Out today on the winter training ground; Middleton Top. Crisp winter sun was a welcome visitor after days and days of mild grey dampness.

Cycling on a tiny portion of Route 67 today. Cycled from North to South down the Five Pits Trail for the most part heading out from Chesterfield. The trail takes in 5 old reclaimed colliery sites, the clues in the name. Once upon a time Derbyshire was a major player in the coal industry but now it’s only the names and pockets of adjacent housing that remain of the old industry. The trail itself is a pleasant pedal with a number of ponds on the route. Derbyshire County Council maintain the trail and so it’s in good condition very little graffiti and no burnt out benches. Some gradients on route make the trail a little more interesting than the archetypal old railway line trail. Plus there’s a new off road cycle route half way along. The journey from Chesterfield to the ‘end’ of the portion of NCN 67 as marked on the Ordnance survey is just short of 13 miles (taking in a section of the Silverdale trail near Newton; itself an old rail line). The route ends on the south side of Tibshelf. Unfortunately the absolute very end of the cycle route is a little ‘distressed’ currently with litter and some minor fly tipping creating an unwelcome sight. It would be great one day if the 67 was joined up all the way. It crests momentarily and then dives under the surface of the paper again like a sea serpent swimming up the ordnance survey map through Derbyshire.

Out today, Christmas Day for a cobweb clearing cycle ride. Very wet and no sign of snow. White Christmas’s are a myth in these parts.

Merry Christmas!

Back in the saddle after a dry spell. Been to Amsterdam in the interim with every intention of hiring a bike but utilmately opted out of the responsibility of a hire bike in favour of a care free few days. Have hatched a Dutch cycling plan though for 2016 so will see next year if it comes to fruition. No photos to jazz up today’s 10 mile round town jaunt as had my hands tight on the bars to brace myself against massive gusts. Plus seemingly everyone who has ever taken a picture of the crooked spire by night seems to have copyrighted it. Why? I know not but no steals available. As we’re passing through so called ‘Black Friday’ weekend and moving onwards towards Christmas like a sleigh with no brake the residents of Chesterfield have been up their ladders with their lights so maybe I’ll post some images of  Xmas: Chesterfield 2016 at some point (un copyrighted of course).

Bumbling around today having decided to come off the Middleton Top trail and explore the surrounding countryside. Warmest November day since records began they say. Highlight of the trip was a ride through Bradbourne – and a wander inside and out of the All Saints village church. The church is one that has so much charm if I lived nearby I’d go every Sunday just for the atmosphere and to be part of it. Riding though the village and roaming the grave yard I was struck by the absence of a Great War memorial and any Great War headstones which are a feature of every British village in my experience. But nothing of the like. Turns out there is none as Bradbourne was a blessed village with all it’s fathers, brothers, sons, and uncles surviving the carnage of the First World War.

Out on my regular ride today the one which keeps me this side of sanity in this insane world. Cartographers amongst us would recognise it as being the backbone of this blog. Today whilst pedalling up a steep incline I was passed by a youth on a scooter who slowed when he had passed and pulled a wheelie ahead of me before scooting off. No words or glances were exchanged so I can only assume it was a salute to the gradient we were both riding up. I’m taking it as a positive event as he did not return like some slasher movie and do me in. Thinking back it was a bit ‘Grand Theft Auto’ though.

There is something magical about the rush of fresh air and being alone in the saddle in open countryside as the sun sets to the west of me and I am relaxed by the transcendental hum of tyre tread on tarmac. Having pedalled this ride several times now I’m starting to tune into it’s seasonal soundtrack. Today I heard the rush of water in several places that were quiet two weeks before when I last rode that way. Recent rains and the change of season altering the soundscape.

Regeneration.

b

Hit on the head by an acorn today. Seasonal happenstance or angry squirrel? The sunshine of the Indian summer of 2016 continues creating a glorious autumn. No doubt it’s freaking the flies out.

23 miles today (not on a tandem). Glorious sunshine for early October. Good vision of harnessing wind power the old way and the new way. Same idea just a few hundred years in between and just goes to show good ideas never disappear completely (not the best picture but the clues are there!) They’ll be relaying the train tracks next.

23 miles round Rutland Water today on a tandem.

Riding out of Nottingham on the A612 along the Colwick Loop Road for 12 miles towards destination East Bridgford feeling every bump in the road makes you wonder whether there is any investment in road repairs these days. That and whether any one ever cleans the pavements as the pedestrian/ cycle friendly wide pavements are peppered for miles with crumbs of glass bottles. Luckily though they sparkle in the sunshine which helps to navigate a path through. The verges are also littered with pop bottles, fag packets, sandwich and sweet wrappers. Quite disappointing and gives Nottingham a passing sense of shabbiness. Warm sunshine though threw a golden glow on fields being harvested as I pedaled past which reminded me of a Sting song. Out for tea at the excellent Bridge & Bayleaf situated in the old toll house for the now missing toll bridge across the Trent at Gunthorpe. Excellent curry, over did it with the starter though as proved unnecessary given the size of the main dish. Great to be able to wander after dark in just a t-shirt in spite of it being late September.