB3hrUeOb0yBtWf80hFmkdLrdgE8-u8eu0QGBBv49Ho2Hi4pDMiR3nLZQFplj7DaAi-oQcHwy5_RvQ_6sDbLnBhSu4P0LSR2OH3QRS6JFd5oF68DvEgXvVuJRLuiKa5qkJ7xLirCQ9XF-YngU_VdtwqOz_AnxGPynaSChb8/s500/occ%20first%20ride%20Four%20Elms%20on%20the%2017th%20of%20August%202013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Four Elms on the 17th of August 2013 occ" border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEBkofKQkz5XXePy1hhvRGB3hrUeOb0yBtWf80hFmkdLrdgE8-u8eu0QGBBv49Ho2Hi4pDMiR3nLZQFplj7DaAi-oQcHwy5_RvQ_6sDbLnBhSu4P0LSR2OH3QRS6JFd5oF68DvEgXvVuJRLuiKa5qkJ7xLirCQ9XF-YngU_VdtwqOz_AnxGPynaSChb8/w640-h480/occ%20first%20ride%20Four%20Elms%20on%20the%2017th%20of%20August%202013.jpg" title="Four Elms on the 17th of August 2013 occ" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Two weeks later Oxted CC was seven people.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>From left to right, Scott Cheshire, a friend of mine who urged me to 'get on with it' in starting the club, Austen Reid, who was riding with the Old Ports at the time, Dik Kingdon-Jones, Gilly, Biff, the wonderful Cass Humm who inspired many new riders, and me, wondering what kit we might decide on...</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjslITIVARkBvRwtddg7ErpxGCP01UF7Rmnf_ZZF3vzNhxK7T-iaD7m87mu0lN7vKjHB95LcMx_2Nd1TwnzD1k0NP6MmQ_d4MRzc2ZkUw6IjSWRqDWRYAI1vJEmkAYTtiRzChzpeCcv-Zyxwk6e_FcwIrg0kpW0AFWY0QSTc_P94AOaohFrR3g6mEMWY/s700/occ%202nd%20ride.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="occ 2nd ride" border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjslITIVARkBvRwtddg7ErpxGCP01UF7Rmnf_ZZF3vzNhxK7T-iaD7m87mu0lN7vKjHB95LcMx_2Nd1TwnzD1k0NP6MmQ_d4MRzc2ZkUw6IjSWRqDWRYAI1vJEmkAYTtiRzChzpeCcv-Zyxwk6e_FcwIrg0kpW0AFWY0QSTc_P94AOaohFrR3g6mEMWY/w640-h426/occ%202nd%20ride.jpg" title="occ 2nd ride" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="font-size: small;">In June 2014 we ran our first big Brighton ride."</span></i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXg7BjLj5eYHH0ZY1YzkJl1kUP_9uBB8W_VMWAhCsWg-CV4GrgNxBs134lEMCF-JXvmkCOIpHYXmd7ks6FnCFDu-mDlp0KLqUGfle0rSnZlZr4lEdNkm5FI1cvQ4oHWrhJvq4wVQzxQKu2HA_8Pc3BOPer5XOiFII4nvl963tZ6YK9Hcs3Svl79wFP6w/s700/occ%20Brighton%20June%202014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="occ first big ride brighton" border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="700" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXg7BjLj5eYHH0ZY1YzkJl1kUP_9uBB8W_VMWAhCsWg-CV4GrgNxBs134lEMCF-JXvmkCOIpHYXmd7ks6FnCFDu-mDlp0KLqUGfle0rSnZlZr4lEdNkm5FI1cvQ4oHWrhJvq4wVQzxQKu2HA_8Pc3BOPer5XOiFII4nvl963tZ6YK9Hcs3Svl79wFP6w/w640-h392/occ%20Brighton%20June%202014.JPG" title="occ first big ride brighton" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;">More pics from the time I've been a member.</span><div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Waller Pain 2023</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKiXGbjFdqmZP-VphYpgqTYb-wJTSkXEls5Z2F-muWXvLKvRbwDgiN1aqQb7356J9vrcxCnGcajzqFR_JW6VfRRxDaInGde3wYoL1MedObJ_PTewEkcSXLUw8ov-05wmuDU1ZxP4yJpKEkdLs08nkbimG-RmEZx0ZkS4WV_qEH7lVDjeMO2GQgH2X1AA/s2048/waller%20pain%202023.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="waller pain 2023" border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKiXGbjFdqmZP-VphYpgqTYb-wJTSkXEls5Z2F-muWXvLKvRbwDgiN1aqQb7356J9vrcxCnGcajzqFR_JW6VfRRxDaInGde3wYoL1MedObJ_PTewEkcSXLUw8ov-05wmuDU1ZxP4yJpKEkdLs08nkbimG-RmEZx0ZkS4WV_qEH7lVDjeMO2GQgH2X1AA/w640-h440/waller%20pain%202023.jpeg" title="waller pain 2023" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDpr0KCNccj4LqvpXOo43nO4u17L0Y8gcAULOWuvJeYfUMhdickSwhFeDt_RrELd6F_ApyF_4xpAdYDWtKBw2-lNgD1X6B4g9So_-XmN2Su1aMtPhZZEB1nHw4rmaqlOxQcKi9B3YMOdSLlvmN7KSs90rVIpx23YBin5jZatw6ywmUI0vRvPKo16Cz78/s600/Pete's%20ride.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="oxted cycling club" border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="600" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDpr0KCNccj4LqvpXOo43nO4u17L0Y8gcAULOWuvJeYfUMhdickSwhFeDt_RrELd6F_ApyF_4xpAdYDWtKBw2-lNgD1X6B4g9So_-XmN2Su1aMtPhZZEB1nHw4rmaqlOxQcKi9B3YMOdSLlvmN7KSs90rVIpx23YBin5jZatw6ywmUI0vRvPKo16Cz78/w640-h504/Pete's%20ride.jpg" title="oxted cycling club" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmjt-WFzx-EGA18-RKOtSMpl4X9u4X_qjGXGj8lzTSCLtgEcqd5rEPTAs-YTIlss7H7LsJOGjs-sEyLhrakaXIui519Xn3B1YgssB1_nb3q3a0VaOzjb2tg8VHdeN9GpgHVefD0O1gcHJSmo92J64AEi7qIXIMtVKHeaPKLg3GoBGWQ-sLd6yt5lFzqg/s4032/Photo%2013-08-2022,%2010%2023%2030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Groombridge Place" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmjt-WFzx-EGA18-RKOtSMpl4X9u4X_qjGXGj8lzTSCLtgEcqd5rEPTAs-YTIlss7H7LsJOGjs-sEyLhrakaXIui519Xn3B1YgssB1_nb3q3a0VaOzjb2tg8VHdeN9GpgHVefD0O1gcHJSmo92J64AEi7qIXIMtVKHeaPKLg3GoBGWQ-sLd6yt5lFzqg/w640-h480/Photo%2013-08-2022,%2010%2023%2030.jpg" title="Groombridge Place" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groombridge Place<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHqvWyQbxWXQrGJ3ZAUxKq-sEVfE_om9cOjK2tUDzXDVtpJ2kIBgDaFPTkoh7vD22SL1exdvTdDAuGjmxEc4YYXlo1IKGBLRZeDx9eisA3pCnb_98ZoL-GLLmo6sui4Zw1DMux_uO49dBYM0vofPjPcd6yb0zXm7DHiEfvFYGY5w5fylQqTZlC-8a32I/s600/Dunc's%20team.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="three river crossing route" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHqvWyQbxWXQrGJ3ZAUxKq-sEVfE_om9cOjK2tUDzXDVtpJ2kIBgDaFPTkoh7vD22SL1exdvTdDAuGjmxEc4YYXlo1IKGBLRZeDx9eisA3pCnb_98ZoL-GLLmo6sui4Zw1DMux_uO49dBYM0vofPjPcd6yb0zXm7DHiEfvFYGY5w5fylQqTZlC-8a32I/w640-h480/Dunc's%20team.jpg" title="three river crossing route" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">three river crossing route</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsc11jH_fehp_tQGofZ0g2M79E0jo2cM7Rw28nnbi6whav3Jii5s26cxHBPzqq6k6ow2zWSCcuAox1nbHEQfnZ_4TIIdWQtQBzZkHG-HWpRcYmD0uutI1F4EUleOArwG26aUBaw3pxGxhrpeLxARcH70zlfASxltPRW7l0_UCpH9sONwSX-WTAzRlNp0/s4032/Photo%2018-09-2021,%2010%2010%2029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="oxted cycling club" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsc11jH_fehp_tQGofZ0g2M79E0jo2cM7Rw28nnbi6whav3Jii5s26cxHBPzqq6k6ow2zWSCcuAox1nbHEQfnZ_4TIIdWQtQBzZkHG-HWpRcYmD0uutI1F4EUleOArwG26aUBaw3pxGxhrpeLxARcH70zlfASxltPRW7l0_UCpH9sONwSX-WTAzRlNp0/w640-h480/Photo%2018-09-2021,%2010%2010%2029.jpg" title="oxted cycling club" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmDcfEctzRwU87A4TXevHIlCYeYTi4zlN-uR54Ua9gLcuWOq8Ox_kYNWRgjPC-26j7FXpjkvTDs24va-v7yFOCratQqR8Ad1UeaCLnGsEifMGKACY7-Bim_8a9gG4_YDZAI-V_2AOe0a0XAXrgxemFvNhEXvtUiKOB406Sa8TSJOphkZZb7FaKRz8bZo/s4032/Photo%2021-08-2021,%2010%2052%2041.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Milk Churn" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmDcfEctzRwU87A4TXevHIlCYeYTi4zlN-uR54Ua9gLcuWOq8Ox_kYNWRgjPC-26j7FXpjkvTDs24va-v7yFOCratQqR8Ad1UeaCLnGsEifMGKACY7-Bim_8a9gG4_YDZAI-V_2AOe0a0XAXrgxemFvNhEXvtUiKOB406Sa8TSJOphkZZb7FaKRz8bZo/w640-h480/Photo%2021-08-2021,%2010%2052%2041.jpg" title="The Milk Churn" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Milk Churn</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WAZYPWlCWdJEm8AvpAU1reNHXavKLXJJ0vh1WuIEwa5PBKzIa71uIJMKTl6U3pameW_Rj9Iuya7UEtQz81PyLckE5DMwtjJT3BKKtu9QbDbtdF1ipfm50Okd6BBAPPyOYtqpY9kmxbE7BLkdXT3jKkR95yWV6ONzfBSpviDOw8WxTOQLI1azr86I5Pk/s4032/Photo%2006-08-2022,%2011%2012%2037.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="blackstock estate" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WAZYPWlCWdJEm8AvpAU1reNHXavKLXJJ0vh1WuIEwa5PBKzIa71uIJMKTl6U3pameW_Rj9Iuya7UEtQz81PyLckE5DMwtjJT3BKKtu9QbDbtdF1ipfm50Okd6BBAPPyOYtqpY9kmxbE7BLkdXT3jKkR95yWV6ONzfBSpviDOw8WxTOQLI1azr86I5Pk/w640-h480/Photo%2006-08-2022,%2011%2012%2037.jpg" title="blackstock estate" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackstock Estate</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4EAVDZCBsvikZS8QkQfS-r7fLGZtEDvv_wSFitlTNyTtYaf6fKA9jdTPb9K28-EaQ4yEE1hC3B9IGZWcZwPA9b8Ad4h-pJvytcu8rdDvzHlLcjpgwjBK_A5EYtpriMDFnOgjwaylbTEcFfIu7Kh_9WxaqKFzCBehnZKA9EMULmwJo2RM7odOd_YU-o8/s4032/daily%20bread%20rusthall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="daily bread rusthall" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4EAVDZCBsvikZS8QkQfS-r7fLGZtEDvv_wSFitlTNyTtYaf6fKA9jdTPb9K28-EaQ4yEE1hC3B9IGZWcZwPA9b8Ad4h-pJvytcu8rdDvzHlLcjpgwjBK_A5EYtpriMDFnOgjwaylbTEcFfIu7Kh_9WxaqKFzCBehnZKA9EMULmwJo2RM7odOd_YU-o8/w640-h480/daily%20bread%20rusthall.jpg" title="daily bread rusthall" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daily Bread Rusthall</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E1zcdQXVfqj0yaHANPzJnr9BPS9MUn193w_nUS6F6pAzu04eeV64db5iPpTgviYedPSaMbkP4g_woGGPfpznKoYrJSLaQt4tsYq2PCQ_eN-eIh_LPBvq_UjkYHAo9KYFTP5lEDblZZoapbm06YLXNIzey-wql6VZUpEbdv4nQtXEgoaJ8JYxA0GiCP4/s600/Brockham%20reading%20room.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Brockham reading room" border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="600" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E1zcdQXVfqj0yaHANPzJnr9BPS9MUn193w_nUS6F6pAzu04eeV64db5iPpTgviYedPSaMbkP4g_woGGPfpznKoYrJSLaQt4tsYq2PCQ_eN-eIh_LPBvq_UjkYHAo9KYFTP5lEDblZZoapbm06YLXNIzey-wql6VZUpEbdv4nQtXEgoaJ8JYxA0GiCP4/w640-h348/Brockham%20reading%20room.JPG" title="Brockham reading room" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brockham Reading Room<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb20IKeCX1l-qdRb9kF0bzw7fl7Kyl2jAdfMvuyxE1li4vV6ZtMmLzM74lFSAGLot3tz941qV7CfVDMqA6bpKpJxsY4tvquKIip8M0peHSLAPYA_YvKHC5g_dRxVnjm8sch8Oh15wkf8HVjgzYCS1j_DrKmzXJrU6YEWq9JInEuMKeasRNrr6rP74woIc/s4032/Lindfield%20Coffee%20Works.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lindfield Coffee Works" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb20IKeCX1l-qdRb9kF0bzw7fl7Kyl2jAdfMvuyxE1li4vV6ZtMmLzM74lFSAGLot3tz941qV7CfVDMqA6bpKpJxsY4tvquKIip8M0peHSLAPYA_YvKHC5g_dRxVnjm8sch8Oh15wkf8HVjgzYCS1j_DrKmzXJrU6YEWq9JInEuMKeasRNrr6rP74woIc/w640-h480/Lindfield%20Coffee%20Works.jpg" title="Lindfield Coffee Works" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span class="wixui-rich-text__text" style="font-family: wfont_c04202_681ffe8bfaea47acb6875f9eae49301d,wf_681ffe8bfaea47acb6875f9ea,orig_ocrb_10_pitch_bt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lindfield Coffee Works</span><br /></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu0ETjiao54XQgzcKRcBIQiem3fFIgfqlOcnFKmZz8fRAJ5Bk_i4U9RKTuW8BAxhgyiJt00k0PkR7N3JnJ4ZsB9ch2pzzFHxpq0EA5o5xWO_W31OY-LZx9kJZiX6045-6k8mbv2e4sOBLg97qWA6Wt7ZDp0NHS1rZ86dRGgKXXPmdoT-AB2S5gun-DqE/s600/ridings%20lane%20cafe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ridings lane cafe" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu0ETjiao54XQgzcKRcBIQiem3fFIgfqlOcnFKmZz8fRAJ5Bk_i4U9RKTuW8BAxhgyiJt00k0PkR7N3JnJ4ZsB9ch2pzzFHxpq0EA5o5xWO_W31OY-LZx9kJZiX6045-6k8mbv2e4sOBLg97qWA6Wt7ZDp0NHS1rZ86dRGgKXXPmdoT-AB2S5gun-DqE/w640-h480/ridings%20lane%20cafe.jpg" title="ridings lane cafe" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ridings Lane cafe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="gmail_default"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3H-e1aNNXOA9chFjUrZlPRPBpi3tGHhgCW_MPMpnu93S1gWD9OSH78XysEMsWX5yO9a_W-nmZZd9j-9oOd6aUUXRU1nNhitEGnJucv_cv66PdF1t8PuBjyi7oBU3mzKyCN4xvsrL72ewTr8eZdPEc6es41yaZJeC-CSIGcNdS9HgW_fKRGkVdfnko1o/s4032/pothole%20damage%20repair.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="broken spoke no-one gets left behind" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3H-e1aNNXOA9chFjUrZlPRPBpi3tGHhgCW_MPMpnu93S1gWD9OSH78XysEMsWX5yO9a_W-nmZZd9j-9oOd6aUUXRU1nNhitEGnJucv_cv66PdF1t8PuBjyi7oBU3mzKyCN4xvsrL72ewTr8eZdPEc6es41yaZJeC-CSIGcNdS9HgW_fKRGkVdfnko1o/w640-h480/pothole%20damage%20repair.jpg" title="broken spoke no-one gets left behind" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">broken spoke; no-one gets left behind</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Rapha ladies 100 km from 2022. Words by Russell.</span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><div class="gmail_default" style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"A WONDERFUL LADIES DAY!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Huge thanks to our superb leaders yesterday, everyone made it to Kingdom at around the same time. Jo looked after the shorter ride which worked out well. The weather was glorious and Kingdom was a lovely stop, though their coffee machine was a bit overwhelmed with the numbers.</i></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mI5o_ZheGx6GHn4oqxn-SMNTwh8e9ZgW53bGCJcR88_YvIiYSPgS-KJcMuAripoDKueC5Xxkob7j760msnb-cFf6_PETXYVcffpFxIl-7iiAisEmP1q186sBVB8TWx21w3QuOOQxR5MF3D3KYyWcFK0qsRdd-AhirVnY0CP76llJ7IpYnz6aPvZB3ro/s533/Gavin's%20shirt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Rapha ladies 100 km" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mI5o_ZheGx6GHn4oqxn-SMNTwh8e9ZgW53bGCJcR88_YvIiYSPgS-KJcMuAripoDKueC5Xxkob7j760msnb-cFf6_PETXYVcffpFxIl-7iiAisEmP1q186sBVB8TWx21w3QuOOQxR5MF3D3KYyWcFK0qsRdd-AhirVnY0CP76llJ7IpYnz6aPvZB3ro/w480-h640/Gavin's%20shirt.JPG" title="The Rapha ladies 100 km" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>It
was great to see Lisa Calnan back on her bike, she's been out of action
for quite a while with an injury, all fixed now. And she took this
