I’m busy, so today’s ride was not going to be about hours or miles.  I still wanted a challenge though, and there’s not a lot left around here that fulfils that criteria.  But there was one that sprang to mind…

Many years ago, I went on a ride with GW and RL and they took me up what was, to me, a hideous hill, that I ended up walking up.  Not that they noticed because they were so far ahead.  As it turns out that hill, the one that goes up past Ebbor Gorge, is called Dear Leap Hill.  Having not even tried to go up it since, it had achieved somewhat mythical proportions in my head.  Recently both GB and GH have been up it, and I was starting to feel a little left out, so I knew I wanted to try it, but on my own, so I could do it my way and deal with it, rather than with the added pressure of keeping up with someone else.  Or them laughing at me if I had to walk of course!  So I plotted myself a circular loop to include it and set off, rather earlier than planned because I couldn’t sleep, a bit after 8.00am this morning.

And as it turns out it was fine.  Yes, ok it was hard work, but it was fine.  It was wet and a tad gravelly so if I had had to stop, getting back on again would have been troublesome, so apologies to the cars that wanted to get past me.  Yes, I’ll let you past when it’s appropriate, but I’m not stopping!  So I plodded my way slowly and relatively happily to the top.  What a difference a few years make.  Setting yourself a challenge and achieving it is a nice way to start the day 🙂  I know it’s not an Alpe, but it’s steeper than many of them! 😉

I came home via Charterhouse and the fun that is descending Shipham Hill.  Not the longest route, but one that worked perfectly for today.

Cycling time: 1:40:34 hrs
Distance: 25.56 miles.
Avs: 15.2 mph
ODO: 9988 miles

It was lovely just to be out on the bike.  The summer holidays mean a distinct lack of head space so it was nice to have some of that, to get some fresh air, and not to hear a single voice going “Mum…?” *grin*.