Today Iren and I walked round Ardingly Reservoir, sadly seeing it with a distict lack of water 🙁
The weather was unbelievable for late November and it was an enjoyable walk along the muddly track (due to some rain last night).
There was no sign of the Heron although we did see a Robin 🙂
Went for a slightly shorter walk with Iren leaving Ditchling Beacon to go to Black Cap and return,
Had great fun getting to the Beacon, there was a lot of cyclists struggling up the hill which meant that the drive up was tight – not much fun for all concerned.
The walk was fine, not too hot or cold, but visibility was a big issue, the fog had not lifted so we were walking in the clouds !
We got caught out by the gate to Black Cap Down which was locked and followed a cyclist in climbing over the gate – ho hum we found that the gate could be opened by hinging it at the latch and padlocked chain !!
At the top of Black Cap we had a view across the cloud, unfortunately on the walk back we ended up back in the clouds, ho hum we only knew that we were getting near to the Beacon when we could hear the traffic – my wasn’t crossing the road fun !!!
Iren and I took mum to Hartfield so that the 3 of us could ride (1st time for all 3 us together there)
Mum was quickly in her stride, whizzing along, pausing for the occasional loose mutt,
Mum rode this with a vengence, she was determined to break her record, which she did by a country mile (or two)
However we had a couple of wobbles, Iren used me for a brake (rear ended me :-O ) and she also managed to fall off when grabbing a fist full of fornt brake – double oops time !!
Apart from those two incidents it was an uneventful ride – well it was until I could see the distance travelled on the computer !!
So today counts for one of those great days when expectations are exceeded 🙂
Also today was the day we christened the new 3 bike carrier, it worked well but we still need to perfect the loading technique.
Today we revisited the Newhaven / Seaford track and my hasn’t mum improved 🙂
Mum was off like a shot, very different to the nervous rider last time.
Today’s ride can best be described as the “day of the dogs”
Firstly we passed a big collie that decided that it wanted to say hello to mum, thankfully the sight of it lurching towards mum didn’t shake her 🙂
Secondly was the muscluar pit bull that didn’t bat an eyelid as we rode past – PHEW !!!!
Thirdly was the sight of a faithful old mutt being pushed in a pushchair !! no doubt the baby was left at home, curled up in front of the fire munching on a bone ! 🙂
Today’s ride was 3.19 miles, I am sure that mum is ready to improve on that and beat her record of 3.38 miles, her fitness and confidence are improving with each ride and she now bears no resemblence to the nervous ‘scooter’ of those early days 🙂
Yes today Iren tackles shoreham for the first time.
Today was cooler and the overcast but a not too bad a day for cycling.
The track was dry and with minimal mud, but there was a cold old wind out there.
Getting to Shoreham brought a pleasure, the veteran car run was on and we travelled down with the old crocks, and stopped at Hassocks to film a few as they passed – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-KPmaUddsc
We rode from the parking spot down the airport back, a tadge over 6 1/2 miles which was enough for a quick blast on the old bike 🙂