photo of us relaxing in the sunshine... </i></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoWn5hannHgOSu9Ad1oBkNtkJ1aZjk0D7dCqaCO5Tblhhw6t-d9o8PXyJIAqsrkouNpipGyrGuteczT8bQ7vL5xAxswmlAxxhHkmN6m_DnsylIWfQpxGMNXAbBUkN7g4oYnVyKUoG-zT3LKj5YxRG8YT8Jj0KFrxpw9ikNKVMp-JU4PtxbSk9r_AnszQ/s800/Marian's%20pic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Rapha ladies 100 km" border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="800" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoWn5hannHgOSu9Ad1oBkNtkJ1aZjk0D7dCqaCO5Tblhhw6t-d9o8PXyJIAqsrkouNpipGyrGuteczT8bQ7vL5xAxswmlAxxhHkmN6m_DnsylIWfQpxGMNXAbBUkN7g4oYnVyKUoG-zT3LKj5YxRG8YT8Jj0KFrxpw9ikNKVMp-JU4PtxbSk9r_AnszQ/w640-h348/Marian's%20pic.jpeg" title="The Rapha ladies 100 km" width="640" /></a></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="gmail_default" style="text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">We were a bit slow organising a group photo, Jo's merry band had moved off...in the pic, Duncan & Laura, Austen, Ian Luxford, Richard. Marian, Lisa and Amanda in the front. Behind them Andy Smith, me, Celia, Neil, Matt, Pat and Stuart. To the right Louise, Frances, Bren and Andy Thornley. Not sure who's hiding behind Louise! </span></i></div><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2CxHiRqs5z0SHo9GpYC3FM5QyHkrihrONu31p_DKtcWg57p_Q6sxIr9kYcnEmju5sHNwh-ISs4wR2zgc46NkFVJ9r_m5AY2sBoBqwJD-FSrJq-ZBvJtnswJaGNz61IevGBOGa5HsrghNxayDLWCI6B8WC20uDQ07yZVuA23p9pQ0exQbI_Vx7XXQpwo/s640/IMG_1322cr.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Rapha ladies 100 km" border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="640" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2CxHiRqs5z0SHo9GpYC3FM5QyHkrihrONu31p_DKtcWg57p_Q6sxIr9kYcnEmju5sHNwh-ISs4wR2zgc46NkFVJ9r_m5AY2sBoBqwJD-FSrJq-ZBvJtnswJaGNz61IevGBOGa5HsrghNxayDLWCI6B8WC20uDQ07yZVuA23p9pQ0exQbI_Vx7XXQpwo/w640-h468/IMG_1322cr.jpg" title="The Rapha ladies 100 km" width="640" /></a></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A lovely photo of Marian, Neil and Austen along the way. Marian is a very accomplished athlete, not just an awesome T3/4 rider but also a runner. And always cheerful!"</span></i></div><div class="gmail_default" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mK9_Ev7upZ3rO7O7Vk0nHVBM-fKOAtIhn2Roa-XeluSu5bZKCYgZXcIL_238921ZCauQlGi3OipieECatb91jVLb1Lczq3sRimfPIBB3ENGk1BoSasVdMPo1kSg7zfM0Upby3f8fSuCMhONzQrS0-sPGPE0wRS36KE_73qcZiEixJwWKMCOVLgjXtFM/s583/IMG_1330cr.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Rapha ladies 100 km" border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="583" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mK9_Ev7upZ3rO7O7Vk0nHVBM-fKOAtIhn2Roa-XeluSu5bZKCYgZXcIL_238921ZCauQlGi3OipieECatb91jVLb1Lczq3sRimfPIBB3ENGk1BoSasVdMPo1kSg7zfM0Upby3f8fSuCMhONzQrS0-sPGPE0wRS36KE_73qcZiEixJwWKMCOVLgjXtFM/w640-h486/IMG_1330cr.jpg" title="The Rapha ladies 100 km" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My biggest achievement came during the first full year as a member; in June 2021. A club ride including getting to Oxted and back clocked up <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2021/06/162.html">162 miles</a>. Here is the reason I eventually joined a club, and why I chose <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2022/10/why-i-joined-oxted-cc.html">Oxted CC</a>.<br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some words from Austen Reid.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span><i>"How 10 years flies by! We have all made great new friends, and in some cases found new partners! I think we can safely say the club has been a great success. </i></span></span></div><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span><i>We have catered for many different types of rider from leisure to competitive cyclists, and the tandem section has been quite exceptional. </i></span></span></div><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span><i>Our OCC Majorcan adventures ( and the annual Brighton run ) helped bond the membership, although sadly we lost one of our friends, Pete Abbott."</i></span></span></div><div><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i> </i></span></span></div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIOE0ve4RYsKKCPjt9FvMOY6AulZKWQssCOqj6QbrXLul_XiuwwZCl-9XtOAInInPUQmunJQrPUbl2pHRSNkLNWIdEVagHb4fknOB5j4R87x3gkGU1346MXd2P3FLHtcP39fqHSgrmT1R7Ua5YXNG3l2SPt8WvpDHbUTAfdWbfevwbjYVM0rFvJFuxos/s2016/diy%20road%20repairs.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img alt="going the extra mile to ensure racing happens" border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIOE0ve4RYsKKCPjt9FvMOY6AulZKWQssCOqj6QbrXLul_XiuwwZCl-9XtOAInInPUQmunJQrPUbl2pHRSNkLNWIdEVagHb4fknOB5j4R87x3gkGU1346MXd2P3FLHtcP39fqHSgrmT1R7Ua5YXNG3l2SPt8WvpDHbUTAfdWbfevwbjYVM0rFvJFuxos/w300-h400/diy%20road%20repairs.jpg" title="going the extra mile to ensure racing happens" width="300" /></a></div>Tim going the extra mile to ensure racing happens</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many will have been approached by Russell to enter TT's and hill climbs.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGPSubd4EBR4mpX7LrIRYJTxlj73TWCBvOVD_PlkoSyD-fei4Ox-HeixIDfB2dUx_IYxR-eXMFyHNgzqfoQzlpZqiqEJFELtC_S3hed_m4LuUV_ApIg8ejjrvaHkuEXDOpjAI2HVbJSUVfXofcK5L8U003esluHkZRaykRdo0zryHKDZfOzwOcDbpthM/s2048/egcc%20tt1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="egcc tt" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGPSubd4EBR4mpX7LrIRYJTxlj73TWCBvOVD_PlkoSyD-fei4Ox-HeixIDfB2dUx_IYxR-eXMFyHNgzqfoQzlpZqiqEJFELtC_S3hed_m4LuUV_ApIg8ejjrvaHkuEXDOpjAI2HVbJSUVfXofcK5L8U003esluHkZRaykRdo0zryHKDZfOzwOcDbpthM/w214-h320/egcc%20tt1.jpg" title="egcc tt" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20W0U7PxokKRyntstptODvtfmaUPkh8wEIzh1Q5bQOuryn6m8GidHUCztHSUgPXkqrNZoXIh3Fc7p1FjfI0cYE12aEiiZloGHVevvYHBuT-kuWoGGweAziQ3Oik087GUMZ07xgVDKUZ3wwtTamS8ZrUql_rTthTgEs52qfflXY9-a12W2cwcNp3sOduA/s1440/richard%20egcc%20tt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20W0U7PxokKRyntstptODvtfmaUPkh8wEIzh1Q5bQOuryn6m8GidHUCztHSUgPXkqrNZoXIh3Fc7p1FjfI0cYE12aEiiZloGHVevvYHBuT-kuWoGGweAziQ3Oik087GUMZ07xgVDKUZ3wwtTamS8ZrUql_rTthTgEs52qfflXY9-a12W2cwcNp3sOduA/s320/richard%20egcc%20tt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUn9SvLtYvEr25fIxG0l2HPruj67uWxESsIX0EUEHtsz8vkrTo16ZdlUieWjLOjxfWofwdUt0NDzpbQWiQN0vEP1s4oAyz89eiq7IRsjMW9ahIuHnmu_Z-vN-wmKr3UCI31SU3oJpRyUk5eSoZjtnehyv6j5BGRULrq3EEjlAtFLR1FY9Fco6c9_PmJI/s1440/egcc%20tt2.jpg" style="clear: right; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiykbTiPKA1qlqVydJbEjMTFLPbTtir6Q5tHUvrKg_7XKtJYrhEBu4NRxxAL0XXwigqrTN36rT7_8urcaQrZEhQvlOCnZjoCt4KBjAfTMegg25A401FC7J4g72VJHyMIH4vNtrvn8_w4zSaDeoqPJbAo-MvFh-3uEtZhO5x0V_N695I7mgZAVW5hlMDFg/s900/egcc%20tt4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiykbTiPKA1qlqVydJbEjMTFLPbTtir6Q5tHUvrKg_7XKtJYrhEBu4NRxxAL0XXwigqrTN36rT7_8urcaQrZEhQvlOCnZjoCt4KBjAfTMegg25A401FC7J4g72VJHyMIH4vNtrvn8_w4zSaDeoqPJbAo-MvFh-3uEtZhO5x0V_N695I7mgZAVW5hlMDFg/s320/egcc%20tt4.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62SZSuuJllV1lywbfMuvltby1Ua5DraxIX1ROkzRMml-EEYsAtOYq1fs7yeF6Uc5ZfF2JEoi-6O6WoEI5kDmeAu-JokpuZpdyBmW4iBTFQVSPXxQmEW7yUv_rzkjowLFL29SvCA5TwS29OTalKN807MqytmUoRfhPUaVtfJg7fl63yi_abTbs0pWMKuc/s1440/russell%20tt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62SZSuuJllV1lywbfMuvltby1Ua5DraxIX1ROkzRMml-EEYsAtOYq1fs7yeF6Uc5ZfF2JEoi-6O6WoEI5kDmeAu-JokpuZpdyBmW4iBTFQVSPXxQmEW7yUv_rzkjowLFL29SvCA5TwS29OTalKN807MqytmUoRfhPUaVtfJg7fl63yi_abTbs0pWMKuc/s320/russell%20tt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjSDnOXOFu95AXbsC5Bw_whnvAH--SrY9jc7PStr1w8Mm9pljLuDv31D-h0m82K08bl49ygGF1ZIt67LOEAtKjEPKdTmrEbL9W34PRv4cng6kVzggGarrb85iLxxCqq1eQ-5d2k34Uwm82SjMroCR503zCDN3TVR12CKVJGFlycTk2uNQEfgVqckkDoc/s600/egcc%20tt5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjSDnOXOFu95AXbsC5Bw_whnvAH--SrY9jc7PStr1w8Mm9pljLuDv31D-h0m82K08bl49ygGF1ZIt67LOEAtKjEPKdTmrEbL9W34PRv4cng6kVzggGarrb85iLxxCqq1eQ-5d2k34Uwm82SjMroCR503zCDN3TVR12CKVJGFlycTk2uNQEfgVqckkDoc/s320/egcc%20tt5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tQKt2hKKaGU_StDSRxII94gaCe_GCsHco696AQdSc44hQaJBUECpnMKclNeQpXrx6jezM9u2bVkXCZLTz-8JWvG3bmoGEA5AsyD_pCon68hTMuHC3jq7BLo-VbdcFRRUAuoQlSpXaUdyJaLfdru5gencBBjPVWBSRGCHfQHreuA-V8cOff_NnWmVmvM/s700/hill%20climb2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tQKt2hKKaGU_StDSRxII94gaCe_GCsHco696AQdSc44hQaJBUECpnMKclNeQpXrx6jezM9u2bVkXCZLTz-8JWvG3bmoGEA5AsyD_pCon68hTMuHC3jq7BLo-VbdcFRRUAuoQlSpXaUdyJaLfdru5gencBBjPVWBSRGCHfQHreuA-V8cOff_NnWmVmvM/s320/hill%20climb2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc7dR-6dnS8-i2AYKYK37wulW8ARwgDfP1czTYn4jpk6brLKQMV6ZAMJqRmVoJ0oSrBHg1ozduKtUG_t3QZeRdWfmsg_UZdzOEmIozX8P4Z5lZPzmTqVkXrg4qUdHNu5zeT8dEZKeEZZS20d3KOuNp6D8nXh2oRPP0tL4R1DB67hnUIIybsl2IP53lKI/s700/hill%20climb1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="egcc tt" border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc7dR-6dnS8-i2AYKYK37wulW8ARwgDfP1czTYn4jpk6brLKQMV6ZAMJqRmVoJ0oSrBHg1ozduKtUG_t3QZeRdWfmsg_UZdzOEmIozX8P4Z5lZPzmTqVkXrg4qUdHNu5zeT8dEZKeEZZS20d3KOuNp6D8nXh2oRPP0tL4R1DB67hnUIIybsl2IP53lKI/w400-h266/hill%20climb1.jpg" title="egcc tt" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is not all about competition. The main focus is socialising, keeping fit and being out on the bike. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCTAderbg_Yt17Do3osmycZM8bGnN7rr-MidqSabct8UngdT0T1S9v36Mspw20vEzydaqeeq_m1C4cdmx-Zes2-dhmFtMunyL7G1tkiDGEbgciQnjHtIDIN6D0faM4YUGjgmCkmqNSVSvReZ1Mt9tO0amncyAGZJLRrTS3tohXsDf8mHPZc2KVjdKJuY/s700/group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="700" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCTAderbg_Yt17Do3osmycZM8bGnN7rr-MidqSabct8UngdT0T1S9v36Mspw20vEzydaqeeq_m1C4cdmx-Zes2-dhmFtMunyL7G1tkiDGEbgciQnjHtIDIN6D0faM4YUGjgmCkmqNSVSvReZ1Mt9tO0amncyAGZJLRrTS3tohXsDf8mHPZc2KVjdKJuY/w640-h372/group.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E_UWCsVylsVdPPMKTLZgwcG5BtdI6Ry64H6ll8pSbhGFF2yHlk-XdtRfp95QMfliWEQQ76_T2D0fcqsbqijWjQP3b_Db9SKPFYobpLDvZjcsADVdYXkFf9KD7ZdSvP0pFjzzLMIWYEhIw9qQkxHpkuOHJCJ3EmpH7RoqSrTl9rHTV4XLNNu5h9gDYnk/s700/tandem.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E_UWCsVylsVdPPMKTLZgwcG5BtdI6Ry64H6ll8pSbhGFF2yHlk-XdtRfp95QMfliWEQQ76_T2D0fcqsbqijWjQP3b_Db9SKPFYobpLDvZjcsADVdYXkFf9KD7ZdSvP0pFjzzLMIWYEhIw9qQkxHpkuOHJCJ3EmpH7RoqSrTl9rHTV4XLNNu5h9gDYnk/w640-h480/tandem.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;">And lots of smiles.</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvEANe8TH2oXfAuO1_f8qqW6L3vDTl0P4DCeYQq4JsTPhO-6ox9QhRsqki1OAENU0evsnFOhE7DtwvBmXS55oGnSf7-qlRYzzHoEgkxrlffRDQQxmhFeQceRbwRrsKQS51dL5qSzRtctY_j9RoVHPlarhG3mQsgLexf-wZdVjOF9TUnIbhMRDQqurBQA/s683/Ride%20100,%20m.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="683" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvEANe8TH2oXfAuO1_f8qqW6L3vDTl0P4DCeYQq4JsTPhO-6ox9QhRsqki1OAENU0evsnFOhE7DtwvBmXS55oGnSf7-qlRYzzHoEgkxrlffRDQQxmhFeQceRbwRrsKQS51dL5qSzRtctY_j9RoVHPlarhG3mQsgLexf-wZdVjOF9TUnIbhMRDQqurBQA/w640-h446/Ride%20100,%20m.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy3pRZ9qAHVbVvg5nmCxTnZjuTep2RwAuh4m-L3N4y1gL2dPusYKN8SdaeiVqQlym1PdZ160hCiMW2c58-HQhJGzYB02L-bZp174xG4zfMq0CBDlTqiBDtDwzy6OodbTNXMzjVSDp3V2cKTixu0RspNEyPfOD9Dg98YUBpF_uoRm-O6fagFtOmDdw17o/s600/nadine.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy3pRZ9qAHVbVvg5nmCxTnZjuTep2RwAuh4m-L3N4y1gL2dPusYKN8SdaeiVqQlym1PdZ160hCiMW2c58-HQhJGzYB02L-bZp174xG4zfMq0CBDlTqiBDtDwzy6OodbTNXMzjVSDp3V2cKTixu0RspNEyPfOD9Dg98YUBpF_uoRm-O6fagFtOmDdw17o/w640-h426/nadine.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa_2t1E6zEMBSZ-OQc0tCZHAU-pRGE9vYNeBr1qzRrZxwgNI8UtCti56e5QF-NXA0n1wpPS6eKTWW0hxJu6oZ5Kp_VC-rZ5It_WdNFmyKvg2HEGDVoy0DlYNkapwB5qzF85OSIve6Yz5KDGIj42Of02he4nxfPPDJa8MIj9VQ8jWzWmdCv6_mOBBMATE/s900/frances.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa_2t1E6zEMBSZ-OQc0tCZHAU-pRGE9vYNeBr1qzRrZxwgNI8UtCti56e5QF-NXA0n1wpPS6eKTWW0hxJu6oZ5Kp_VC-rZ5It_WdNFmyKvg2HEGDVoy0DlYNkapwB5qzF85OSIve6Yz5KDGIj42Of02he4nxfPPDJa8MIj9VQ8jWzWmdCv6_mOBBMATE/w426-h640/frances.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrim6IKZC7knr5U5FYmlZS-7DCOke7iKY30Kwh-Z7ThvSUlvJCDhU8ZnhLMOGu91RXmGAvaiNeyYH7Nc-xc-5b-hhOWRt3ZjuOR2nBfQxI4vYuEMVjZ8HahwNIQdO0bNITPr-_Gud7cjcHO_u26EO7i4PhLwB82wepA6Z0YJ2n6vRBFpmRP4JknClqdE/s900/casey.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrim6IKZC7knr5U5FYmlZS-7DCOke7iKY30Kwh-Z7ThvSUlvJCDhU8ZnhLMOGu91RXmGAvaiNeyYH7Nc-xc-5b-hhOWRt3ZjuOR2nBfQxI4vYuEMVjZ8HahwNIQdO0bNITPr-_Gud7cjcHO_u26EO7i4PhLwB82wepA6Z0YJ2n6vRBFpmRP4JknClqdE/w426-h640/casey.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlnNTkAGEmeZH2Kr6lOJEyJHvnSgqdrzeHDCJ2UyLO6V70taRw9oc7jDyrLJZc7D_kk_wfOwlKE20Cic4Wc-kmfVPT1TaaDAhuTs8I9kD5JdIbn-HoX7MT-w3eOY9AEYvamoZKrtbiCAOgH5izsQePTzdl9bFzPkesesmD8OWUEtaOfW3rbQ8s8Rfic4/s500/image0%20(15).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="more smiles Oxted cycling club" border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlnNTkAGEmeZH2Kr6lOJEyJHvnSgqdrzeHDCJ2UyLO6V70taRw9oc7jDyrLJZc7D_kk_wfOwlKE20Cic4Wc-kmfVPT1TaaDAhuTs8I9kD5JdIbn-HoX7MT-w3eOY9AEYvamoZKrtbiCAOgH5izsQePTzdl9bFzPkesesmD8OWUEtaOfW3rbQ8s8Rfic4/w640-h480/image0%20(15).jpeg" title="more smiles Oxted cycling club" width="640" /></a></div><br />AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-7049078937311663722023-08-12T07:52:00.000+01:002023-08-12T07:52:07.671+01:00FTP, Vo2 max<p>There are many metrics to measure performance. And an industry ready to supply the hardware to do it. A quick internet search will find advice about how to improve those numbers. There are more, but I do wonder if it's useful. If you're a pro and your livelihood depends on it, then yes. But if you ride at the weekend and maybe do the occasional sportive or charity ride; does it matter? </p><p>I initially bought into the hype. I wear a heart rate monitor for most rides. I nearly bought a power meter.</p><p>The HRM is used by apps calculate an estimate of how many calories burned. It's useful to know how much food I should eat.</p><p>A power meter supplies some numbers that indicate how much force I'm generating. These allow a few things; if the number is big I can boast about it, info about possible training plans and how I might be improving.<br /></p><p>Having knowledge about training zones can lead to subscription training services and maybe a coach. </p><p>I've no problem with the above if it works for you. I don't think it would work for me. </p><p>I have ridden some TT's and hill climbs; with varying success. Which is okay, but I doubt I'd have the time for much structure. </p><p>It could be motivational, but I've not had much of a problem with that. Exercise has become part of my routine.</p><p>I was a participant in some <a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/2022/01/lab-rat.html">research</a> in Jan 2022. This meant I tested my Vo2 max. I don't know what it is now; it was 51. A lot has happened since so I am thinking about having it tested again. Does it matter? Not really. I doubt I'd change the amount of riding I do. </p><p>Another popular test is lactate threshold. A measure of how well your body deals with and tolorates the byproduct of working muscles. Obviously I have no idea what my score is.</p><p>The more I think about the tech and the tests, the less likely I am to buy into them. I feel I know my body well enough to gauge how it will react to the load I might place on it. I know when I can push harder and when to ease up. And how far is too much.</p><p>Saturday club rides are another way to measure changes. Especially if it attracts new, younger people to keep up with.<br /></p><p>Lastly the bikepacking trips I started last year place extra strain on me. The multi day makeup of them demonstrates how well I can recover.<br /></p><p><br /></p>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-55808857246488683892023-07-26T20:38:00.005+01:002023-08-12T16:53:42.824+01:00Around the island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp9TovuGSPMNO8fsfMIkhPt4UvYn3odjlEr7R5FbCcaDVevcwmBm3hKdNrAYL5YTgqSm6VCfNwA4glDys_-0LHVbXIjOeZjkKG3KPuTQlmriyuwNP5QHgAWBfRmzsTYXYl3Gx4Z3aCdTs8-gMGrylTapPUn5Ly4Ft9XzNdQ86DkbNTBqazFax2Z1uk8Q/s3025/me%20at%20the%20needles.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="me at the needles isle of wight" border="0" data-original-height="2269" data-original-width="3025" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp9TovuGSPMNO8fsfMIkhPt4UvYn3odjlEr7R5FbCcaDVevcwmBm3hKdNrAYL5YTgqSm6VCfNwA4glDys_-0LHVbXIjOeZjkKG3KPuTQlmriyuwNP5QHgAWBfRmzsTYXYl3Gx4Z3aCdTs8-gMGrylTapPUn5Ly4Ft9XzNdQ86DkbNTBqazFax2Z1uk8Q/w640-h480/me%20at%20the%20needles.jpeg" title="me at the needles isle of wight" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>My second trip this year included a ferry. Not to a different country though; the Isle of Wight was my destination.