Sunday 28th May, 2023

To Walton! …on Sunday morning

Well, that was the plan. I then thought let’s add in another dimension and make it a more circular route on the Raleigh electric.

Hang on – how about stretching the trip to take in Dovercourt?

I lifted a route from a pal on Strava. It said: Dovercourt 60km. Yep, that should do. So what if it started and ended in Sunny Colch? I could pick up the route somewhere along the peninsular.

Except my Beeline Velo 2 didn’t pick up the route.

Arse.

I knew I was riding in the right direction, but the arrow was pointing in the opposite way.

Oh well.

I decided on a DIY approach. I cancelled the Strava route and loaded up a direct ride over to Dovercourt. That was easy enough.

The lanes were quiet; poppies are starting to poke through, brightening up the undergrowth like daytime strobe lights.

Dovercourt was busy with half term holiday action. It was also rather chilled by the coast. I tried to stay in the sun and out of the shadows.

I didn’t hang around long.

What now? A direct tracing of the route back to Weird Wiv? Nah. That’s sounds dull. I told the Beeline to take me over to Thorpe-Le-Soken on the quietest route, and then I would pick up from there.

I reached destination Thorpe. My arse was starting to feel saddle sore.

OUCH.

The run in back to Weird Wiv included an extra loop around the town. I wanted my Strava to clock up 75km. Job achieved.

Chapeau!

I was back home in time for Three Screen Sunday.

Actually, it was Two Screen (Surrey in the t20 and Everton scrapping to avoid the drop) with Forest in my AirPods and on the beach at Selhurst.

The ‘rrey had a rare off day, Everton did their Dogs of War thing. Forest partied, on and off the pitch.

And so a decent end to the season with a 16th place finish. The aim was always 17th – although I predicted 15th this time last year. Throw in a League Cup semi and we’ve done rather well.

#loll******er

#lolDIRTYLeeds

Two Stars on the Badge, and never prouder.

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