Today's Ride

[Pipmeister]

Re:

It was a year ago nearly to the day when I was last here in Malvern, and on a similar mission. I had already figured out that a ride to the top of the Worcestershire Beacon would be beyond me at the moment, so I had decided that a climb up to Lady Howard de Walden Drive would be ample for today.

Once again I started at the North Quarry Car Park, known locally as the Clocktower Car Park, because of the quirky Clocktower just along the road that houses one of the Malvern Wells.

Clocktower Well 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


As you can see, I had decided that I should take the 1997 Kona King Kahuna Stars ‘n’ Bars for this week’s ride on the Hills. So off we go .

Clocktower Carpark 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


First stop on the grassy knoll above St Anne’s Well. This is looking East across the River Severn floodplain.

Above St Annes Well View 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


And that is sort of the direction where I am heading to.

Above St Annes Well Up 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


This is the slow drag parallel with Green Valley up to Lady Howard de Walden Drive, which is somewhat unforgiving. This picture doesn’t really demonstrate how hectic the climb is.

Para to Green Valley 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


North Hill rising up the left, and a lovely glimpse of the outskirts of Malvern.

Lady Howard Dr View 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


Made it up to Lady Howard de Walden Drive, which you can also make out circumventing North Hill behind me. A local walker offered to take a picture as I was trying to set my camera up on its little foot on the opposite bank.

Lady H Dr Pip 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


This is the final ascent to the Beacon that I will save for another day. I have been told in no uncertain terms, that I should still be taking things easy.

Worsc View 110819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr

Pip

 

[Pipmeister]

Re:

Second day on the Hills, and I thought that would start the day a little off the beaten track.

I cycled round to West Malvern, where the locals could be described as even more eccentric than in Great Malvern :? . Nigel Kennedy had a house here, and you could hear him practicing in the garden sometimes. One of my sister’s former pupils used to baby sit for him. Apparently the house could be described artistically chaotic – a bit like Nigel. She told me that the living room had Sheet Music strewn everywhere, and various violins (that cost a lot), and Pizza delivery boxes scattered about, and this baby crawling around amongst it all!

Anyway, the first picture is on the very Northern tip of the hills. This was taken on the rather unimaginatively named End Hill, but you get a great view looking across Worcestershire into Shropshire.

From End Hill 120819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr



Some of the tracks that you have seen so far are well established, but I spotted a cyclist crashing through the bracken below me, so thought I better investigate. My shoes ended up soaking wet after a few minutes :roll: .

End Hill East 120819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr



I eventually came out onto the Northern stretch of Lady Howard De Walden Drive, and a walker took a picture for me.

Lady Howard Dr North 120819_1 by Philip Mock, on Flickr



When you look down at Great Malvern from here, it looks like a model village. The neat grass area is Malvern Link Common, and the Morgan Sports Car Factory can be seen in the middle distance.

Link Common from Ldy H Dr by Philip Mock, on Flickr



This is the Drive looking due South, with a view of the Worcestershire Beacon. You can just make out the Queen Victoria Jubilee Memorial at the very top. Once again I decided that I should leave this climb for now – maybe tomorrow on my 61st birthday :shock: .

Worsc Beacon fm Lady H Dr by Philip Mock, on Flickr

Pip

 

[Max Headroom]

Well nice ride Pip - loving the pics as well

 

[Max Headroom]

Well nice ride Pip - loving the pics as well

 

[al-onestare]

Re:

Next week, Pip shreds Fort William on a hardtail.

Super stoked dude!

 

[mk one]

Happy birthday for tomorrow Pip, 61 :shock: i hope im still that fit when i get there

Big views too, especially with it being flat, and you should get to the Morgan factory on your birthday for a test drive

 

[mk one]

Cool today with a cold wind when stopped for any length of time

Went for a ride around one of the Hardwick loops, though not as big as Pips views, still some nice ones anyway. A lot of people out today, mainly with large packs of dogs, all heading in different directions on their leads, and quite a few cyclists too.

 

[Pipmeister]

Re:

Thanks everybody.

Okay, so the birthday boy was determined to make it to the top of the Worcestershire Beacon today. My sister and brother in law arranged to meet me at the top. They drove to the Wyche Cutting that cuts out about 500 ft of climbing, and walked up the easier paved route. I meanwhile would tackle traversing the front East Face, which my sister referred to as the Donkey Trail - never heard it called that before.

By the time I had got to the grassy knoll above St Ann’s Well, I had that sinking feeling you get when you just don’t think that you have it in you. Anyway, it wasn’t a race, and I know the terrain well, so off we set in good spirits.

You can sort of get the idea from this picture of the trail sweeping back and forth with its hairpin bends. It is easier overall than other routes, but there are still some steep sections.

Looking towards North Hill:

Worsc Beacon Donkey Trail by Philip Mock, on Flickr



Looking South towards Jubilee Drive, with the Herefordshire Beacon just visible in the distance:

Worsc Beacon Donkey Trail_1 by Philip Mock, on Flickr



Nearly at the top looking down onto where I was yesterday. The sheep are currently grazing on the slopes, which helps maintain the Hills, but they are penned in with electric fencing:

Worsc Beacon Donkey Trail_3 by Philip Mock, on Flickr



Anyway despite my reservations (and advice from a Surgeon’s Registrar) I made it to the top. I reckon I could call that back to normal. My brother in law took this one, then the 3 of us made our way back down to the Wyche Cutting for a birthday meal at Café H2O, which is popular with cyclists:

Worsc Beacon 130819 by Philip Mock, on Flickr

Pip

 

[michael franks]

Re:

Congratulations on conquering the Worcestershire Beacon Pip. Best wishes for a Happy Birthday.

 

[al-onestare]

Re:

In next week's edition, Pip rinses the megavalanche series on a unicycle blindfolded.