</p>Arriving in Portsmouth by bicycle meant I could use the foot passenger only catamaran that landed me in Ryde, my base for two nights. I hadn't thought of using the hovercraft, I was under the impression it was no longer in use. I talked to my sister about my holiday and she mentioned them. Gone are the huge craft capable of carrying cars. These are much smaller, they do carry bikes. But they have to be packaged as cargo. The vessel I used has cycle racks, so much less hassle.<div><p>The trip to Portsmouth.</p><p>It was a good journey, rolling hills that were not too much of a test. Except for a very steep climb after about 40 miles, it peaked at 20%, then 15 miles later another at over 15%.</p><p>I arrived at Midhurst needing lunch. A very busy town, I found a seat outside the Midhurst bakery.</p><p>Delicious coffee and the best vegan "sausage" rolls. The filling was curried veg, I had two.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM1-ie_Zqzi-8e709nriWZH_dffonkuFZ5yG3GpUqyiCvUlRb2DTVqhe_XB7mXt_2StDr70YATWvMo5ypPd6bbf12dES0TEaa0y_WIuyHlYQG0r--es4kB-6F7A-yYArpyby8WRrP4wToPhJHRVHJv3sdCGioJzGizlHtZ-11duOQZxr4zzM7xYQ1mcE/s3747/The%20Midhurst%20Bakery.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="midhurst bakery" border="0" data-original-height="2810" data-original-width="3747" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM1-ie_Zqzi-8e709nriWZH_dffonkuFZ5yG3GpUqyiCvUlRb2DTVqhe_XB7mXt_2StDr70YATWvMo5ypPd6bbf12dES0TEaa0y_WIuyHlYQG0r--es4kB-6F7A-yYArpyby8WRrP4wToPhJHRVHJv3sdCGioJzGizlHtZ-11duOQZxr4zzM7xYQ1mcE/w640-h480/The%20Midhurst%20Bakery.jpeg" title="midhurst bakery" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for the food to be warmed at Midhurst bakery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Interesting place names. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBGS1iEiSwkwZz5QDJPhYv8T_Ge1uDZ0Zg7dmYaUiiaDC6IAJX7vuN_q6THTyv8VFDhH0R8kyyyyWdSxbYMfEmtQe5SkMgSNzN4uS6JyM__frpj2S6jPR8s6EhdP722zTwWPdtLbyaHhUw_rcN0O_RdS4KwUomzOH7AQbyWf2atAl7KVWjPFwpwxZICg/s3731/place%20names.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2798" data-original-width="3731" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBGS1iEiSwkwZz5QDJPhYv8T_Ge1uDZ0Zg7dmYaUiiaDC6IAJX7vuN_q6THTyv8VFDhH0R8kyyyyWdSxbYMfEmtQe5SkMgSNzN4uS6JyM__frpj2S6jPR8s6EhdP722zTwWPdtLbyaHhUw_rcN0O_RdS4KwUomzOH7AQbyWf2atAl7KVWjPFwpwxZICg/w400-h300/place%20names.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Unfortunately not long after lunch on a narrow country lane an idiot who was either too impatient, didn't care or incompetent overtook when there wasn't enough room. It took me off the bike.</p><p>Three people stopped. Two women had first aid training and a huge kit. They cleaned and patched up my knee and elbow. The third, Robert, rang 111. I discussed what happened and how I felt. It was decided I didn't need an ambulance, which was good. Robert suggested I take the lift in the horse box offered by the two women to the nearest station and head home. I declined, the bike was rideable and I really wanted to get to the island. Luckily I had obtained the name, number and reg from the idiot because by the time I had been patched up she had gone. Robert was the last to leave, staying until I had got my head together and could carry on. It was whilst we stood and chatted that I assessed my situation. My gilet was shredded, the jersey underneath had damage to the shoulder, and my shorts had a huge hole in them. I used some gauze bandage to stop the grazes sticking to what was left of the garment and to cover my dignity.</p><p>My first view of the coast.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOhflznOB4s_wFGzPJKDB5nIozktuFGTQB2wbMZuR9SyINJNt9gUj4fLO0jw_9YYU3qPLK_aC5oC_TNKj9u-Ejnpcn5OzkNthaCIKVSSOMqPAeubxb6S5WaU0SmlG0BdzSWAS8g1dxZCNed_GlJaiCRnh2D_PJ8c2wU-UJOIiA7uD90OLq5X4Ry9k_Mo/s3748/1st%20site%20of%20portsmouth%20hardbour.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="3748" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOhflznOB4s_wFGzPJKDB5nIozktuFGTQB2wbMZuR9SyINJNt9gUj4fLO0jw_9YYU3qPLK_aC5oC_TNKj9u-Ejnpcn5OzkNthaCIKVSSOMqPAeubxb6S5WaU0SmlG0BdzSWAS8g1dxZCNed_GlJaiCRnh2D_PJ8c2wU-UJOIiA7uD90OLq5X4Ry9k_Mo/w640-h480/1st%20site%20of%20portsmouth%20hardbour.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I had intended to walk around the naval dockyard and take pictures of HMS Victory etc. Not surprisingly I didn't feel like it.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVpdXWAJK6L9gl-Ba8531JAfwbE5wDhaFVhtJqeXWwc8lG2nWBNB3nHYnKCU9Ax7lAkz9GLg5RpbQrgQv7sewXO1jU-yqIaC_p4g4ZhVWOD2bGZGr2hNSBGFc5t0GpK67VH7Gk5XzGb39aqeDaR0hId-PpyQcF7ve7LNkW3Ix6JXoQNq-LlxsmOvPbeg/s3814/hms%20warrior.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img alt="HMS Warrior" border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="3814" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVpdXWAJK6L9gl-Ba8531JAfwbE5wDhaFVhtJqeXWwc8lG2nWBNB3nHYnKCU9Ax7lAkz9GLg5RpbQrgQv7sewXO1jU-yqIaC_p4g4ZhVWOD2bGZGr2hNSBGFc5t0GpK67VH7Gk5XzGb39aqeDaR0hId-PpyQcF7ve7LNkW3Ix6JXoQNq-LlxsmOvPbeg/w640-h480/hms%20warrior.jpeg" title="HMS Warrior" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">HMS Warrior opposite the ferry/train terminal. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2n-hES4smolIfLzB7l5VZfgpeyLW7Sx2G5xd_UZFAohrdPqtMM-Qp3xys3GGyJLcXRnnehiuAlNpghWOd7Ui-ZlWhudJW-eneExtGwu8oTQnIqXwQtTbtfYW97aw8PN2s25hvcOKhUeln-HI9xgQ9JypPAwt6HpiGmwY4KsTe_CdqsImgCwQYJsSmRtY/s4032/Spinnaker%20Tower.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spinnaker Tower" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2n-hES4smolIfLzB7l5VZfgpeyLW7Sx2G5xd_UZFAohrdPqtMM-Qp3xys3GGyJLcXRnnehiuAlNpghWOd7Ui-ZlWhudJW-eneExtGwu8oTQnIqXwQtTbtfYW97aw8PN2s25hvcOKhUeln-HI9xgQ9JypPAwt6HpiGmwY4KsTe_CdqsImgCwQYJsSmRtY/w480-h640/Spinnaker%20Tower.jpeg" title="Spinnaker Tower" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinnaker Tower<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;">I did take a couple of pictures from the ferry.</p><p style="text-align: right;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUUPzH5ItXn8nmCY3NIqVgyyUvBuA_fX0idF4SvqutXFtUqMcGCt_fxk4YPuKAyOBz6DvBoXlhm7aUxtxTQLD_CfV0qD8QAAKLWGHquNvICv735PSxXSg9pDQNbWXdcnjxjTseHqkyILzxEmlYUIAjOlvJiCEGcoIqPA9DAKXHpf2pPGHym9ZtgTXNm0/s2966/harbour%20from%20the%20ferry.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="portsmouth harbour" border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="2966" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUUPzH5ItXn8nmCY3NIqVgyyUvBuA_fX0idF4SvqutXFtUqMcGCt_fxk4YPuKAyOBz6DvBoXlhm7aUxtxTQLD_CfV0qD8QAAKLWGHquNvICv735PSxXSg9pDQNbWXdcnjxjTseHqkyILzxEmlYUIAjOlvJiCEGcoIqPA9DAKXHpf2pPGHym9ZtgTXNm0/w640-h480/harbour%20from%20the%20ferry.jpeg" title="portsmouth harbour" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: right;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The ferry docks at the end of Ryde Pier. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlW0zx_-iWVveexpT9bcS03NK0UexRoTXycYVoW5w72Ksgg-T3jSA4R1OrMv9AS5oS8Vexe5yldMyKxB6Kc1-DhY47M7N21aTI_s8USMNHWAnnzGXhxUVQj8vwY-1Tef3gae2n3ozbEV5xHiIgM8fW3CZl1z7gas5eNaaYMIUUhacuBd1PefJ0SZTNHk/s3836/ryde%20pier.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ryde pier" border="0" data-original-height="2877" data-original-width="3836" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlW0zx_-iWVveexpT9bcS03NK0UexRoTXycYVoW5w72Ksgg-T3jSA4R1OrMv9AS5oS8Vexe5yldMyKxB6Kc1-DhY47M7N21aTI_s8USMNHWAnnzGXhxUVQj8vwY-1Tef3gae2n3ozbEV5xHiIgM8fW3CZl1z7gas5eNaaYMIUUhacuBd1PefJ0SZTNHk/w640-h480/ryde%20pier.jpeg" title="ryde pier" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It was a short walk up the hill to my hotel. I must have looked a bit of a mess, but no-one at the ferry or hotel made any mention of it. </p><p>Staying in one place for more than a night was a welcome change, especially considering the situation I found myself in. I'll also ensure I have company in the future. Which will please my family.</p><p>Last month's trip had me checking out every morning. Traveling to a new place by bike is very rewarding, knowing I achieved it by my own effort. But it was nice to return to the same place in the evening. Maybe my future plans will change now. Instead of constantly moving on I could base myself in one place and ride loops each day.</p><p>Another change; I wasn't alone, on the island at least. Stefan was my guide. I'd never met him face to face before.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH13uQp5P7YX2965ZDbIJDMAOtzwuZcnEshdQCQytxMQbccRZS36HOWscDbm0bjJv9IyejaEtTjXgqfTxFb2ozb3KqsoLQ9QX7c0AZL6XQJ2NNK7zq7x2G8FINrVCbpmR6iv2-HQdgsZBQRarK1mQ4eU-F4i3vMU_8nh_rUL84ui-vneHXbkTgF5OoXTg/s2048/ride.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="ride artwork stefan powell" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH13uQp5P7YX2965ZDbIJDMAOtzwuZcnEshdQCQytxMQbccRZS36HOWscDbm0bjJv9IyejaEtTjXgqfTxFb2ozb3KqsoLQ9QX7c0AZL6XQJ2NNK7zq7x2G8FINrVCbpmR6iv2-HQdgsZBQRarK1mQ4eU-F4i3vMU_8nh_rUL84ui-vneHXbkTgF5OoXTg/w400-h300/ride.jpeg" title="ride artwork stefan powell" width="400" /></a>Our first interaction was me seeing his artwork on twitter. I bought a framed print.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Later I tweeted my plan to take a trip to the island. Stefan suggested we could meet and he'd show me around.</p><p>A couple of weeks before departure we had a video call. We talked about what I wanted to do, and where I'd like to visit. Marcia was within earshot some of the time and remarked afterwards that he seemed like a nice man; high praise.</p><p>I sent Stefan a message to update him. The planned ride was obviously off. I was feeling pretty down and sorry for myself. He replied saying he'd drive to meet me at the cafe as we'd discussed previously. I hadn't fancied the breakfast offering from the hotel. A full fry-up veg style was also expensive at £9.99.</p><p>We drove the route discussed a couple of weeks earlier. And chatted about our lives, thoughts and plans. Probably more so than if we'd been on the bikes.</p><p>It was just what I needed. He is an easy going friendly guy. The day was absolutely brilliant.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD6a8EgyfE_UKJ6X7wWhWtunEM7RtSzShE2dzPWyD3_NlxPgbmBrOvJ6lFqktw2K8iNaeIQVKhJU4mOaM24fu-I1mk1tw8KjCWQGjw44KTxYUuN716HYBW0xnQCE38-J2fDAALyGQftEI5_BFRnm2feFLdur4Xez-BivBIevMGgMkWUoYoik3edJ2VnA/s3127/%20st%20helens%20church%20ruins%20nodes%20point%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="st helens church ruins nodes point" border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="3127" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD6a8EgyfE_UKJ6X7wWhWtunEM7RtSzShE2dzPWyD3_NlxPgbmBrOvJ6lFqktw2K8iNaeIQVKhJU4mOaM24fu-I1mk1tw8KjCWQGjw44KTxYUuN716HYBW0xnQCE38-J2fDAALyGQftEI5_BFRnm2feFLdur4Xez-BivBIevMGgMkWUoYoik3edJ2VnA/w640-h480/%20st%20helens%20church%20ruins%20nodes%20point%202.jpeg" title="st helens church ruins nodes point" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">st helens church ruins nodes point</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We drove into the Nodes Point caravan park for the pic above. As we got out of the van we were approached by an employee. He asked if we were residents, we said no. It looked like he was about to ask us to leave. Stefan said we wouldn't be long and then pointed at me, explaining my situation. Saying we'd just like a picture or two. His demeanour softened, and said it was very disappointing how terrible some people drove, then left us to have a walk.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPJiniz8g4usSq7BBzCUqA_EU4s7LoroAJ_WF5rHOsAuM5-FVaTkZJqX2vOuXJrJDe0uUnrVEOBDfCfhsP0L0REqGPgUuzwmHzybojS4P7zL8nnO5SOWtbCtXcpYvO8j6_qLzi2Vj7rj1izb_S-3Vp8iQbVBM7YxF2vY8LxUmFDeQxBIz4w1nR36rBlU/s4032/culver%20down.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="culver down" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPJiniz8g4usSq7BBzCUqA_EU4s7LoroAJ_WF5rHOsAuM5-FVaTkZJqX2vOuXJrJDe0uUnrVEOBDfCfhsP0L0REqGPgUuzwmHzybojS4P7zL8nnO5SOWtbCtXcpYvO8j6_qLzi2Vj7rj1izb_S-3Vp8iQbVBM7YxF2vY8LxUmFDeQxBIz4w1nR36rBlU/w640-h480/culver%20down.jpeg" title="culver down" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next stop was Culver Down. A view of the coast from the top.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIXpdcMRci0dDWbul2lEqRO8GsWa9gVJIRnKqrnSpnzqxaJkReTFcCo9L5fLsqW3zkxkSR6H_5WGkOW2XceiCuDBJsU2BLvmzse2HZqvvu16Ds7A_XYo1TyFEDTOFgVuHtBsCFyXwFUq8qKkkqq_1PS_UZwLw78enQA6lsJmXPGnyZv5xEcZKJfEFgAQ/s4032/Earl%20of%20Yarborough%20Monument.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Earl of Yarborough Monument" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIXpdcMRci0dDWbul2lEqRO8GsWa9gVJIRnKqrnSpnzqxaJkReTFcCo9L5fLsqW3zkxkSR6H_5WGkOW2XceiCuDBJsU2BLvmzse2HZqvvu16Ds7A_XYo1TyFEDTOFgVuHtBsCFyXwFUq8qKkkqq_1PS_UZwLw78enQA6lsJmXPGnyZv5xEcZKJfEFgAQ/w480-h640/Earl%20of%20Yarborough%20Monument.jpeg" title="Earl of Yarborough Monument" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We saw the Earl of Yarborough Monument from a long way off. It was erected by the locals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The inscription reads:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">TO THE MEMORY</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">OF</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">CHARLES ANDERSON PELHAM</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">EARL OF YARBOROUGH</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">BARON YARBOROUGH</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">OF YARBOROUGH IN THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">BARON WORSLEY</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">OF APPULDURCOMBE IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">D.C.L. F.R.S. F.S.A.</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">WHOSE BENEVOLENCE KINDNESS, HEART</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">AND</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">MANY VIRTUES</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">ENDEARED HIM TO ALL WHO KNEW HIM</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">THIS MONUMENT</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">WAS ERECTED</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">AS TESTIMONY AFFECTION AND RESPECT</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /><span face="verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #223322; font-size: 12.96px;">BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION</span><br style="color: #223322; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.96px;" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shanklin with its thatched high street was next. We had a bit of a walk and a coffee then moved on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rZLBQYkZaMJAioPe8696zsbGHIz2G6eha2gSqAkjDjKU18sr2e-Uincr7KxGJZQ68t_H2IwWQerH3VNC_7DW_PugyCNpb98wDdVped2KcwKBArJFHOBQh22Eg3qtwiQU4V70qbSB-k0jdajQZwNK0tDOGci8o9C2ohadIhst8BtMsD5NLiZbkqTeqZs/s4032/shanklin.