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Date: 23 August 2007 21:33:11
What with one thing and another, I realised that I only have a few days of holiday left to amuse myself without reference to other people. What should I do, I thought this morning. I have been cycling for a year now (on and off), but always when I have needed to get somewhere, usually college. I have never really been for a bike ride just for the fun of it. Perfect opportunity then.
I researched a route (not very thoroughly it turns out), took a map of a large circular cycle route and worked out which bits I could do (actually only about a mile of it, but I did two of the link bits). It was largely based on a disused railway line (always good: steam engines don't like hills and I don't either) and my Mum reminded me that blackberries often grow alongside railways so I took a box and bag along too.
Starting with a slight detour to see a friend, I set off happily at 10.30. By 1pm I had left Borders (I may have got sidetracked) and was on the way. Getting out of the city involved negotiating pedestrianized areas, a very steep hill (downwards, thank goodness), a park, subways, industrial estates and sundry other obstacles. It transpired that yes, small children, you can cycle faster than me. I am quite happy plodding along slowly.
The cycle path was all it should be, complete with assorted sculpture (why?), information boards, platforms left to go to ruin and even a tunnel. There were many, many blackberries. At one point I stopped at pub and ordered a half of the beer with the most interesting label. I may not have been paying attention because it was cider, but very nice all the same.
My chosen route was a little longer than I was intending (Mr F has just plotted it on Google Earth and it turns out I cycled 29.1km, which in imperial measurements is A Long Way.
Now I have to go and get sorted for Greenbelt. Hmmm... Greenbelt and blackberries... I'm sure that rings a bell.