An extinct ride .
Called for fellow cyclist Dave on way out of Derby . 1st unrequired T stop at Tutbury . Though the Staffordshire countryside we spin . Over Blithfield reservoir and to Great Hayward we trundled . The canal side cafe for lunch and the parting of ways . Here I continued up the side of Cannock Chase . Here I got my first glimpse of the Werkin which I would battle with the morrow.
To Penkridge I flew ,more calories here [cake] . Over Cutterstone Brook I sailed . Continuing along more fine Staffordshire lanes to Wheaton Aston . Fluid top up here was had . To Great Chartwell and beyond . Landing at the b&b in Wrockwardine. A cracking ride in glorious weather.
More to follow .
Addenda
As I wandered through the Staffordshire byways I concluded that ,
Jimmy Webb penned one of the most evocative songs of all time with
Witchita line man , Glen Campbells rendition never bettered .
What a green and pleasant country we live in .
What's for tea.
Good mileage clocked and an over dose of cake
So after a sound night's sleep and breakfast it was time to tackle the Wrekin .
From Wrockwardine the road drops down before it takes you on a ride past
Of what's coming up!!
Now the summit of said lump is just over 400 m [1300 f] so the road tops out at about 1.000 ft . So begins the climb . As a pull there many far , far harder in the UK . This one was however right in front of me .
Just keep going was my plan , don't stop and think oh isn't it pretty, cos I won't be able to get moving again . No red peas Jersey on time taken , but as I submitted the climb , a chap in a car who had patiently followed behind for& the last 100 f gave me the thumbs-up as he was able to pass.
After regaining myself , down I went into Little Wenlock, further still into Coalbrookdale . Here t and c applied.
For who know not, Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge were the birth place of modern
industry.
Pictures to follow.
Over Abraham Darby's Ironbridge.
Now all this wonderful history is in a river gorge . The way out for me was straight
up .
This was one hill to many for me . So I employed my specialist two foot gear to get up it . So about half mile? In height was gained into Bethnal . Then up some more , I managed to wobble up this bit .
What's gone up has to come down, the free wheel into Much Wenlock is wonderful .
More tea and cake ensued .
The pull out of Much Wenlock tops out at about 230 m on the East Side of the Wenlock Edge . The view of the Clee hills are reward enough .
The lanes through Corve Dale are a cyclists delight . The short climb into Ludlow was over come by the smell of lunch .
Ludlow was as delightful as ever. Continuing South west down to Leominster I skirted the bottom edge of Mortimer Forest . Down to Luston and into Leominster I spin . Fluid topped up , the last few miles beckoned . More climbing (200+ m ) up to the village of Pudleston and arrivee .
Called for fellow cyclist Dave on way out of Derby . 1st unrequired T stop at Tutbury . Though the Staffordshire countryside we spin . Over Blithfield reservoir and to Great Hayward we trundled . The canal side cafe for lunch and the parting of ways . Here I continued up the side of Cannock Chase . Here I got my first glimpse of the Werkin which I would battle with the morrow.
To Penkridge I flew ,more calories here [cake] . Over Cutterstone Brook I sailed . Continuing along more fine Staffordshire lanes to Wheaton Aston . Fluid top up here was had . To Great Chartwell and beyond . Landing at the b&b in Wrockwardine. A cracking ride in glorious weather.
More to follow .
Addenda
As I wandered through the Staffordshire byways I concluded that ,
Jimmy Webb penned one of the most evocative songs of all time with
Witchita line man , Glen Campbells rendition never bettered .
What a green and pleasant country we live in .
What's for tea.
Good mileage clocked and an over dose of cake
So after a sound night's sleep and breakfast it was time to tackle the Wrekin .
From Wrockwardine the road drops down before it takes you on a ride past
Of what's coming up!!
Now the summit of said lump is just over 400 m [1300 f] so the road tops out at about 1.000 ft . So begins the climb . As a pull there many far , far harder in the UK . This one was however right in front of me .
Just keep going was my plan , don't stop and think oh isn't it pretty, cos I won't be able to get moving again . No red peas Jersey on time taken , but as I submitted the climb , a chap in a car who had patiently followed behind for& the last 100 f gave me the thumbs-up as he was able to pass.
After regaining myself , down I went into Little Wenlock, further still into Coalbrookdale . Here t and c applied.
For who know not, Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge were the birth place of modern
industry.Pictures to follow.
Over Abraham Darby's Ironbridge.
Now all this wonderful history is in a river gorge . The way out for me was straight
up .This was one hill to many for me . So I employed my specialist two foot gear to get up it . So about half mile? In height was gained into Bethnal . Then up
some more , I managed to wobble up this bit .What's gone up has to come down, the free wheel into Much Wenlock is wonderful .
More tea and cake
ensued .The pull out of Much Wenlock tops out at about 230 m on the East Side of the Wenlock Edge . The view of the Clee hills are reward enough .
The lanes through Corve Dale are a cyclists delight . The short climb into Ludlow was over come by the smell of lunch .
Ludlow was as delightful as ever. Continuing South west down to Leominster I skirted the bottom edge of Mortimer Forest . Down to Luston and into Leominster I spin . Fluid topped up , the last few miles beckoned . More climbing (200+ m ) up to the village of Pudleston and arrivee .
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