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rZLBQYkZaMJAioPe8696zsbGHIz2G6eha2gSqAkjDjKU18sr2e-Uincr7KxGJZQ68t_H2IwWQerH3VNC_7DW_PugyCNpb98wDdVped2KcwKBArJFHOBQh22Eg3qtwiQU4V70qbSB-k0jdajQZwNK0tDOGci8o9C2ohadIhst8BtMsD5NLiZbkqTeqZs/w640-h480/shanklin.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Blackgang chine gave a photo op. Unfortunately the dinosaurs were protected by fences so I settled for a pic of the pirate.</div><div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2IRTSQlxU-ydezaFk0yBDejjVJwRGMDno_nMcTkuP8WcLEnkbRjTcfqZVmu3ambygQSvDFtZ894lV45ncVvs4aov1i3GRo2gPjuL1ExCwAwiJ9Gkhw59Cnc_ztPtj4ILwaOZ3_BChW5uJgkph__oUdCzFNWmynNXpDsJEdCg6sbLgjBRMhKDDMUY6nI/s3376/pirate%20blackgang%20chine.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pirate Blackgang chine" border="0" data-original-height="3376" data-original-width="2532" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2IRTSQlxU-ydezaFk0yBDejjVJwRGMDno_nMcTkuP8WcLEnkbRjTcfqZVmu3ambygQSvDFtZ894lV45ncVvs4aov1i3GRo2gPjuL1ExCwAwiJ9Gkhw59Cnc_ztPtj4ILwaOZ3_BChW5uJgkph__oUdCzFNWmynNXpDsJEdCg6sbLgjBRMhKDDMUY6nI/w300-h400/pirate%20blackgang%20chine.jpeg" title="pirate Blackgang chine" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were now on the military road with its spectacular views. The one below was straight out of the van window while stopped at the side of the road. Although the whole route had vistas just as impressive.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGIOungs_h53DnRp9NzzTTqv_lGPUznAhEyeIuTQYMHtyIi04ZuTvjVnbxuDvJXwGRskYdpG-1QyTnwQju0xJXUmmMHEVu5HbMVYSCa5tZ4kN5UEZEmPuhfds7fUblqe0J2VqyssA-MMmBoQB2U9g4LqF9QtyP9CpKFMDKIfpWi34KRJWXb1G4eI9l4k/s3955/great%20view%20from%20thevanjpeg.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="view from the van" border="0" data-original-height="2966" data-original-width="3955" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGIOungs_h53DnRp9NzzTTqv_lGPUznAhEyeIuTQYMHtyIi04ZuTvjVnbxuDvJXwGRskYdpG-1QyTnwQju0xJXUmmMHEVu5HbMVYSCa5tZ4kN5UEZEmPuhfds7fUblqe0J2VqyssA-MMmBoQB2U9g4LqF9QtyP9CpKFMDKIfpWi34KRJWXb1G4eI9l4k/w640-h480/great%20view%20from%20thevanjpeg.jpeg" title="view from the van" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Near Brook is a carpark being reclaimed by the sea. They have to regularly fence off more and more of the paved area and move the stairs back as the tide moves inland.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-gQCe_FsRnaLKpr6rSBDXwXVeRpfmXRR2uwF5HNEUllyNVw9ep4y-JA4UyXXkUBMBA0fWxp9c-1qlQuaqOQ9MWJl2ekgVK-y7dm3M4VTtk_8md-haUF3COX6pNAek6wRuWiwR2c-FulBQ9JhtoCMqx5Tyu0sQXKgxSFI_DOJCmXkrymIAMxiZhLQzd0/s4032/receding%20coastline.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-gQCe_FsRnaLKpr6rSBDXwXVeRpfmXRR2uwF5HNEUllyNVw9ep4y-JA4UyXXkUBMBA0fWxp9c-1qlQuaqOQ9MWJl2ekgVK-y7dm3M4VTtk_8md-haUF3COX6pNAek6wRuWiwR2c-FulBQ9JhtoCMqx5Tyu0sQXKgxSFI_DOJCmXkrymIAMxiZhLQzd0/w640-h480/receding%20coastline.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was time for lunch so we went to The Freshwater Coffee House. Stefan is rightly proud. It's a great place to visit. Just as we were leaving they brought out vegan chocolate brownies. I could not resist. So much so that I didn't pause to take a picture.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last stop was the Needles, the walk from the carpark gave a view of Alum bar. Famous for its coloured cliff face.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3oQFCIdXPuPtCL-fgflvByRiiR_bmMd1SSKm55VYq8n74_bsegCydKorffMipjzLZEnHY2Y_3n-GeyM2wmsV7Cg5hh62vobjPUlgDuvGhYa6VGCfs-EKx78JMlv__a43TmkdYS_iRB7SWpZ8YEKfkvN3wp4xGnt5gf5ZtpY_udCZLFD6wWcjCXGc6WI/s4032/alum%20bay.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alum Bay" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3oQFCIdXPuPtCL-fgflvByRiiR_bmMd1SSKm55VYq8n74_bsegCydKorffMipjzLZEnHY2Y_3n-GeyM2wmsV7Cg5hh62vobjPUlgDuvGhYa6VGCfs-EKx78JMlv__a43TmkdYS_iRB7SWpZ8YEKfkvN3wp4xGnt5gf5ZtpY_udCZLFD6wWcjCXGc6WI/w640-h480/alum%20bay.jpeg" title="Alum Bay" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alum Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>I hadn't been to the Needles before.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBysbX1f2RSp3jVI-8rPucBojHKIGSgEjsZ2ZkQz_8WSfsk-sZtpIohS9hyNC9FPvMd9NBT-toPob4QtfJVmEEDn6A60mWRVguwV3Thq8FhmbnGWCqa1d_PNbVBppUz_U1hIDmjZRoNUkGiiUMMzhTL-P08MvjOBT-NvocNYNUTiBoIr8zNinnjJLvLQ/s4032/the%20needles.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="the needles" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBysbX1f2RSp3jVI-8rPucBojHKIGSgEjsZ2ZkQz_8WSfsk-sZtpIohS9hyNC9FPvMd9NBT-toPob4QtfJVmEEDn6A60mWRVguwV3Thq8FhmbnGWCqa1d_PNbVBppUz_U1hIDmjZRoNUkGiiUMMzhTL-P08MvjOBT-NvocNYNUTiBoIr8zNinnjJLvLQ/w640-h480/the%20needles.jpeg" title="the needles" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Stefan then drove me back to my hotel. The steps tracker on my watch recorded over six miles of walking. It certainly didn't feel like it. </p><p>That night I had dinner in an Italian restaurant. At first I was alone, it was just after opening time. The dining room soon filled up. I had wanted to eat there on the Sunday night but by 18:30 it was fully booked.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E6WXA2-vOtuMqH-a1RLyBjUurGi2e6x6MtSy67vtfBFQ7M7pyRSazSsgXxkiyYmu7UIUVE1Siq3AM5bbQdNKnzxwh58RBSfljygAIWVQF9B5anVFsiDii8mzMqqcNQ84csO3D8IWZGQcNknYCGEn1rxDImxVZEOx614hwrtKsSjGbvIFiqy6cPOzAKg/s4032/Ristorante%20Michelangelo.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ristorante Michelangelo" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E6WXA2-vOtuMqH-a1RLyBjUurGi2e6x6MtSy67vtfBFQ7M7pyRSazSsgXxkiyYmu7UIUVE1Siq3AM5bbQdNKnzxwh58RBSfljygAIWVQF9B5anVFsiDii8mzMqqcNQ84csO3D8IWZGQcNknYCGEn1rxDImxVZEOx614hwrtKsSjGbvIFiqy6cPOzAKg/w640-h480/Ristorante%20Michelangelo.jpeg" title="Ristorante Michelangelo" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 40px 0px 0px; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;">Ristorante Michelangelo</div></td></tr></tbody></table><p>After dinner I went for a walk. And discovered the hovercraft.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ze73usxYHgABhh1HHNPFeWkKYEKNmJNsIMI5lbg154Nc1HhRSJgn1HjPJrBkQlq1bIBVUXDhDbzw-kH9Me2SnGhQLzdLRw802MJj56a29JW9URpSJoq4_QIW_zwVQoLf9Ro1pXV7xmcng-Ol5jw3LQ805NPseqAuvv7tXLhpwCbnb4YNLe5hmxCdw5k/s2780/hover%20craft.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="isle of wight hovercraft" border="0" data-original-height="2085" data-original-width="2780" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ze73usxYHgABhh1HHNPFeWkKYEKNmJNsIMI5lbg154Nc1HhRSJgn1HjPJrBkQlq1bIBVUXDhDbzw-kH9Me2SnGhQLzdLRw802MJj56a29JW9URpSJoq4_QIW_zwVQoLf9Ro1pXV7xmcng-Ol5jw3LQ805NPseqAuvv7tXLhpwCbnb4YNLe5hmxCdw5k/w640-h480/hover%20craft.jpeg" title="isle of wight hovercraft" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Certainly not the behemoths of yesteryear.</p><p>Tuesday morning and time to go home. I woke early, packed, collected my bike and headed out along the pier. Breakfast was from the Seagull Cafe at the end.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyVKABNECIJ1y-8J6wivgm2Cp-vKMHooSWJ2IE5Iou4E6BsGx6iJ_DZ1PEqIXpYdfW4gpJUKuwM6iiabWBi4LIlWtgxUQNbLcGWvvzVsqge7LMZZ81eV2EZW9vf4k2SMuSVJyV7IqIUDRxYn9O7JzwaW7phDQO0wa_Pb4bqpZg3Ne-8CuoVuPnNK1hIE/s2814/breakfast.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="seagull cafe wightlink terminal ryde pier" border="0" data-original-height="2110" data-original-width="2814" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyVKABNECIJ1y-8J6wivgm2Cp-vKMHooSWJ2IE5Iou4E6BsGx6iJ_DZ1PEqIXpYdfW4gpJUKuwM6iiabWBi4LIlWtgxUQNbLcGWvvzVsqge7LMZZ81eV2EZW9vf4k2SMuSVJyV7IqIUDRxYn9O7JzwaW7phDQO0wa_Pb4bqpZg3Ne-8CuoVuPnNK1hIE/w640-h480/breakfast.jpeg" title="seagull cafe wightlink terminal ryde pier" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seagull cafe wightlink terminal ryde pier</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'd just missed a departure, but I didn't mind. It gave me time eat some porridge and drink a latte.</p><p>At the train station I bought a ticket from the office, we need to have these and not allow them to be closed. I asked if I needed to change during my journey. The guy behind the counter looked pleased and said "no you look just fine dressed as your are". It made me smile. He informed me Americans especially like this joke. A machine wouldn't have been the same.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab6avFXLmumuwSDoA7Kn4AmQhkXPPovGA2YoqRjLOwd0kTtCw9lkaCX2akPCF797sMMxf5uLCB73K9XiH9bgDrqQpxn1GFYZub-6IzWrtG8YB8Z6ttvlHSPOGCGe0ywPJNUIAPq446fEYq1vJXHWvf2WNSwW923dyPdDY9tls58Pcr4PxB8SVae_mwww/s3626/portsmouth%20and%20southsea%20station.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="portsmouth and southsea station" border="0" data-original-height="2719" data-original-width="3626" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiab6avFXLmumuwSDoA7Kn4AmQhkXPPovGA2YoqRjLOwd0kTtCw9lkaCX2akPCF797sMMxf5uLCB73K9XiH9bgDrqQpxn1GFYZub-6IzWrtG8YB8Z6ttvlHSPOGCGe0ywPJNUIAPq446fEYq1vJXHWvf2WNSwW923dyPdDY9tls58Pcr4PxB8SVae_mwww/w640-h480/portsmouth%20and%20southsea%20station.jpeg" title="portsmouth and southsea station" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for my train</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I changed at Gatwick, heading for another at Redhill. Unfortunately a points failure further up the line meant my final connection was cancelled. So I rode the last 7.5 miles to home.</p><p>A final thought. The roads that I saw on the island were well surfaced, great for riding on. It's the holiday season and they weren't that busy. Just like the standard European countries beloved of my fellow cyclists. Okay there aren't any incredible climbs, but I'll definitely be back to sample what is available. I wrote about the <a href="https://tinyurl.com/2cpknx84">impact of holidays</a>, the Isle of Wight has good travel connections. You don't need to fly for a start. I know the weather might not be as predictable, but no-one ever melted when they got rained on.</p><p>Links.</p><p><a href="https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/20064651.dinosaurs-50-years-blackgang-chine-isle-wight-photos/" target="_blank">Info about the dinosaurs</a> at Blackgang Chine.</p><p><a href="https://www.yelfshotel.com/" target="_blank">Yelf's Hotel</a>. An old style hotel, that is a bit tatty around the edges. The staff were friendly and helpful, if not that observant. The bike storage was in the cellar so very secure. If your bike is heavy I'd remove any luggage before taking it down there. The ramp is very steep. Don't load up until you have it in the courtyard for the same reason. Also on Monday I had been told there would be someone to unlock the gate, but I couldn't find anyone. I eventually left a message with one of the people serving breakfast that I wouldn't require the bike.</p><p>I told the receptionist on Monday evening I'd need to checkout early, before breakfast, the next day. She left a note for the night porter. He knocked on my room door just after seven and made sure I had the bike sorted and in the main bar area for me to leave shortly after.</p><p><a href="http://www.wightlink.co.uk" target="_blank">Wightlink Ferry</a>. Quick efficient service, joined to Portsmouth train station so it's easy to get to. There is another station, the one I left from. Just a short distance away; it's called Portsmouth and Southsea. Trains leave for London via Gatwick.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.ristorantemichelangelo.co.uk/" style="font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ristorante Michelangelo</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span face="Google Sans, arial, sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think this serves a more traditional menu. Certainly the pizza I had was devoid of cheese or a non dairy alternative. I think the heavily "cheesyfied" versions more commonly seen are an American inspired creation. The sweet was a disappointment though, which was a shame.</span></span></div><p><span face="Google Sans, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><br /></span><span face=""Google Sans", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9hdCOZaMtxuu_PJq749V_AGB-qoRoJyarlPX-qwg8NGqBe-ys4H3VSSxISwhZQmSo58isHLIWAz4PAfNi9bNYPfT7n_ner8t2_h_Qlmet1bueEtkt1GvrDYi8mQMaZ6758-0REPa3dYdXgCoMqsl1qiTTGK4HLi5oc2s3HH15W11ZOxrzmLeSY0xzsE/s3366/italian%20pizza.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2524" data-original-width="3366" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9hdCOZaMtxuu_PJq749V_AGB-qoRoJyarlPX-qwg8NGqBe-ys4H3VSSxISwhZQmSo58isHLIWAz4PAfNi9bNYPfT7n_ner8t2_h_Qlmet1bueEtkt1GvrDYi8mQMaZ6758-0REPa3dYdXgCoMqsl1qiTTGK4HLi5oc2s3HH15W11ZOxrzmLeSY0xzsE/w640-h480/italian%20pizza.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><a href="http://stefanpowell.co.uk" target="_blank">About Stefan</a>. <span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Exec & Leadership Coach. He also trains baristas and is a musician.</span></p><p><span class="r-18u37iz"><a href="https://www.freshwatercoffeehouse.co.uk/">The Freshwater Coffee House</a> An award winning establishment. Definitely visit if you are in the area.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2BidkfXLkgac7bQ2s8ZTjG41KxZqCp3EtXFkvxdgehBIz2TeQBFt_fb4mx_2XcoUOBUstw1HZLIZrlHTkliH1xeT_6urCJn5bNN-qyhkMDuuKijR0xor088YYKQ8iugjT45ZbfFVtuU7oNeKqOAFOnHYGMCrpLqPnJd6kLkBquPhLnlVoE0Uuyi5Us0/s4032/freshwater%20coffee%20house.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="freshwater coffer house" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2BidkfXLkgac7bQ2s8ZTjG41KxZqCp3EtXFkvxdgehBIz2TeQBFt_fb4mx_2XcoUOBUstw1HZLIZrlHTkliH1xeT_6urCJn5bNN-qyhkMDuuKijR0xor088YYKQ8iugjT45ZbfFVtuU7oNeKqOAFOnHYGMCrpLqPnJd6kLkBquPhLnlVoE0Uuyi5Us0/w640-h480/freshwater%20coffee%20house.jpeg" title="freshwater coffer house" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span class="r-18u37iz"><br /></span><p></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Artist </span><span class="r-18u37iz"><a href="https://www.thelittleboatiow.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Little Boat IW</a>. You can buy prints online, he does commissioned pieces too.</span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-71000353796352441962023-07-14T15:59:00.001+01:002023-07-14T15:59:31.063+01:00Trigger's broom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpS4Qv48QSNNWkGiRYKKmjq0ASs9vxJWpz5ZkymGvsNYZbaKzDUbTREDXijdAqD4-mYnkuTk-Ye9GQ3TJchTTjauFrElWkQZZ3LO2oP0TpZGg-O5TTzgAOSZYcoZJqrvR2NPCzO3f84Zibinc7Reh3o4KONsb6_410C9QQbNlgN_Zy9kcDncPicmCumw/s4032/whole%20bike%20with%20nerw%20forks%20and%20grips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rigid forks new handlebar grips" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpS4Qv48QSNNWkGiRYKKmjq0ASs9vxJWpz5ZkymGvsNYZbaKzDUbTREDXijdAqD4-mYnkuTk-Ye9GQ3TJchTTjauFrElWkQZZ3LO2oP0TpZGg-O5TTzgAOSZYcoZJqrvR2NPCzO3f84Zibinc7Reh3o4KONsb6_410C9QQbNlgN_Zy9kcDncPicmCumw/w640-h480/whole%20bike%20with%20nerw%20forks%20and%20grips.jpg" title="rigid forks new handlebar grips" width="640" /></a></div><br />My Kona Blast mountain bike has been altered again. Regular readers will know I have had it since late 2009. It was second hand but an improvement on the Peugeot I had ridden for three years.