The weekend started by killing two birds with one stone - not my wife and daughter I hasten to add!
In preparation for our holiday and having recently bought a new tent, we pitched it in Ali's parent's garden in Canterbury on Friday evening for a trial run. After a lovely alfresco dinner and few glasses of wine, we settled down for the night.
With a night interrupted by rain (it did so for about 15 mins), foxes (my son was a tad nervous to say the least as he was sleeping solo in the little tent) and the dawn chorus, this was not a great preparation for my training ride home.
After a quick shower I donned my new cycling jersey. Passed to me by Ali's dad who had been given it by his cousin who lives in the Queen Charlotte Islands near Vancouver in Canada. His cycling club is called "Derailleurs in the Mist" which I think is a great name for a club.
After a few quick posey snaps in the garden I left their house around lunchtime.
First stop was my mum and dad's house on the other side of Canterbury. It is only 1.7 miles from Ali's parent's house but straightaway it meant a small climb up through the university which offers rewarding views over the cathedral.
In preparation for our holiday and having recently bought a new tent, we pitched it in Ali's parent's garden in Canterbury on Friday evening for a trial run. After a lovely alfresco dinner and few glasses of wine, we settled down for the night.
With a night interrupted by rain (it did so for about 15 mins), foxes (my son was a tad nervous to say the least as he was sleeping solo in the little tent) and the dawn chorus, this was not a great preparation for my training ride home.
After a quick shower I donned my new cycling jersey. Passed to me by Ali's dad who had been given it by his cousin who lives in the Queen Charlotte Islands near Vancouver in Canada. His cycling club is called "Derailleurs in the Mist" which I think is a great name for a club.
After a few quick posey snaps in the garden I left their house around lunchtime.
First stop was my mum and dad's house on the other side of Canterbury. It is only 1.7 miles from Ali's parent's house but straightaway it meant a small climb up through the university which offers rewarding views over the cathedral.
After a short break there and a promise to relieve her of two stone flower pots - at some stage in the future - I headed home using the road signs to guide me!
Met some curious old cow on the way who was none to impressed with me so her and her mate wandered off.
The route home took me over the North Downs. This was the first time that I had crossed the Downs from the north side which is a much more gentle climb than from the south side - my normal route - which is steep and fairly brutal.
I think it is always nice to end a ride with a descent and this is was I got. I should probably have extended the ride but after a restless night I was feeling fairly weary especially having pushed myself up the Downs at a fair pace so I dropped off the Pilgrims Way and headed home.
All in all this was a 30 mile ride at an average of 12.5 mph which I was relatively pleased with.
Met some curious old cow on the way who was none to impressed with me so her and her mate wandered off.
The route home took me over the North Downs. This was the first time that I had crossed the Downs from the north side which is a much more gentle climb than from the south side - my normal route - which is steep and fairly brutal.
I think it is always nice to end a ride with a descent and this is was I got. I should probably have extended the ride but after a restless night I was feeling fairly weary especially having pushed myself up the Downs at a fair pace so I dropped off the Pilgrims Way and headed home.
All in all this was a 30 mile ride at an average of 12.5 mph which I was relatively pleased with.
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