“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey…”

I should have listened to my Dad when he said the forecast for this morning was bad.  Only I chose to go with the BBC forecast instead, which was far more favourable.  To be honest, when I set out to meet GW, the roads may have been wet, but the weather wasn’t.  There was a bit of wind, but it was a good couple of degrees warmer than yesterday.

We set off, and by the time we got up to the car park on Winscombe Hill, I had to stop, swap winter gloves for mitts, and remove the Buff from my head, to get the temperature level right.

I let GW set the route – which is always a bad idea.  We headed out to Sandford, through Churchill, out to Wrington and then up the long hill past the Walled Garden to the A38.  Up the A38, and right down Row of Ashes (I love that name) to go over the top and down some truly muddy roads to Chew Magna.  Which is where we found the wind – strong and in our faces.  The road across the lakes is a drag at the best of times, and this was NOT the best of times.  We had a brief stop to admire the ducks, and allow me to get my breath.

Then it was back along the bottom road through Ubley and back to Churchill.  I always forget how hilly that darn road is.  Up and down and up and down, with traffic and then….rain!  GW was off in the distance somewhere whilst I sat slogging along behind pondering the idea that if I’d wanted to go cycling on my own, I would have done, and I’d probably have felt better about it since I wouldn’t be feeling so left behind 😉

We were going to up Burrington Combe and come back via Charterhouse and Shipham, but as the wind would have been in our faces and the rain was getting worse, and I didn’t fancy the long slog…we opted for Rowberrow instead.  Another long enough slog though, with traffic whishing past, until the left turn to go up the steeper bit past the Swan.  It wasn’t as steep as I remember it, but in what was now torrential rain, it wasn’t a whole heap of fun.  Fat hard heavy cold rain…

Coming down Shipham Hill was a complete nightmare as water was pouring all over the road in great swathes.  Luckily there was no-one behind me to menace me, as my brakes really weren’t cutting the mustard, and I was doing my usual over cautious bit…  It was a relief to get to the straight stretch at the bottom, and then to get back down the main road and home.

Cycling time: 2:21:27
Distance: 31.73 miles
Avs: 13.4 mph
ODO: 2697 miles

So, as rides go – ick.  I’ll blame the average speed on…everything!  My shoulder waited 110 minutes to cut in today, and wasn’t as bad, so I’ll continue to swear by my lavender wheat pack.  At least I’ve been out three times this week, so I can resort to the gym for the rest of the week with a clear conscience *grin*.