<p></p><div>There have been many changes: bigger brake discs now gripped by hydraulics, handlebars to better allow a bag for touring and upgrades as consumable items wore out. New wheels were the biggest investment. The only parts that remained were the fork and frame. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's no longer used for slogging through mud and bouncing over rocks. I now ride mostly on the road, to commute to the office or for coffee in Westerham on a Sunday. Maybe a bit of light off road and last month for bikepacking. </div><div><br /></div><div>The suspension fork isn't sophisticated, it's very heavy and I just don't need it. So when an opportunity came to buy a secondhand rigid version I went for it. The bike weighed nearly 15 kg, it's now lost over 2 kgs. I also bought second hand wheels as part of the package. They are lighter and have better hubs.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxREQPRQkKVbitja7tSJsfIwG9RLHFTLUr9H35EOfEJ_IENAOpKlKwrMYuCllSHs6M6FtKifaAz-x_ivFwCIx9I5Hz0GZ8Adg94xKQUusyMtPsNdN0_shBAUWVvOqrRveFz7beaURx8LBViXaRUM68XZIm0rKCJQry1SOTDNHjKSb_XL5m3jXzK3GiVek/s3774/carbon%20fibre%20forks%20-%20before%20paint.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3774" data-original-width="2830" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxREQPRQkKVbitja7tSJsfIwG9RLHFTLUr9H35EOfEJ_IENAOpKlKwrMYuCllSHs6M6FtKifaAz-x_ivFwCIx9I5Hz0GZ8Adg94xKQUusyMtPsNdN0_shBAUWVvOqrRveFz7beaURx8LBViXaRUM68XZIm0rKCJQry1SOTDNHjKSb_XL5m3jXzK3GiVek/s320/carbon%20fibre%20forks%20-%20before%20paint.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carbon fibre and logos on view<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The fork is made from carbon fibre, but was a bit tatty so I spruced it up. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusk5gSUH0abmr3GverSx-yYxiygRudyA9a6VpIWpBMvQrbPhSJAkZsI5LuKt5HxuNzSTAo42W9D94RfHX3qlzWTsefYRX_0DbC9PSEaEhuVdq-zl2M7MOjVNbp4Dm-dX0-oC66nnUgHyinML44lQ_AVuCx9L11ahXZfpvcca6AZ_iXdU9jNKbs-BgEO0/s4032/forks%20-%20painted.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="painted forks" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusk5gSUH0abmr3GverSx-yYxiygRudyA9a6VpIWpBMvQrbPhSJAkZsI5LuKt5HxuNzSTAo42W9D94RfHX3qlzWTsefYRX_0DbC9PSEaEhuVdq-zl2M7MOjVNbp4Dm-dX0-oC66nnUgHyinML44lQ_AVuCx9L11ahXZfpvcca6AZ_iXdU9jNKbs-BgEO0/w240-h320/forks%20-%20painted.jpg" title="painted forks" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">watching paint dry<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: center;"> Combining bright orange paint with a metal flake top coat. Should I have left it showing the magic material? <br /></div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: 120px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1NGECRKn-KTyYTw7XQlaql01JHttOtV5LumlBwCnSY4KiYN1bkJpFuFfYFJZ5uIzwZhZNrg5PJ6UqL9vhMdflwPxjZMw3QtjXOhnD1iEhHvZJoELqSjwFL9VtnqDLrUP-qR0pPak-0oMlMkHcgmKjLc4eZfODlkNNnLQsiuALSESdT2bBViefHORVAs/s4032/new%20grips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1NGECRKn-KTyYTw7XQlaql01JHttOtV5LumlBwCnSY4KiYN1bkJpFuFfYFJZ5uIzwZhZNrg5PJ6UqL9vhMdflwPxjZMw3QtjXOhnD1iEhHvZJoELqSjwFL9VtnqDLrUP-qR0pPak-0oMlMkHcgmKjLc4eZfODlkNNnLQsiuALSESdT2bBViefHORVAs/s320/new%20grips.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: right;">The handlebar grips were worn out. Ross Cycles had some orange ones. With the clamps sprayed to match I think they work well.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The cassette was worn; the new set of sprockets are from a road bike. Losing the lowest ratios means that the jump between each one is smaller. I can select a comfortable cadence that helps to maintain speed. With three chainrings up front I can still find a low enough option if needed.<br /></div><div> </div><div>I now have what could be called a flat bar cross country/gravel/touring bike. The amount I spent is much less than buying a new bike. And it's way is better for the environment.</div><div><br /></div><div>It climbs better and accelerates faster. I rode a gentle off road section and it coped well with the few roots and rocks I encountered. In fact the test ride confirmed a suspicion I had about the springs. They were too stiff for someone of my build. Only hitting a big bump at speed would cause any movement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Don't ask me to paint your bike. It didn't turn out as well as I'd planned. While the metal flake was wet, it looked terrible. Once dry the appearance improved, so that was a relief. The masking had also missed a few bits. The instructions said no primer needed and that I should have had enough for a frame and fork. The white logos took a lot to cover, so I used the whole can. I still have plenty of the sparkly top coat so I'm now looking for something else that needs this treatment.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>From a distance the fork looks okay, I'm generally pleased with the result. I'll have to work on my technique if another project looks likely.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>With regards to the blog title. I'll give you a clue: Only Fools & Horses. If you know, you know.</div></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-8542077743770997732023-06-24T15:05:00.025+01:002023-07-03T11:26:09.829+01:00Somerset circle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gjfqSqwfsL9AhctP4bgoGEjumxGc6N6jnCwntVqrZzVdfPP3d6R1Ez5C5PNO7mLGhAM0Ubzu1vzvssbzHBweRibkM_pqAYAxbkW5kh6c4opfJfpx6pwhBmRqJULAe7mKZhojt10ARpOcw25Gn2QewsAPnovMFlDBoYEEL1pA9TBI3V1C_OE3mXf2/s345/Screenshot%202023-01-31%20at%2014.26.13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bristol Cheddar Gorge Wells route" border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="345" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gjfqSqwfsL9AhctP4bgoGEjumxGc6N6jnCwntVqrZzVdfPP3d6R1Ez5C5PNO7mLGhAM0Ubzu1vzvssbzHBweRibkM_pqAYAxbkW5kh6c4opfJfpx6pwhBmRqJULAe7mKZhojt10ARpOcw25Gn2QewsAPnovMFlDBoYEEL1pA9TBI3V1C_OE3mXf2/w640-h450/Screenshot%202023-01-31%20at%2014.26.13.png" title="Bristol Cheddar Gorge Wells route" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Another cycling adventure completed; a six day trip, my longest so far. A journey of two parts: the first Bristol and back, the second following a WillCycle route guide starting and finishing in Bristol. </p><p>Over half is traffic-free, comprising national cycle
routes, quiet lanes and cycle paths. Will has investigated and written
many. His blog posts talk about a wide range of cycle touring subjects. He
likes to sleep in a tent; give me a B&B or hotel anyday. No tent means a lighter bike, which suits me. I went through a similar routine as I did last year. Pack, unpack and remove stuff, then add some bits, pack and then unpack to check I hadn't forgotten anything. In the end I stopped filling the bags and just laid it out in piles. As I left the house I was still anxious that I'd left something important behind.<br /></p><p>I rode my mountain bike because some sections of the loop were noted as not suitable for a road bike like mine. A touring or gravel bike would have been fine.<br /></p><p>Getting to the start took two days with a stop in Hungerford at the Three Swans Hotel. <br /></p><p>The ride was largely uninspiring. It started okay, crossing the Thames at Shepperton.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoJhbxdhmiKIVyKXBoEjA_1JPP1bwtcnQY-817Jh9LQbYReXhtRR7aq6vq18_z8G9vT8pVho7q0sypm9L2p5ZhQB1az8jATkPed2U-95Oa6Q0b-BzIGWqb68f8EhLHxWGapM1Sl5yd5UcO-2KHyUSd9BtgR1ccE4l0KZ3bZxn98Ew3Jm-557RUSZaLaQ/s4032/IMG_1060.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shepperton" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoJhbxdhmiKIVyKXBoEjA_1JPP1bwtcnQY-817Jh9LQbYReXhtRR7aq6vq18_z8G9vT8pVho7q0sypm9L2p5ZhQB1az8jATkPed2U-95Oa6Q0b-BzIGWqb68f8EhLHxWGapM1Sl5yd5UcO-2KHyUSd9BtgR1ccE4l0KZ3bZxn98Ew3Jm-557RUSZaLaQ/w640-h480/IMG_1060.jpeg" title="Shepperton" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the first of many river and canal crossings<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingCyBGAe2k5H5_NjZS9OfDCxLkxmYg7UXH_6sZn26Xarw2lS_kNInPNGhLt-pX-AQyTRjqJzQeLslJbmwPSu9Z2VzebbsKnEthrmUbja9ApY8U2-Yn5VeLIUI64BFNRsgP2MQ5Auy89vTA_mRuJutkZfvbr7TIjKDOvg7gjNOYHcHufH5oX4oWTLhsGc/s4032/IMG_1061.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Virginia Water" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingCyBGAe2k5H5_NjZS9OfDCxLkxmYg7UXH_6sZn26Xarw2lS_kNInPNGhLt-pX-AQyTRjqJzQeLslJbmwPSu9Z2VzebbsKnEthrmUbja9ApY8U2-Yn5VeLIUI64BFNRsgP2MQ5Auy89vTA_mRuJutkZfvbr7TIjKDOvg7gjNOYHcHufH5oX4oWTLhsGc/w640-h480/IMG_1061.jpeg" title="Virginia Water" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman remains at Virginia Water</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Royal Ascot was on, but there was little evidence of what was to come as I went past the racecourse.<p></p><p>For 55 miles I rode from one "M4 corridor" town to the next. I had thought there would be countryside after Chertsey. Instead it was urban until I left Theale. I didn't stopped for lunch until I got to Bradfield Southend because I wanted a country pub. The weather was hot but not oppressive, the constant traffic was. The Queen's Head served an all day vegan breakfast.</p><p>The country views lasted until Thatcham.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf3W9O-9lebrILvKia1d8FdXrL5MHGcZ5jFYTUPrpNhxAfmlg6i3VDn-ejfKR7iAKFbU87i4LhoxnOLznKA6tccMsY-ya2zKFvfbOlNaEAurwQ-lH-gcwJfpfJ8zxvyaDAb2sm7uNzJOvOc4okcY3ywf1s9OG8M2K6-R9-oBljBhlK8TmNnPGcPSUVPA/s4032/IMG_1066.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="country views at last" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf3W9O-9lebrILvKia1d8FdXrL5MHGcZ5jFYTUPrpNhxAfmlg6i3VDn-ejfKR7iAKFbU87i4LhoxnOLznKA6tccMsY-ya2zKFvfbOlNaEAurwQ-lH-gcwJfpfJ8zxvyaDAb2sm7uNzJOvOc4okcY3ywf1s9OG8M2K6-R9-oBljBhlK8TmNnPGcPSUVPA/w640-h480/IMG_1066.jpeg" title="country views at last" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">country views at last</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Then I turned off the main road again and peace returned.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxjEvIeQ_H7GHQFdtitVk18HzqxUCM-iW21NGg3jjHTJhivfD2yD34XOdJLuA0uH7NGDUwO0cL33OX0DcJP-xhWum0mCmYAbhsHFpqfGe4BAqfc-ScxkP2eY2SMqNxSzCxNoUpiMzZm_LMPC3GfXaKvSIFc1sWCudYt2udJiDjnQYGSmjKmy9W8qLxCY/s4032/IMG_1068.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="avon and somerset canal" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxjEvIeQ_H7GHQFdtitVk18HzqxUCM-iW21NGg3jjHTJhivfD2yD34XOdJLuA0uH7NGDUwO0cL33OX0DcJP-xhWum0mCmYAbhsHFpqfGe4BAqfc-ScxkP2eY2SMqNxSzCxNoUpiMzZm_LMPC3GfXaKvSIFc1sWCudYt2udJiDjnQYGSmjKmy9W8qLxCY/w640-h480/IMG_1068.jpeg" title="avon and somerset canal" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjXpVwN2cF4dVWwVyOD8oR0CqnZ8CAKwdQd3UoBdxwxMXanQsODs4bRCHMtbqWUMSUOopNz4EfYYb9ys4YS6m1WB1ZXnLxKsqMubL4Yg-mbi6Sya3ZNhUf7rMtmeyweeuvElSSbZ1EzkYadaTdlj7Z6ewTBeqpmXC5fFO6M_Cex3zmke9p6ERRqD1z3I/s4032/IMG_1067.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="avon and somerset canal" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjXpVwN2cF4dVWwVyOD8oR0CqnZ8CAKwdQd3UoBdxwxMXanQsODs4bRCHMtbqWUMSUOopNz4EfYYb9ys4YS6m1WB1ZXnLxKsqMubL4Yg-mbi6Sya3ZNhUf7rMtmeyweeuvElSSbZ1EzkYadaTdlj7Z6ewTBeqpmXC5fFO6M_Cex3zmke9p6ERRqD1z3I/w640-h480/IMG_1067.jpeg" title="avon and somerset canal" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">avon and somerset canal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was a little too early to check in so cake and coffee was consumed. A sign of things to come.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhZFJo-Xe3F-lvgRqkaaOLj3EYFc0ebn7eL6pTx55Tm9BwtFHykcIBRZt0Nw9O2GGvjjEXgIiQ5aAozP63YFdGSSWufYKzB01Pzuff9lvOa4h63zxyQOd6pZBd1M838PaHusnqNapcHPkJ_tsc2FeVLweRHZwF1zVHtVJyIbsRM36MnHm5ZwktDTXtIU/s4032/IMG_1070.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="coffee and cake at Coffee 1" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhZFJo-Xe3F-lvgRqkaaOLj3EYFc0ebn7eL6pTx55Tm9BwtFHykcIBRZt0Nw9O2GGvjjEXgIiQ5aAozP63YFdGSSWufYKzB01Pzuff9lvOa4h63zxyQOd6pZBd1M838PaHusnqNapcHPkJ_tsc2FeVLweRHZwF1zVHtVJyIbsRM36MnHm5ZwktDTXtIU/w640-h480/IMG_1070.jpeg" title="coffee and cake at Coffee 1" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coffee and cake at Coffee 1</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was then a seat by the canal to call everyone with an arrival update.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKW7_GQe7aDKDLvZoE1GRL6eP79RmZRfj8oGN908SJVwyiLIEv5cA5604NouMDXMs_Yyt1HUvMcIcDQ9MRiqHvtHMdpg9AwuTLJ1g6WFqrPauSx7MpFV_bvc5MVSdzWWmk3qK8mHlX72vybxruGbgxql_e_8O4zhwhgzXKXVCLmQvSAXKHGIB0JDrjMY/s4032/photo%2018-06-2023,%2015%2055%2000.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKW7_GQe7aDKDLvZoE1GRL6eP79RmZRfj8oGN908SJVwyiLIEv5cA5604NouMDXMs_Yyt1HUvMcIcDQ9MRiqHvtHMdpg9AwuTLJ1g6WFqrPauSx7MpFV_bvc5MVSdzWWmk3qK8mHlX72vybxruGbgxql_e_8O4zhwhgzXKXVCLmQvSAXKHGIB0JDrjMY/w640-h480/photo%2018-06-2023,%2015%2055%2000.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I had an unexpected companion at the hotel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnObIZJGtXD4htKWuFsKEzRIQSLIpdYEQVqrqyN5Ld1TAPn5P0olhhMRM6EiHvKhC6osQzs5EQ2b-vdFQe6r5DRYSzGC2yYhKnSjo1ePGsru24C0qbh3B8HKxkhsmwVDoBUBtUKfzuxuUaRG7qmDNzOdhyaJFgsuJEk7cwyQNUFypGhEOuABVtUZMdHyU/s4032/IMG_1073.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnObIZJGtXD4htKWuFsKEzRIQSLIpdYEQVqrqyN5Ld1TAPn5P0olhhMRM6EiHvKhC6osQzs5EQ2b-vdFQe6r5DRYSzGC2yYhKnSjo1ePGsru24C0qbh3B8HKxkhsmwVDoBUBtUKfzuxuUaRG7qmDNzOdhyaJFgsuJEk7cwyQNUFypGhEOuABVtUZMdHyU/s320/IMG_1073.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Next day was much better, country lanes all the way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfjhBu3CxUchDouUSyyeNBWI_UONirsqpCC1EVNKhHDGchmYPReT7izW1q6FWr6w_CtxzL2PBP2KpO_scDdnoS4gPCzJ0X7Fo0TNu2hshAdy27Z2885k2qSOLrrJgwMdltvsRC5_6mH07oGa1dILfhyq5Ij50S8TnIufsmcKqgEgybG2oNfgJvattDWA/s4032/IMG_1074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="river kennett" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfjhBu3CxUchDouUSyyeNBWI_UONirsqpCC1EVNKhHDGchmYPReT7izW1q6FWr6w_CtxzL2PBP2KpO_scDdnoS4gPCzJ0X7Fo0TNu2hshAdy27Z2885k2qSOLrrJgwMdltvsRC5_6mH07oGa1dILfhyq5Ij50S8TnIufsmcKqgEgybG2oNfgJvattDWA/w640-h480/IMG_1074.jpeg" title="river kennett" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkafu3aW5MycoHn2RptKxwNWevJu7k6MSYoUJ6_TErmMkOT1zP6Lkv4jhkULMuR9uypZt0Wsrm-pPIJpCQ9wUs7CcI9y-kg8oRDeVaJB5jVpZh9rBcWfo9_BNhkCC4JqqUToXRZ1gZw7DBYF7Y7u61kUq61Dot4CwF1j2W8QtHlua4d9MtOQxVGnK100/s4032/IMG_1075.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="river kennett" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkafu3aW5MycoHn2RptKxwNWevJu7k6MSYoUJ6_TErmMkOT1zP6Lkv4jhkULMuR9uypZt0Wsrm-pPIJpCQ9wUs7CcI9y-kg8oRDeVaJB5jVpZh9rBcWfo9_BNhkCC4JqqUToXRZ1gZw7DBYF7Y7u61kUq61Dot4CwF1j2W8QtHlua4d9MtOQxVGnK100/w640-h480/IMG_1075.jpeg" title="river kennett" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">river kennett</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsjp5JcUv-Sj7GxAt9RaKvOZCvuonGCVxvcfLXhVZCbrwlgGUP8dcsc6h--obHNvTwQkjsJwKXdkjDWvqo_8KHncAlYf-7ZsqnTxU8o9WKaK74ekyK3qgN03XLApsRPx2uLEpGirPTP9gKGw0TJRF0MSnBD-wlsgb-2GfiDhrQoBEUWSJNDt1ea48tlQ/s4032/IMG_1076.