Covid-19 - Down but not out!

The dreaded Covid-19 scuppered plans for Nottinghamshire. Although only suffering a mild dose of the virus, the fatigue, endless sneezing and a nose running like a mountain stream left me with no choice but to cancel plans for a slightly different century in Robin Hood’s County. The opening 80km were to have been completed as part of the off-road sportive organised by The Glorious Gravel followed by a mug of tea with my sister on the edge of Sherwood Forest then a further 80km taking in quite country lanes and gravel trails in the North of the county.

Just a couple of days off the bike and a fun “Rough Ride” with a few Solihull CC friends was the perfect return to riding, taking in canals, bridleways and quiet country lanes in the Wychavon region of Worcestershire. My motivation re-invigorated the next three weeks will hopefully see a trip to Malmesbury in Wiltshire over the Mayday bank holiday weekend and a week later the first Scottish Counties are in my sights, the budget Caledonian hotel has been booked in Dumfries courtesy of booking.com and routes round Dumfrieshire and Kircudbrightshire have been created on Komoot, fingers crossed for a couple of days of benign weather across the border.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/535500752

Wiltshire, famous for it’s prehistoric monuments should provide a scenic ride on rolling lanes with peaceful villages, Stonehenge, Avebury and the carved white horses offering plenty of photo stops on a route almost entirely on tarmac.

Wiltshire cure is a local method for curing ham and bacon which should determine the mid-ride food selection includes a bacon sarnie as well as lardy cake and a drop of cider!

Famous folk from Wiltshire include Sir Christopher Wren, designer of London’s St Pauls Cathedral, Ex Prime Minister Ted Heath, third wife of Henry the VIII Jane Seymour and author Terry Pratchett.

One oddity of Wiltshire I won’t be testing out is the “Magic Roundabout” a road system comprising of six miniature roundabouts and no less than 40 directional exits in Swindon, so curious it even has its’ own Wikipedia entry, sounds like a cyclists nightmare to be avoided at all costs!

And last but not least of course I will be sampling some craft ale from a Wiltshire brewery