This week I had some annual leave and spent quality time with Lee, as well as getting out and about on my bike. Standard format for the blog. Family update and then my cycling stuff.
This time last year Lee spent her 48th birthday in hospital. As a consequence we wanted to make up for it this year.
Níamh did a great job making the house look nice and the day started with presents. Then we headed out.
Lee had no idea where we were going and kept telling people she was going on a magical mystery tour. Our first destination was Wicken Fen nature reserve, a National Trust owned area. This was great for Lee because the was a flat firm boardwalk around the fen of just under a mile.
There's a nice cafe and visitor centre too!
After that we made our way to Anglesey Abbey, unlike the name suggests, this is in Cambridgeshire too, not Wales! It's also a National Trust property so our recently acquired membership was getting good use!
This was another nice place to walk around with flat firm paths and a well kept ornamental garden. There is also a house to look around but we were too late for that. We did look around the water mill which is really nice.
There is a nice cafe there too! Lee had a really nice day out but was exhausted afterwards.
Later in the week we had a trip to Bosworths garden centre where Lee spent some of her birthday money on plants for some wall planters I'd fitted in the garden. I think these will look great.
It wasn't just getting out and about. We also just spent time together at home. It was nice to just have a relaxing time. We also had some emotional moments reflecting on the year before. I'd happily just live like this for ever but that's not the real world is it. Back to work tomorrow!
Here's the split to the cycling stuff
I've been lucky enough to get out on my bikes loads and do a lot of maintenance. This week I've changed the headset bearings on two bikes, cut down a steerer tube, serviced a free hub, topped up tubeless sealant, sorted some corroded bolts and fitted a new brake lever face.
To help with that I cycled over to see Craig at Richardson's Cycles in Corby. I went there via Rockingham Hill.
After great service from Craig I headed into the Welland Valley taking in Harringworth viaduct and Eyebrook Reservoir.
On Thursday I went out for a ride in glorious spring weather with my good friend Neil.
We put the world to rights on a great little loop on quiet Northamptonshire country roads.
As well as cycling we enjoyed good food at Wythmails cafe in Orlingbury.
My biggest ride of the week was the Cyclasylum Saturday group ride.
This was a ride out to Ramsey in the fens.
Sometimes this flat route is an easy way to do a long ride. On Saturday, with a strong southerly breeze it was hard work!
We stopped at a cafe in Ramsey where I had my incident of the day. Whilst leaving the cafe I stopped to let other people come in. Unfortunately I stopped but my cycling shoes kept going. My feet slid out from under me and I landed unceremoniously on my bottom.
Despite the tough riding conditions the group was in usual high spirits. We laughed, we sang, banter flowed and we enjoyed ourselves.
Happy Pedalling
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