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsjp5JcUv-Sj7GxAt9RaKvOZCvuonGCVxvcfLXhVZCbrwlgGUP8dcsc6h--obHNvTwQkjsJwKXdkjDWvqo_8KHncAlYf-7ZsqnTxU8o9WKaK74ekyK3qgN03XLApsRPx2uLEpGirPTP9gKGw0TJRF0MSnBD-wlsgb-2GfiDhrQoBEUWSJNDt1ea48tlQ/w400-h300/IMG_1076.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wIkFzHaRqAT7Y4Kzy88k7t3lpDeJf_t519uZZzTZB4pGCJVL7mlK6VInU8_r3ZdoBxGU2wG9gSEQfAierF4VzX5wyuno97MXliM0wWpLQfKcEZ3_UXP_NaUJ_4IzUfkN-HC82DDFIeKGg8X-CdB5JTVLt82_IBpzklYJy5I87la37ywgaet0-GNBxwQ/s4032/IMG_1077.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wIkFzHaRqAT7Y4Kzy88k7t3lpDeJf_t519uZZzTZB4pGCJVL7mlK6VInU8_r3ZdoBxGU2wG9gSEQfAierF4VzX5wyuno97MXliM0wWpLQfKcEZ3_UXP_NaUJ_4IzUfkN-HC82DDFIeKGg8X-CdB5JTVLt82_IBpzklYJy5I87la37ywgaet0-GNBxwQ/w400-h300/IMG_1077.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Occasionally it looked like it might rain, but all that happened was it either became more humid or cooler.</p><p>Village pubs seem to not open on a Monday. Which meant I was stuck for somewhere to eat. A small shop was ready to serve me. Unfortunately they rarely stock vegan sandwiches etc. But they do sell savouries and bread. With onion rings and rolls stuffed down the front of my jersey I went looking for a bench.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibArc7yhVhcssmBt3LkafAehELV67PB4Vr3GVJ84Q1vY2Mk3mWgRJb0q85zWv5FnSZrGxG2hlcksyrjbdJr9EyyihbZS70hw0dUOklqR2gNG9KNx62O3S39_mCDUrUBssfc7uVicGIRoxj_r75Bll_6CT9YcjO_EskwGawvm5RYPphhI6jPWuQ30re0Y/s4032/IMG_1078.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lunch" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibArc7yhVhcssmBt3LkafAehELV67PB4Vr3GVJ84Q1vY2Mk3mWgRJb0q85zWv5FnSZrGxG2hlcksyrjbdJr9EyyihbZS70hw0dUOklqR2gNG9KNx62O3S39_mCDUrUBssfc7uVicGIRoxj_r75Bll_6CT9YcjO_EskwGawvm5RYPphhI6jPWuQ30re0Y/w400-h300/IMG_1078.jpeg" title="lunch" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A church yard is nearly always close by.<div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiNyJjMQ2r7luAeu7iXRdX5zdhq3fxW6jZGDGNDaVSxiYcglFOgJCUuiJB3PsfvE200vueryXAuhQmXT2LwMITt_VlKKnFlvb7vnEyrFbDM35WPKU__iMLpVq2VTZIXXDb1NraAHTf8fyKkC7ovoJj45RrJZSL1GUh2eOqEwoiWtzdPPOPcMWrtLdN3o/s4032/IMG_1079.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lunch venue" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiNyJjMQ2r7luAeu7iXRdX5zdhq3fxW6jZGDGNDaVSxiYcglFOgJCUuiJB3PsfvE200vueryXAuhQmXT2LwMITt_VlKKnFlvb7vnEyrFbDM35WPKU__iMLpVq2VTZIXXDb1NraAHTf8fyKkC7ovoJj45RrJZSL1GUh2eOqEwoiWtzdPPOPcMWrtLdN3o/w640-h480/IMG_1079.jpeg" title="lunch venue" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In Bristol my overnighter was the Washington Guest House. Just a half mile to go and there was a steep climb.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaS3lg_3HFThLcS_Q2yUoihO9PgtuEPFM_3lg7GN7W5HO8vT5c3xfQIZD6-_br-_hwrYpIrj3v7PYwHhQf7px5fga-Oa-z4wzgp72bHW2vB22oUz9sUnaphZQzwjiKR2kCGRg4FFsljZ4L7iry7d-DI23XWf9ADZzgIr3hpa_rcudANR3f_Rbb9by20g/s4032/IMG_1080.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaS3lg_3HFThLcS_Q2yUoihO9PgtuEPFM_3lg7GN7W5HO8vT5c3xfQIZD6-_br-_hwrYpIrj3v7PYwHhQf7px5fga-Oa-z4wzgp72bHW2vB22oUz9sUnaphZQzwjiKR2kCGRg4FFsljZ4L7iry7d-DI23XWf9ADZzgIr3hpa_rcudANR3f_Rbb9by20g/w400-h300/IMG_1080.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the picture doesn't convey the gradient</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /></div><div>A picture with the bridge was required before I checked in.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXA2LfLcycj3Kh2H6fLqWa7f7df6mzylvA4x5EY5zXWmocnoq9-41Fde1yjgUA_7KIhjPVO2_dTwdFoFrJN_i2XeYl7y8rTGAbbbnEtUwGQuH9tWRfSZmtZZaAFZ3W3c-_as92RhphzVjIt6W54DqKiTHnkNFfA1Z94Ozc3bw0N9aZgWbjXl4g5tzZcc/s4032/IMG_1081.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Clifton Suspension Bridge" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXA2LfLcycj3Kh2H6fLqWa7f7df6mzylvA4x5EY5zXWmocnoq9-41Fde1yjgUA_7KIhjPVO2_dTwdFoFrJN_i2XeYl7y8rTGAbbbnEtUwGQuH9tWRfSZmtZZaAFZ3W3c-_as92RhphzVjIt6W54DqKiTHnkNFfA1Z94Ozc3bw0N9aZgWbjXl4g5tzZcc/w480-h640/IMG_1081.jpeg" title="Clifton Suspension Bridge" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 0px; border: 0px none; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.75rem; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Clifton Suspension Bridge</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>I had a huge dinner so went walking to ease digestion. For a university city I was surprised to see this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6abCgmC6ZemMUoQKIJ_sJj43-cEkAXpC-Pjft2CIP4aznBM2Nn6QVN3gEJHH1Gfyg2_KpNlDWJxUu_8Kiy-hrRvedtkisby8Z_mTOofJWPHY_GjLog2lt_mpeOt_O-2ySBj4pLEWur59dwKIEu-sBmY1OavcFqRO-G-wDWz-co3UO7eWlmb8F883v82I/s4032/IMG_1082.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6abCgmC6ZemMUoQKIJ_sJj43-cEkAXpC-Pjft2CIP4aznBM2Nn6QVN3gEJHH1Gfyg2_KpNlDWJxUu_8Kiy-hrRvedtkisby8Z_mTOofJWPHY_GjLog2lt_mpeOt_O-2ySBj4pLEWur59dwKIEu-sBmY1OavcFqRO-G-wDWz-co3UO7eWlmb8F883v82I/w400-h300/IMG_1082.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Some views from the bridge.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzukC15UGnUJqUaWMBLZU3n5E0Oiak61mn0tMkKrwTMGaNYTalT8gf5ji7THFoAEG7K7kKRmFnMUxWCUoX3hkDDyEFGqYqj2M4xNkjH8nR3NAE5pcd__PjKNteTPZbPf9aGXZVJba3UDCzf96gI81MUHkhBrVal6xnV0r_EuUOqQHzYkmD-8UquObUbo/s4032/IMG_1084.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="view from the clifton suspension bridge" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzukC15UGnUJqUaWMBLZU3n5E0Oiak61mn0tMkKrwTMGaNYTalT8gf5ji7THFoAEG7K7kKRmFnMUxWCUoX3hkDDyEFGqYqj2M4xNkjH8nR3NAE5pcd__PjKNteTPZbPf9aGXZVJba3UDCzf96gI81MUHkhBrVal6xnV0r_EuUOqQHzYkmD-8UquObUbo/w640-h480/IMG_1084.jpeg" title="view from the clifton suspension bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FzAMSw6hSydo8uxPwNgawHvRGSPd2iPQhWPNbtZSi8gxoaQRiTuWbT8jr2WgnLPe_M4ItsM3keStfjuh0TM3ziaK2CFyJjm5hYplgfs5cROCRAw5mstYb-lHVK_x_xHAZjZGlsH_iBdgzre6BTZ72SpzfFDY5lI2nRuZnM7L0ilJfYzbguwXZqmLA78/s4032/IMG_1085.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="view from the clifton suspension bridge" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FzAMSw6hSydo8uxPwNgawHvRGSPd2iPQhWPNbtZSi8gxoaQRiTuWbT8jr2WgnLPe_M4ItsM3keStfjuh0TM3ziaK2CFyJjm5hYplgfs5cROCRAw5mstYb-lHVK_x_xHAZjZGlsH_iBdgzre6BTZ72SpzfFDY5lI2nRuZnM7L0ilJfYzbguwXZqmLA78/w640-h480/IMG_1085.jpeg" title="view from the clifton suspension bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82_u12ujX5W3E965MOW31DENDIPr2cpWZlEHNNciUHWd1uI8tgTroKo2fbLEY9SwklQMGiNQI91kUWpCXCV0eIenaRIAHKJxSb5aoSOaR6b2PZElLfUSw9Bql5B8Z3xnYvomFqsBFwHp9XH77RXnmIACpRweBsY3voF8oiLkcLoafk-PLSdCfh7GW5Pk/s4032/IMG_1086.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="view from the clifton suspension bridge" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82_u12ujX5W3E965MOW31DENDIPr2cpWZlEHNNciUHWd1uI8tgTroKo2fbLEY9SwklQMGiNQI91kUWpCXCV0eIenaRIAHKJxSb5aoSOaR6b2PZElLfUSw9Bql5B8Z3xnYvomFqsBFwHp9XH77RXnmIACpRweBsY3voF8oiLkcLoafk-PLSdCfh7GW5Pk/w640-h480/IMG_1086.jpeg" title="view from the clifton suspension bridge" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGzzc16watQ0Zt67TtfDueSl4rn8DD6Ose31-rcuC9c3ELUuQJ5Ugtia4jM2w8ti1VXvsnRJ2LxhsTTc3705FULf4moFtuaw6W0xeistcC9m8oueZDHK4We5-UorX66xNugO-1IJb_3v0R-82Z1kKMlgK_UuxUay9LJ22BU9eh08Pz-wm0faw0U_QpR8/s4032/IMG_1087.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="view up to the clifton suspension bridge" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGzzc16watQ0Zt67TtfDueSl4rn8DD6Ose31-rcuC9c3ELUuQJ5Ugtia4jM2w8ti1VXvsnRJ2LxhsTTc3705FULf4moFtuaw6W0xeistcC9m8oueZDHK4We5-UorX66xNugO-1IJb_3v0R-82Z1kKMlgK_UuxUay9LJ22BU9eh08Pz-wm0faw0U_QpR8/w300-h400/IMG_1087.jpeg" title="view up to the clifton suspension bridge" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view up to the clifton suspension bridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I hadn't realised how deep the gorge was; a just about walkable zig zag path took me very quickly to the bottom. A sign for the SS Great Britain had me extend my route. A harbourside path lead past a few busy pubs to the yard where it's docked. But it provided only a glimpse of the masts. I was too tired to walk back and then around the other side of the harbour. </div><div><p>The real adventure started on day three; Will's cycle route through Somerset to Wells.</p><p>It starts from Bristol station; I joined it at the river. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJUuf6KLlXXkGM2I5Au6CTqrMeB6A4iYZlD3lYuCMnNqqznatDplXeJ84D5XGx0Ckxwaa8ESII2iA1d88TeHB7xGF76MspPVYdzfRteBiU_sble-amlbe5xuOzVFOk0nhDYV_S-PVIDgjYRXWaHmy5ZiXkhJvD2sAPcfafb9ePFAj9LstsdbSHNMFAIw/s4032/IMG_1088.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJUuf6KLlXXkGM2I5Au6CTqrMeB6A4iYZlD3lYuCMnNqqznatDplXeJ84D5XGx0Ckxwaa8ESII2iA1d88TeHB7xGF76MspPVYdzfRteBiU_sble-amlbe5xuOzVFOk0nhDYV_S-PVIDgjYRXWaHmy5ZiXkhJvD2sAPcfafb9ePFAj9LstsdbSHNMFAIw/w400-h300/IMG_1088.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDTg4ifDLmwhz1yZhYqmzgYqAX4hVJYO8d4fuzFgcv3GVk9QaFkpRPF8ac4M5HivEVyIksNqZjhk_oXyoWTynL-ED7KSDjhYDsZ5cKcrcHcb16QidE_MtpoL9QBdsdMrrr-vo1kXP6qm2N7N5-Bhpmbru-C_XuiofndnCSOWHYNVi6aj_ZQTxhHDAOsY/s4032/IMG_1089.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDTg4ifDLmwhz1yZhYqmzgYqAX4hVJYO8d4fuzFgcv3GVk9QaFkpRPF8ac4M5HivEVyIksNqZjhk_oXyoWTynL-ED7KSDjhYDsZ5cKcrcHcb16QidE_MtpoL9QBdsdMrrr-vo1kXP6qm2N7N5-Bhpmbru-C_XuiofndnCSOWHYNVi6aj_ZQTxhHDAOsY/w640-h480/IMG_1089.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>It had rained heavily overnight; as it had on Sunday evening. The path along the river was a little muddy in places.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuv4OOPZEG7FziSgbtb6LyCARdPVokEIKk7Cu1b9bkKB0Rn-WvO7jOddS_kX8VNyMbyFTPX7Ub9qk-UkWNiS3LK1RXvdpKQxyUEULcGgwFKeZhLxNVdI2BVhnc0TJ7nlZFpvyE7m8nlGAvsmftwdHsKBjuGXW5R1YZi2garHbMkmm5XynK2-oU65Ee-s/s4032/IMG_1091.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuv4OOPZEG7FziSgbtb6LyCARdPVokEIKk7Cu1b9bkKB0Rn-WvO7jOddS_kX8VNyMbyFTPX7Ub9qk-UkWNiS3LK1RXvdpKQxyUEULcGgwFKeZhLxNVdI2BVhnc0TJ7nlZFpvyE7m8nlGAvsmftwdHsKBjuGXW5R1YZi2garHbMkmm5XynK2-oU65Ee-s/w640-h480/IMG_1091.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><p>Once out into the sun the going was dry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonUF_qeunSzbIowjb9Iamn9QRK9vhrcrFNPeMspZFJiPFO3WzFJiug0RceEHh5X9RAsvk8GYGUOghLNTPA0xPrLhJpSfTkqVJuoIG6O8VuayTFt_UchdeGQHRE4cJMqF3tz6h7PlsxaUfxHfJlYU2Le08kqgbNbxV0_oRibYJ1eB9c8KtYM_g5vWvsgE/s4032/IMG_1092.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonUF_qeunSzbIowjb9Iamn9QRK9vhrcrFNPeMspZFJiPFO3WzFJiug0RceEHh5X9RAsvk8GYGUOghLNTPA0xPrLhJpSfTkqVJuoIG6O8VuayTFt_UchdeGQHRE4cJMqF3tz6h7PlsxaUfxHfJlYU2Le08kqgbNbxV0_oRibYJ1eB9c8KtYM_g5vWvsgE/w640-h480/IMG_1092.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>This section was busy with other riders, walkers and joggers. It was unfortunate that there was also litter. I picked up a few sweet wrappers as I went along.</p><p>Some interesting artwork.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-KgR0mOXO8UcR-D6eJij7DzsRPBgyv7_f6alwObaACjniwjZIySj6C-28H1DWoFvfO2EKyuJXBKTHYgdWzV0F4tlh8rPTe2QzN7JZMuWxHU2U8LIL4ZA-7mDUDp81JB5WzHNO98CxddXb43fgEN3QhMZAEafQ-YAp29S1fzquYSLJCHpmioau-Zh52s/s4032/IMG_1090.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-KgR0mOXO8UcR-D6eJij7DzsRPBgyv7_f6alwObaACjniwjZIySj6C-28H1DWoFvfO2EKyuJXBKTHYgdWzV0F4tlh8rPTe2QzN7JZMuWxHU2U8LIL4ZA-7mDUDp81JB5WzHNO98CxddXb43fgEN3QhMZAEafQ-YAp29S1fzquYSLJCHpmioau-Zh52s/w640-h480/IMG_1090.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIusDCLmwSBrd27f2Nf77f5rFUPW2U2ivKTS4mKl0mtRlVPsPCLvEdkEaZhD5P4JwsmZq9px3t0NckJy1zbu7lqmZu9UvFqp9S3ignob9MjvA6qemGyHN7q98CvU1xMOSCczm4BmJQ3iQsI890w8sPP7XrStvBSwKywJ_-tPeCgUe-yV0T2hW8v3BFs8/s3381/IMG_1094.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2605" data-original-width="3381" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIusDCLmwSBrd27f2Nf77f5rFUPW2U2ivKTS4mKl0mtRlVPsPCLvEdkEaZhD5P4JwsmZq9px3t0NckJy1zbu7lqmZu9UvFqp9S3ignob9MjvA6qemGyHN7q98CvU1xMOSCczm4BmJQ3iQsI890w8sPP7XrStvBSwKywJ_-tPeCgUe-yV0T2hW8v3BFs8/w640-h494/IMG_1094.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Many parts of the tour used old railway lines.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV8r7rupZL7EtwwmKW3bPe0wgjlVuZq755yUnoA_O68JYvZyXN5olTXz_NaylCRJWBKw8T37df63sh2fT_iw8Bi_QM31xOm36BHJN7lgHBs1w8kkXCj3bISP-0O0rdWAQzjmOTzJKb32AkeySnTCHHLmxvPQt4wdkV10q-jQQ6anpfErfdX32DKXbgf8/s4032/IMG_1097.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV8r7rupZL7EtwwmKW3bPe0wgjlVuZq755yUnoA_O68JYvZyXN5olTXz_NaylCRJWBKw8T37df63sh2fT_iw8Bi_QM31xOm36BHJN7lgHBs1w8kkXCj3bISP-0O0rdWAQzjmOTzJKb32AkeySnTCHHLmxvPQt4wdkV10q-jQQ6anpfErfdX32DKXbgf8/w640-h480/IMG_1097.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb6Ng7bPzm_-v6hMqo8t6HSOljOkPl3GK2RoHB6sO3mCQH5abC8SskwX7nO0lzwHIh9nQJhphLBOb-pomh_kgT1DTU7JVX8F9UT6_tBV1vrPpevZtWR4BG0ZpYBDWhe2KxCFxDAGayn869XXwM7lqvrBEpFZN-ohKzmy373yJFc5GxO8TO4MQQJNXtzk/s4032/IMG_1096.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb6Ng7bPzm_-v6hMqo8t6HSOljOkPl3GK2RoHB6sO3mCQH5abC8SskwX7nO0lzwHIh9nQJhphLBOb-pomh_kgT1DTU7JVX8F9UT6_tBV1vrPpevZtWR4BG0ZpYBDWhe2KxCFxDAGayn869XXwM7lqvrBEpFZN-ohKzmy373yJFc5GxO8TO4MQQJNXtzk/w640-h480/IMG_1096.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rGhXfk52dnya3EdkrC4vlV-Vn-mc369pBKRA8ZNZS_blca2YUwK9EypoCh5tzQVDnGeNyLeiUP1UayAMWsrSwQZXuu8ulmr01bl8cJ8H16sNawz0IzqlrHmJxQ1rEf5RUQpvnhFeZVcxHYDSUVVqcokyyuO8_0o3bBkBCirSwd7a7uQcoKaPkGb25DE/s4032/IMG_1095%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rGhXfk52dnya3EdkrC4vlV-Vn-mc369pBKRA8ZNZS_blca2YUwK9EypoCh5tzQVDnGeNyLeiUP1UayAMWsrSwQZXuu8ulmr01bl8cJ8H16sNawz0IzqlrHmJxQ1rEf5RUQpvnhFeZVcxHYDSUVVqcokyyuO8_0o3bBkBCirSwd7a7uQcoKaPkGb25DE/w640-h480/IMG_1095%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was starting to think about lunch, and then I arrived at Yatton station. And the Strawberry line cafe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I sat under the cover of a parasol on a bench next to Rog, a member of the <a href="https://www.somervalley.org.uk/" target="_blank">Somer Valley cycling club</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We chatted about bikes, clubs and how good riding is for mental and physical health. He was surprised at my choice of bike. I agreed a gravel/touring bike would have been better. Anything with wider tyres than my road bike, with some tread would have been ideal. But I only have two bikes. I think we talked for nearly an hour. Eventually it was time for him to head home and me to Wells.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwH2dH-HZelyJlxewBiBYnt8pLmxjSaiNwwqcbxvcZcHTxrYt7yrb8US1wj-_puYF5Piuaci0e0BvUVBcHFA5UQjsqp1GibvYc2xfhKDOCPowEOzr65q_-sPntZV40v0MarCPxx7OJPuuFn1WG6wwoK9csSVLAOf-SSSaQNtqriRItos8NrYJBC3Yamg/s3191/IMG_1099.