I didn't ride Saturday, needed a lie-in after Rome, but I was up at 0600hrs on Sunday and soon found myself on the bike. It was cold out and I didn't have a balaclava or a scarf, which had somehow disappeared. When I say it was cold, it was brass monkey weather and it made my face ache.
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| On a solo ride on Saturday, Andy finds Bullbeggars Lane... |
We rode to the Tatsfield bus stop, the slow way, but decided against riding down Hesiers and along Beddlestead mainly because of the risk of slippery roads and, of course, the high chance of falling off the bikes, like Andy did a week or two ago. Instead we followed Beech Farm Road to the 269, turned left and continued on our way, passing Botley Hill and then turning left on to Clarks Lane. Soon we were sitting down and drinking tea. I've decided to avoid biscuits, but not forever. Why munch biscuits after eating a big breakfast of porridge, tea and toast?
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| Flytippers closed this road, but not to bikes! |
En route we stumbled across a Road Closed sign. It normally doesn't affect bicycles and we pass on through, as we did a week or two ago on Ledgers Road. This time, as last time, the reason behind the closure was the same old story: fly tippers. Basically, people come along, probably in the dead of night, and unload a pile of rubbish on the road – they're too stingy to pay for its disposal. It could be anything: old fridges, seat cushions, you name it. Once dumped, the rubbish in question then stops other cars from using the road, hence the Road Closed sign. It's becoming a common occurrence and it's very annoying to see. Sadly, of course, it sums up the UK mentality.
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| We relaxed at the Tatsfield Bus Stop... |
We chilled at the bus stop, sitting on our gloves in order to keep warm and in the process warming our gloves up for when we put them on and head home.
Andy was going back via The Ridge and he won't be riding next Saturday. After saying goodbye I sped along the 269, using the off-road path. The council has recently cut the hawthorn bushes along the way, so I was risking a puncture. Fortunately nothing happened, but who knows what state the bike is in right now, in the garage? I might have two flat tyres out there, but I won't find out until next week.
A point worth noting is that signs have sprung up stopping us from reaching the cottage. Last week we found gates shut and on my way home along the 269 I noticed that our usual entry point to reach the cottage now has a sign reading 'No Bikes'. We've been rumbled!
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| After a ride in the icy cold weather, this is what I needed most... |
I was so cold as I rode home along the Limpsfield Road that I started saying, out loud, but when nobody else was in ear shot,
"Fucking cold! Fucking brass monkeys! Sausages! I want sausages!" I don't know why, but it makes things better. I couldn't wait to reach Sanderstead, I needed to get home and fast, I needed a hot cup of tea, and most of all, I needed sausages! I don't eat sausages from one month – or year – to the next, but this week I visited the Flowers Farm shop to buy some food (a roast chicken, the aforementioned sausages and a few vegetables). I knew that when I got back I'd make up a Full English breakfast and that I did. It was incredible and later in the day I made the roast chicken dinner – we ate really well, that's for sure.
The weather is getting colder, as promised by the TV weather forecasts. When I woke up this morning there was a frost on the ground, just like yesterday. We cycle throughout the year so at this time it's not as pleasant as the summer, for obvious reasons.
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