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="3191" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwH2dH-HZelyJlxewBiBYnt8pLmxjSaiNwwqcbxvcZcHTxrYt7yrb8US1wj-_puYF5Piuaci0e0BvUVBcHFA5UQjsqp1GibvYc2xfhKDOCPowEOzr65q_-sPntZV40v0MarCPxx7OJPuuFn1WG6wwoK9csSVLAOf-SSSaQNtqriRItos8NrYJBC3Yamg/w640-h494/IMG_1099.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>A tunnel; it got much better than this later in the trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrXejaYMnfrapVfGwmNdHIjKsTqS8cRgzvYX9wPsV7WrYWXIahOXJRLvpgIinZHGb70PBInOl0m3w7bFrcI0pB1Wmxi1m1MH-512OXwKavz_DT9Fzss4LXtN5MBXynKSfu7ELyXuR136-3NtuTZ_FgMnrsJ9ahte73aS0PYEXKzyPBBz_ffLSGDs2Aqg/s3841/IMG_1101.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2882" data-original-width="3841" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrXejaYMnfrapVfGwmNdHIjKsTqS8cRgzvYX9wPsV7WrYWXIahOXJRLvpgIinZHGb70PBInOl0m3w7bFrcI0pB1Wmxi1m1MH-512OXwKavz_DT9Fzss4LXtN5MBXynKSfu7ELyXuR136-3NtuTZ_FgMnrsJ9ahte73aS0PYEXKzyPBBz_ffLSGDs2Aqg/w640-h480/IMG_1101.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Sustrans paths have barriers that could have been painful. They are similar to this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGqrc5aHyjiOM8MH8N40MOAuipy-q9IGyC2id_MvhRVv_Ym084cv935gcqcrVzt8MxmPFNlPvB6ip6ypR1XRUCkqYhumNfDFkmu2ormmETe1RZrbQry7xEOP0SE6PArc31Im7TuMI8oZwC_o-O4xn8nh9oEKrjeZHOO3aYdTKHVYdujo6GqcLo4ly2hw/s574/gate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="574" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGqrc5aHyjiOM8MH8N40MOAuipy-q9IGyC2id_MvhRVv_Ym084cv935gcqcrVzt8MxmPFNlPvB6ip6ypR1XRUCkqYhumNfDFkmu2ormmETe1RZrbQry7xEOP0SE6PArc31Im7TuMI8oZwC_o-O4xn8nh9oEKrjeZHOO3aYdTKHVYdujo6GqcLo4ly2hw/w400-h300/gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The first few I came across were wide enough for me to ride straight through. Then they got narrower; my handlebars are just over 600mm wide and they either brushed the sides or were too wide. Had I attempted to pass through without stopping it would have resulted in a crash.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKdhs3JNWuPmVYfunhqTQ8mDMNzQ0o7vd-LwXEkr5KEh55BxhTlYXzWrZ2qmXwr8JDvT8TYUHvy_0AuGW7HRD0U05BpGHq3jZlCaWdm3hMfvLajM5VvtkISmz0N5JLO8mOHH3AW2d80lZUNziDn4QhH1JousyDREJUN3QP7PiAei2pQafPTfkL6nPmTI/s4032/IMG_1102.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKdhs3JNWuPmVYfunhqTQ8mDMNzQ0o7vd-LwXEkr5KEh55BxhTlYXzWrZ2qmXwr8JDvT8TYUHvy_0AuGW7HRD0U05BpGHq3jZlCaWdm3hMfvLajM5VvtkISmz0N5JLO8mOHH3AW2d80lZUNziDn4QhH1JousyDREJUN3QP7PiAei2pQafPTfkL6nPmTI/w640-h480/IMG_1102.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cheddar reservoir</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When I returned to the lanes it got a little hillier, a tough one was out of Wedmore. Strava says it peaks at 19%. It's very short so don't worry too much. </p><p>On the whole the paths were well maintained and wide, except for a short section after this climb. The sign said it was a dead end, but Will knew better. Bare arms and legs combined with tall stinging nettles isn't great. I managed to get through without pain though.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RxZqkM5dnrLQhP-Mwifq80Dt5CLHq3xjF_8F9RvSV9JvC_O_5czxyokYGnm59Y26W1KesBa7H--lPt8bstNb1rG5kZsdpCa08NC47RKQUYRgtsuoqKTEKoISCQ1NFHsN_KYAi7XqYFM7BwQmO2VCVlbsswK6mBQjWMmRJdxDl-60gt8aaaQIYYmUvQI/s4032/IMG_1103.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RxZqkM5dnrLQhP-Mwifq80Dt5CLHq3xjF_8F9RvSV9JvC_O_5czxyokYGnm59Y26W1KesBa7H--lPt8bstNb1rG5kZsdpCa08NC47RKQUYRgtsuoqKTEKoISCQ1NFHsN_KYAi7XqYFM7BwQmO2VCVlbsswK6mBQjWMmRJdxDl-60gt8aaaQIYYmUvQI/w640-h480/IMG_1103.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />A very steep, fast descent followed. It was then flat for a few miles, with no wind. I flew along at close to 20 mph with very little effort. <p></p><p>I entered Wells ahead of schedule so had some food opposite the hotel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADBDTElRI5Gd9EoA4dM4MGqHsz9fVcKaj5QUB7ZSCE2U_B9ew4JCNT9JnG6Lnw4HCtzSruyh5N7RdyGPwVwv0tRaDp7DCktaOOXgeHp8h5c7JlO0qqmLFYN72s4jsA_9xrDgtYatrdrgVV_a1MunJAhR4cc_zv--Wz8RyJD2TemWC6eQn0TMvDxx21S0/s4032/IMG_1105.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADBDTElRI5Gd9EoA4dM4MGqHsz9fVcKaj5QUB7ZSCE2U_B9ew4JCNT9JnG6Lnw4HCtzSruyh5N7RdyGPwVwv0tRaDp7DCktaOOXgeHp8h5c7JlO0qqmLFYN72s4jsA_9xrDgtYatrdrgVV_a1MunJAhR4cc_zv--Wz8RyJD2TemWC6eQn0TMvDxx21S0/w640-h480/IMG_1105.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>At the centre of the town is the Crown at Wells near the Bishop's Palace.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKCVSMbXhz3hi7Bm4tu3RifNUcQUI3a4OdPzgN_ZnXmWw1PcK9vhpzjpc-k9Ao_hwRDVsmblvPWI80yn8Wr3IftfXrGT0qSsKsMp9CMvmlltUVzBJIRZHLmPYXybAg3zeSxb8nyCk5kBDiWIMroXSNw_2AExK3iavuKcZfgMmEoqgCRSadrMyxOxUaI/s4032/IMG_1104.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfKCVSMbXhz3hi7Bm4tu3RifNUcQUI3a4OdPzgN_ZnXmWw1PcK9vhpzjpc-k9Ao_hwRDVsmblvPWI80yn8Wr3IftfXrGT0qSsKsMp9CMvmlltUVzBJIRZHLmPYXybAg3zeSxb8nyCk5kBDiWIMroXSNw_2AExK3iavuKcZfgMmEoqgCRSadrMyxOxUaI/w640-h480/IMG_1104.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>After dinner I went for a walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozgSPxtxkz3QrtV8fPmk_0zrmjWtqxwLM4xYdrA0LZMj_1GFgHeoJ9floVHMEwXedsZ-w3Rsq_tYlZPXwPJ3kUBgW4gOpjMpYozRHatXiX1epFuPRa_c7GINGzJC9wc9ZCiXE2r3Lw22hfZfzf3IypXOk7tMdU2QG4EdH-pXimU-6ZI2GRpRv6QvFAbE/s7444/IMG_1107.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3920" data-original-width="7444" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozgSPxtxkz3QrtV8fPmk_0zrmjWtqxwLM4xYdrA0LZMj_1GFgHeoJ9floVHMEwXedsZ-w3Rsq_tYlZPXwPJ3kUBgW4gOpjMpYozRHatXiX1epFuPRa_c7GINGzJC9wc9ZCiXE2r3Lw22hfZfzf3IypXOk7tMdU2QG4EdH-pXimU-6ZI2GRpRv6QvFAbE/w640-h338/IMG_1107.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />The bishop must have had either a lot of enemies or been very paranoid. The palace looks like a castle, complete with moat.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDosfw4tMOlqo3PjIpdw0SoqsjSs8YscNV1c4LOgpQqR1K9pSmtTb3jlFkohxElui6T-W6VVyQ2unIHzGwUNwnW8wI47BfH9OVsk3EJykNXCJ_P_gpoRENjK1OnzoeiUzrCGTue__O7nCPYUzQqlsswzV2xHIcX47DgxaQIblAUtscFvXAsLkwt-tkmGY/s4032/IMG_1108.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDosfw4tMOlqo3PjIpdw0SoqsjSs8YscNV1c4LOgpQqR1K9pSmtTb3jlFkohxElui6T-W6VVyQ2unIHzGwUNwnW8wI47BfH9OVsk3EJykNXCJ_P_gpoRENjK1OnzoeiUzrCGTue__O7nCPYUzQqlsswzV2xHIcX47DgxaQIblAUtscFvXAsLkwt-tkmGY/w640-h480/IMG_1108.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZjn_d0INzzqLJud_vQ0JR1yeOBvQUaDydP_axtkG67IXyyqTwt3B3kiFB_eXupK_HuLq1ZoqHyD1t2V0-l5R2f8uIVLj7SAnValPj_4x_CgPSxiOSG-_scCzQHole5jUUkSbONEiooWUniHbYUnoqSnaobuAqQnx0E5bu7Xm5sWe3iLqS34o4YJFiHU/s3495/IMG_1111%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wells Cathedral" border="0" data-original-height="2518" data-original-width="3495" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZjn_d0INzzqLJud_vQ0JR1yeOBvQUaDydP_axtkG67IXyyqTwt3B3kiFB_eXupK_HuLq1ZoqHyD1t2V0-l5R2f8uIVLj7SAnValPj_4x_CgPSxiOSG-_scCzQHole5jUUkSbONEiooWUniHbYUnoqSnaobuAqQnx0E5bu7Xm5sWe3iLqS34o4YJFiHU/w640-h462/IMG_1111%20(1).jpeg" title="Wells Cathedral" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It rained overnight again, but this time the bike was under cover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUL42BIHqH7AV7Va2C9xQdty3DQE6ZUayxgAsTQbJOVfo9eK8XCWpddT-mTk9PC2vlxXF2hhSFGSWnAICRD5Gg_rSLlxj0SKtsUC33vx8EtzSDBzNTZ_433WtdEo_pMbgUHm0-N6cN8liw7Sx5JpTEflDhrZ14Tu_Zkd45rfE9k2L7m9ow_Kez1ed8OA/s3695/IMG_1113.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2771" data-original-width="3695" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUL42BIHqH7AV7Va2C9xQdty3DQE6ZUayxgAsTQbJOVfo9eK8XCWpddT-mTk9PC2vlxXF2hhSFGSWnAICRD5Gg_rSLlxj0SKtsUC33vx8EtzSDBzNTZ_433WtdEo_pMbgUHm0-N6cN8liw7Sx5JpTEflDhrZ14Tu_Zkd45rfE9k2L7m9ow_Kez1ed8OA/w400-h300/IMG_1113.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a view of the cathedral from my window at sunrise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It had been stored in the breakfast area. So for once I didn't sit alone as I ate my toast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqpKP0kMOxvLjD26OMB6HxV1wEkEMFuluS595t_itIMbNPBlwU63ZCPxKY-QPWzyV3l5szfkUxo3iXjwupsqp4a0jHMsINzeWusL3d_Ixlj7AWkwiw9FbsnU_8UY6ojOUZWyrKsdAvmhCgGc0LOFUyE-i8zKAdGNwuv6gq6fPdcYhnBvE9CH63nWQq40/s4032/IMG_1114.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqpKP0kMOxvLjD26OMB6HxV1wEkEMFuluS595t_itIMbNPBlwU63ZCPxKY-QPWzyV3l5szfkUxo3iXjwupsqp4a0jHMsINzeWusL3d_Ixlj7AWkwiw9FbsnU_8UY6ojOUZWyrKsdAvmhCgGc0LOFUyE-i8zKAdGNwuv6gq6fPdcYhnBvE9CH63nWQq40/w640-h480/IMG_1114.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day four started a little chilly, but soon warmed up. Rain looked a possibility but never happened.</div><p>The first ten miles was mostly climbing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimua5skxiKYs-RZ87SsRoAJ2V-ujyKeUJId5Blwvn_taOrAOxQfnYPj11uKvEQWfBjQHWnRP8yVfhToVWZjIpzZousulcJsEdUzk2xKrYiGIVRnb8dgjPcIQYFxlc37_hlMuIGUHEYrvyqeya0l5NZjGM3d-Pw6DnZfI1PgbzStDdEtV0Vj5vGvdQX2Qo/s4032/IMG_1115.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimua5skxiKYs-RZ87SsRoAJ2V-ujyKeUJId5Blwvn_taOrAOxQfnYPj11uKvEQWfBjQHWnRP8yVfhToVWZjIpzZousulcJsEdUzk2xKrYiGIVRnb8dgjPcIQYFxlc37_hlMuIGUHEYrvyqeya0l5NZjGM3d-Pw6DnZfI1PgbzStDdEtV0Vj5vGvdQX2Qo/w640-h480/IMG_1115.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">overcast and chilly start to the day</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Then it's rolling, predominantly down hill for twenty miles. I was on the old railway line again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8jg8669ivwKOly8ZJsIfXh-qjgPgPkiNV9evx7_mnnLAg0aYYMgFfPt1tCGkM8e2JtIIxBplYtDesi6D590zkGPQ2jvBrEWtyueU3En9O70PcqUi44SSws6tM9FR7lDZ75kPt3RIKQnD3cskmtRYIdJO20NXId1BTv9fXuGjKaIa0O-hoRz1_lqVt7Q/s4032/IMG_1116.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8jg8669ivwKOly8ZJsIfXh-qjgPgPkiNV9evx7_mnnLAg0aYYMgFfPt1tCGkM8e2JtIIxBplYtDesi6D590zkGPQ2jvBrEWtyueU3En9O70PcqUi44SSws6tM9FR7lDZ75kPt3RIKQnD3cskmtRYIdJO20NXId1BTv9fXuGjKaIa0O-hoRz1_lqVt7Q/w640-h480/IMG_1116.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYPkAae8Q0Abu4GizVF6_J5An_SIAehuvcgGsBcp7B9B-wsoW9YOlO9sa8Dnb79vHUlr0APn6_TtpkuWXHd7b36wW1JrzvDxqlcIu-nDRaKF0hnVZ8DwKOxTOxtHz9xhiUWUw41gWofzl2nslfb05hYqG3vRi_pOqASwoq3QEUIBvdCs7YIT6NJ5gv1s/s4032/IMG_1117.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYPkAae8Q0Abu4GizVF6_J5An_SIAehuvcgGsBcp7B9B-wsoW9YOlO9sa8Dnb79vHUlr0APn6_TtpkuWXHd7b36wW1JrzvDxqlcIu-nDRaKF0hnVZ8DwKOxTOxtHz9xhiUWUw41gWofzl2nslfb05hYqG3vRi_pOqASwoq3QEUIBvdCs7YIT6NJ5gv1s/w640-h480/IMG_1117.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The tracks would appear out of the undergrowth from time to time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then my thoughts turned to lunch. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6U1P5yeiiFph1BTy2RhRoiATiNd6Kt2BYqTnb1qWCPWjP5VxeyiUiEr6JmdoIpftUcdRhf0F-QBRyhYbGZcdFJSsrmQJYO7cxjxCR54FXhirfG6XB-Ng7Lv3GZsmRKmSOxyluhHsUoAEeU1h0IMg2hjOUA81V1J5poSpJXpnj3wyfUyK2IK18Cx0OXE/s4032/IMG_1120.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6U1P5yeiiFph1BTy2RhRoiATiNd6Kt2BYqTnb1qWCPWjP5VxeyiUiEr6JmdoIpftUcdRhf0F-QBRyhYbGZcdFJSsrmQJYO7cxjxCR54FXhirfG6XB-Ng7Lv3GZsmRKmSOxyluhHsUoAEeU1h0IMg2hjOUA81V1J5poSpJXpnj3wyfUyK2IK18Cx0OXE/w640-h480/IMG_1120.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once again a cafe appeared right on time at Wellow. The Rider's Rest cafe at the livery stables.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Q89YGk8spN3v21kjiF0cSGNhigRQceCJDTB8iHHftXx7LaLAIv161pj0u0FFEFkzWq4vSBeHAqLpijtN0u6Yhjvdw70bFtwf11k-U_HA8vHSPIo3US3MJHZIXt2_xoKw1Q8OT1JjHcmBp5_QD9mP6SJwhTIGSUSrVuGzDBdFQdSDvUfAGXxL6MufPo/s4032/IMG_1121.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Q89YGk8spN3v21kjiF0cSGNhigRQceCJDTB8iHHftXx7LaLAIv161pj0u0FFEFkzWq4vSBeHAqLpijtN0u6Yhjvdw70bFtwf11k-U_HA8vHSPIo3US3MJHZIXt2_xoKw1Q8OT1JjHcmBp5_QD9mP6SJwhTIGSUSrVuGzDBdFQdSDvUfAGXxL6MufPo/w640-h480/IMG_1121.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>No food for my dietary choice so they made me a one-off pesto salad bap. Very tasty. They also filled my water bottles; something they had heard wasn't always done at some locations. I've never had a problem with this at anywhere I have stopped.</p><p>A few miles later was one of the highlights of this trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiykl5ugDSK2x5WHKBDEDE7AovPDWM2QRXmpWqUXh1MYwpGPaJS-Qs7ucVmPvrd1ZbcVr0-cBB18jaEkmLy0OqQxKWd6cymqtm2X6bOomio8opPPT2GOdpZoZzwCnkeiypMOUsowCO1TnxMoQjVHeMhpoU46ryNfjbcO67WND7MW7JLgik03BSFrvnGf8/s4032/IMG_1122.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Combe Down Tunnel" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiykl5ugDSK2x5WHKBDEDE7AovPDWM2QRXmpWqUXh1MYwpGPaJS-Qs7ucVmPvrd1ZbcVr0-cBB18jaEkmLy0OqQxKWd6cymqtm2X6bOomio8opPPT2GOdpZoZzwCnkeiypMOUsowCO1TnxMoQjVHeMhpoU46ryNfjbcO67WND7MW7JLgik03BSFrvnGf8/w640-h480/IMG_1122.jpeg" title="The Combe Down Tunnel" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">At <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(50, 49, 51); background-color: white; color: #323133;">just over one mile long it's the UK's longest cycling and walking tunnel. There are lights that show the line of the path, but they don't illuminate well enough to see by. You'll need a proper light. I was going for a long time when I thought I saw the light at the other end. It was actually an approaching cyclist. It was chilly; music played as I travelled. I emerged and the hot, humid weather hit me. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(50, 49, 51); background-color: white; color: #323133;">Then I did it again, this time for a shorter distance without music.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Kij1cCqAinW1FDlmbix2P82WIqrbYK_G_eIWSpBul3RH10pJAEb1yf3x4JWH4chHvPAP_swKLHvmUBhpzX5laEnvEEaU3FmJplkJ87LPkP71PuoIHiB3vpPkvGRXOrgL184j7qrnEDSv-KSA4SLgMAiuwaboMfl0xeEXvO_uxndyL36FIUWSk4wH0Ic/s4032/IMG_1123.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="devonshire tunnel" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Kij1cCqAinW1FDlmbix2P82WIqrbYK_G_eIWSpBul3RH10pJAEb1yf3x4JWH4chHvPAP_swKLHvmUBhpzX5laEnvEEaU3FmJplkJ87LPkP71PuoIHiB3vpPkvGRXOrgL184j7qrnEDSv-KSA4SLgMAiuwaboMfl0xeEXvO_uxndyL36FIUWSk4wH0Ic/w640-h480/IMG_1123.jpeg" title="devonshire tunnel" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p>Some of the line is still in use.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZhtL3G4TidZm-Z-sn0vK225M0qyQRFv_X5BBEjflcXN1iBf4bWzwhV91cWbP-dyvKT1v-uxlN0dhFgSlV8WXNxDae6mib6L-5umBoMxQPqMDtAfg7lAt9ekmtakiKgSJAs_uq5c5fEA6mWCUOn-bd0hVP56miPYzL8fJWccL8N-W5LwILSpfR-aB9Tk/s4032/IMG_1124.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZhtL3G4TidZm-Z-sn0vK225M0qyQRFv_X5BBEjflcXN1iBf4bWzwhV91cWbP-dyvKT1v-uxlN0dhFgSlV8WXNxDae6mib6L-5umBoMxQPqMDtAfg7lAt9ekmtakiKgSJAs_uq5c5fEA6mWCUOn-bd0hVP56miPYzL8fJWccL8N-W5LwILSpfR-aB9Tk/w400-h300/IMG_1124.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RZtCiHXPEzdXugvNPhgoCV5n5w_iwPAQeYjDPDa6TjzZzWPgjAHd9MvrjigpBl9pfoT5q5W7ZvB5ftEAMf0F_-e34xQCK-SMNEVm2BDfyZiQKxaZKaPUaVZge2UZd2gScBsSMbQLz03VknAJMujmK8pUek5HshMDrx7MRkLR5Aw1K8Rs-kihI_WEL5E/s4032/IMG_1125.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RZtCiHXPEzdXugvNPhgoCV5n5w_iwPAQeYjDPDa6TjzZzWPgjAHd9MvrjigpBl9pfoT5q5W7ZvB5ftEAMf0F_-e34xQCK-SMNEVm2BDfyZiQKxaZKaPUaVZge2UZd2gScBsSMbQLz03VknAJMujmK8pUek5HshMDrx7MRkLR5Aw1K8Rs-kihI_WEL5E/w400-h300/IMG_1125.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>A great path, it took me right into the centre of the city. </p><p>This time I made sure I was in the right place to get a picture of the SS Great Britain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpABPkSRzU0Oy7Lq1G0nsQ_cH4xzeMyRGVB35_cJHjYXF38u1h10w896PcEeeOYf4cTuB1ZbJuNooreIWhwZVvzkqYtdXlI9iOm8_sj7kA45TTjPsbynz3w9zT4oKVOZFYD8xsZGWnDhtNhZAvGpr27Gypf5SSfaa-s-mooMeyeAwGqqQnVfZ_59JNlSs/s4032/IMG_1126.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SS Great Britain" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpABPkSRzU0Oy7Lq1G0nsQ_cH4xzeMyRGVB35_cJHjYXF38u1h10w896PcEeeOYf4cTuB1ZbJuNooreIWhwZVvzkqYtdXlI9iOm8_sj7kA45TTjPsbynz3w9zT4oKVOZFYD8xsZGWnDhtNhZAvGpr27Gypf5SSfaa-s-mooMeyeAwGqqQnVfZ_59JNlSs/w640-h480/IMG_1126.jpeg" title="SS Great Britain" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I awoke on Thursday with the trip home in front of me. The forecast said it would be very hot. So I had an early breakfast and left Bristol before nine. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigI70NU8A4p7Bibh6tbackH0U-jRTsk4QwOE8DSJccpnbjaH_6x9OWldqwuv3TVC4eX48R20NrZ60dlXkjASsBu29QiudW-r4jGPFDgYxz4eCTFlUjdqYz4XZvr3yK3RgSAKw0-DdnhuTudKj1ONx0LV5MrMrdYOtS8ms6H8r_ZFi0II7rQmuuubi9SME/s4032/IMG_1127.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="fish sculpture bristol" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigI70NU8A4p7Bibh6tbackH0U-jRTsk4QwOE8DSJccpnbjaH_6x9OWldqwuv3TVC4eX48R20NrZ60dlXkjASsBu29QiudW-r4jGPFDgYxz4eCTFlUjdqYz4XZvr3yK3RgSAKw0-DdnhuTudKj1ONx0LV5MrMrdYOtS8ms6H8r_ZFi0II7rQmuuubi9SME/w300-h400/IMG_1127.jpeg" title="fish sculpture bristol" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the sign didn't explain this sculpture</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>A brief ride through the commuter traffic and then it was back onto the path I'd used the previous day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTonUTuEmze6gJzHXerhbCLcWpEi7fRTBMi9pbRpyuiOaYEvfpCdqxFHGAGbNrTtpLDyAGexWECvslcH5rI7z3LQIqIs5nxxrx9gmRkPW7W2VYK6wroatHx7wiCCyU12oQXlB0Is1tXnbM-F7aTRXw3UIzruUWXHzLCvlwRWgRerns_c9oFh5VPrE0BQk/s4032/IMG_1129.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="onion rings and bread rolls" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTonUTuEmze6gJzHXerhbCLcWpEi7fRTBMi9pbRpyuiOaYEvfpCdqxFHGAGbNrTtpLDyAGexWECvslcH5rI7z3LQIqIs5nxxrx9gmRkPW7W2VYK6wroatHx7wiCCyU12oQXlB0Is1tXnbM-F7aTRXw3UIzruUWXHzLCvlwRWgRerns_c9oFh5VPrE0BQk/w640-h480/IMG_1129.jpeg" title="onion rings and bread rolls" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">onion rings and bread rolls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I bought lunch as I had on Monday from a village store opposite the pub that had been closed on that occasion. This time I sat on the gate under a tree instead of the church yard.</p><p>In the afternoon it really got hot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdSWoIM09IK4QRB45h7hdEi83h6XViTncb6crzDU_0sX1-l8DyvnfRd0sDl19xeCVhrIlChiQqximLGT2Ni9usPsY-uphFcMkLuStaGQPNiLShQDaX9VsKShdifhDdsKakFkXTdegSLgZocl7cQ9eE70L0fTMtxTF-RBYPPzBDfCyhFLA9s8PyatTE1U/s4032/IMG_1133.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdSWoIM09IK4QRB45h7hdEi83h6XViTncb6crzDU_0sX1-l8DyvnfRd0sDl19xeCVhrIlChiQqximLGT2Ni9usPsY-uphFcMkLuStaGQPNiLShQDaX9VsKShdifhDdsKakFkXTdegSLgZocl7cQ9eE70L0fTMtxTF-RBYPPzBDfCyhFLA9s8PyatTE1U/w640-h480/IMG_1133.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I had to climb up to the ridgeway during the hottest part of the day. I don't mind admitting I used the lowest of the 27 gears available.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbBZadJYLkn03IEiqUR0PS_73D6RFsO_phvv5Xu7kC8r5m1DZxGr4E0ilhz_bmh7SATz6fUua1ZfaRf8vZUSTXINwWpCn_OscN1WssyEGyVlpeNev_8cPBQ-AKle2NRKjPGpUD-EbpWUrDQHKt7P1nmbLe0Jy_zU69wiNi4-uttXvF0-l59VI1S-fA8I/s4032/IMG_1134.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbBZadJYLkn03IEiqUR0PS_73D6RFsO_phvv5Xu7kC8r5m1DZxGr4E0ilhz_bmh7SATz6fUua1ZfaRf8vZUSTXINwWpCn_OscN1WssyEGyVlpeNev_8cPBQ-AKle2NRKjPGpUD-EbpWUrDQHKt7P1nmbLe0Jy_zU69wiNi4-uttXvF0-l59VI1S-fA8I/w640-h480/IMG_1134.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>When I got to the top I was out of water and hungry. It was fairly flat and I soon saw a sign for Marlborough. A shaded table outside a cafe was just what I needed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgRBDuaTgLw0g-vV5XtblWy-PkblbtyasIp3I0z4y2WtULhAwszn7UHCNci7JAJJshPHZr14l4ICQ2RxH_ux5rbb0wFmaXtAX4DDD0UuCSgfkIyM5Hwob3YJ0Fujr_51WPiltUKP0K15OWXPJcwpnGYCB9SkNKibfrL7mtWS8KtDSrJCEx-UEKhtqnCc/s4032/IMG_1136.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="coffi lab Marlborough" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgRBDuaTgLw0g-vV5XtblWy-PkblbtyasIp3I0z4y2WtULhAwszn7UHCNci7JAJJshPHZr14l4ICQ2RxH_ux5rbb0wFmaXtAX4DDD0UuCSgfkIyM5Hwob3YJ0Fujr_51WPiltUKP0K15OWXPJcwpnGYCB9SkNKibfrL7mtWS8KtDSrJCEx-UEKhtqnCc/w640-h480/IMG_1136.jpeg" title="coffi lab Marlborough" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coffi lab Marlborough</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>They filled my bottles and after eating my cakes and finishing the coffee I sat to watch the world go by. I awoke about twenty minutes later. I don't know what people had thought if they'd noticed a tired, sweaty cyclist sleeping.</p><p>I did feel much better and it was only about 10 miles to Hungerford.</p><p>On arrival I found a bench under a tree near the canal as I had done on Sunday. And dozed off again.</p><p>The Three Swans was just up the road, I checked in and went looking for dinner. The hotel only had one vegan meal on the menu. So it was the Bear public house that got my patronage.</p><p>Only one day to go, and it was going to be another hot one. So again I left early. I knew what the route was going to be like so I had called in to Tescos after dinner the night before. I bought a box of Belvita soft bakes. They are good, value for money snacks. I intended not to stop at cafes etc on my way home.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqrCBGNDTVmgBsNpw7fX1rmnh_kRLseF9_Ne-gAYmN9_ejbYFdD9aTmm0fkC2V0QOS_0fQp5HCj1jiyPGax_cRb1lsibKL2Hov1lilWzyfCMrbuQmV2SiNS954p_-9NM4OZlCPHic1fBOFbyLlRTHTtm0El_KqZcGyEQMZkZ9KYuNeGLURn0MBFQDGvQ/s4032/IMG_1137.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqrCBGNDTVmgBsNpw7fX1rmnh_kRLseF9_Ne-gAYmN9_ejbYFdD9aTmm0fkC2V0QOS_0fQp5HCj1jiyPGax_cRb1lsibKL2Hov1lilWzyfCMrbuQmV2SiNS954p_-9NM4OZlCPHic1fBOFbyLlRTHTtm0El_KqZcGyEQMZkZ9KYuNeGLURn0MBFQDGvQ/w640-h480/IMG_1137.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: center;">In Reading I took shelter in a church yard.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ascot was packed, the horse racing had caused almost total gridlock around the course. This did not help mood. </p><p>Being so hot made the boring ride worse, and eventually I had a coffee at a cafe. A nondescript place attached to a petrol station and car wash. </p><p>But it was becoming very slow going. I sat under a tree just outside Claygate for quite some time.</p><p>Hook was just up the road so I continued hoping for some food and drink. On the parade was a Gregs. I stood in the air conditioned store and ate two vegan sausage rolls and drank the same number of Oasis drinks. Marcia choose this perfect time to call me. </p><p>The rest of the ride was a bit of a blur; it was with great relief that I saw a sign for Banstead; Chipstead and Coulsdon were next. Only one more hill, Marlpit Lane, up to Old Coulsdon. </p><p>A final couple of miles and I was home.</p><p>Links.</p><p><a href="https://threeswanshotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Three Swans Hotel</a></p><p>I recommend this one. It's interior is moden, the outside looked every bit the original country pub. Very friendly, helpful staff. The only improvements would be a more varied dinner menu and a covered area to secure my bike. It was safe, but open to the elements.</p><p><a href="https://cliftonhotels.com/bristol-hotels/washington" target="_blank">Washington Guest house</a><br /></p><p>The standard guest house as you'd expect. Good value considering the central location. Get down early for breakfast if you don't want to wait for a table. The single rooms are small. Secure, covered storage for the bike.</p><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.crownatwells.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span><span style="font-size: small;">The Crown at Wells</span></span></a></span></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">The most expensive place of the trip. I guess because of its location. Super helpful staff. I'm not sure how they'd cope with multiple bike storage. More vegan choices on the menu would have been great. What I had was very nice.</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.willcycle.com/cycle-routes/" target="_blank">Will's Cycle routes</a><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></span></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">I bought this plan. And it was worth it. Much of the loop is made up of the Sustrans national cycle network. What Will has achieved is joining them together in a way I'd find very hard. He had ridden and refined the route, and it shows. The Sustran signs can be difficult to see, it'd be easy to miss them and get lost. So again being able to just follow the instructions downloaded to my cycle computer relieved a lot of pressure. He has created others, and I'd expect them to be equally excellent. </div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">Final thoughts:</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">Don't try to do too much. I have in the past; the distances this time were about right for me. I didn't have to rush to complete it at a reasonable time.</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">Wear sunscreen. I use SPF 50 that is recommended for children. It meant I rode all day without getting sun damage. I can't imagine how bad it would have been to head out for another hot day already burnt.</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">Eat and drink more than you think you need or want. Don't leave it until you are thirsty or hungry. Your appetite will diminish quickly when it gets hot.</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">Take a break. Don't slog on regardless. I find not being stationary for very long is a good plan though. Your legs will stiffen and it's surprising how easy time can slip by.</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">The first ten miles will feel tough, your legs will need to loosen up. And the last ten miles will seem to take an age; time will slow down.</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">You will feel down and unmotivated sometimes, but it will pass.</div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="hotelname" style="text-align: left;">Don't let not having the "right" bike stop you having an adventure. In 2011 some friends and I rode to Paris. We only had mountain bikes, the Kona, in my case. So that's what we took.</div><p>My next adventure in July involves a ferry. You'll have to keep an eye on the blog to read all about it.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5554644610251313480.post-84260745567481723682023-06-12T09:29:00.003+01:002023-06-15T11:41:28.108+01:00Waller Pain 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmShEfZGLcOnHydN1dj69HGI4-bqqdXb--Ag3kMMjp6YnmzCBc--Sk9C-DuVSzV-Vc4l6JveT1rta8Onzp-rt5pKd90chWEaJ-ipD4TmSuKCXZi4MU2PYWigp1euNDNuq-CbHN3f5Th8DO5-K1ah4y7RnuvH6bk3ZLo4cgKwVuVcY4rGoxwRp9J9-/s4032/weller%20lain%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="waller lane hill climb 2023" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmShEfZGLcOnHydN1dj69HGI4-bqqdXb--Ag3kMMjp6YnmzCBc--Sk9C-DuVSzV-Vc4l6JveT1rta8Onzp-rt5pKd90chWEaJ-ipD4TmSuKCXZi4MU2PYWigp1euNDNuq-CbHN3f5Th8DO5-K1ah4y7RnuvH6bk3ZLo4cgKwVuVcY4rGoxwRp9J9-/w480-h640/weller%20lain%202023.jpg" title="waller lane hill climb 2023" width="480" /></a></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://andrewsmithphotography-an-aside.blogspot.com/search/label/waller%20lane">Year milestone number one</a>. The <a href="https://www.caterhamroundtable.co.uk/waller-pain-2023/" target="_blank">Caterham Round Table Waller Lane hill climb</a>. Last year it confirmed I was back to fitness and apart from just getting over a cold, full health and strength.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I arrived just as the course setup was finished so signed on as rider one. It meant I had almost an hour until the start. Rather than wait as I had done in the past I rode a shallower hill a couple of times to loosen the legs. I've learnt from the TT's that this helps. I also wanted to see how I felt after a big ride the day before. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was eager to see if my new bike would improve my time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I returned from the circuits just in time, and after ensuring I was in the gear I thought I'd need, they counted me down and I was away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Too low a gear meant I peddeled furiously before changing up. Not a good start. I settled in and tried to ensure I was in the right gear for each section of climb. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I heard the next person being counted down and it seemed I hadn't gone very far by then. Each person starts a minute apart and I expected to have been closer to the end by the time rider two was sent on his way. I tried to focus on the task at hand and giving it everything I had.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I crossed the finish line and looked to see when the next rider would appear. I now can't remember who it was, but it did seem to have been too soon. How much time had I lost?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got the answer later in the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had gone much faster with a time of 02:16. An improvement of 22 seconds. Each year I'd be around 10 seconds quicker, so I was very pleased.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What could have made me quicker? A lighter bike, better preparation, maybe I'm fitter and stronger than ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What could I have done differently? Rode the hill beforehand on my new bike; I would have started in a higher gear, had a less taxing ride the day before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe hill climbs and not TT's are what I'm built for? The next TT will be in a few weeks after my cycling adventure. The hill climb season doesn't start until Seprember so I have a while to think about it.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>AFS Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350049874514896865noreply@blogger.com0