LEJoG 82

I planned up to meet with my friend Jeanette for a morning ride in her neck of the woods, so i got the train to Redditch and rode to her house. From there we  rode to Alcester for coffee. What a lovely unspoilt town it is!

I had been thinking that it would be nice to ride with a group sometimes, so when I met the Easy Riders I asked if I could join them. They were very welcoming and friendly so, although they are based over in Solihull with meetings  in Brueton Park, I think it will work out (even if we only get to see each other at lunch). 

Today chose to go west to Hartlebury so I could visit Whitlenge Gardens. It is actually a Garden Centre but it’s more like a Botanical gardens with different themes. The fact that you can buy plants and all else you need is almost incidental.

It has been suggested that I really should give a little bit more information about the bike rides that I’ve been enjoying, so I have tried to get the dreaded Garmin to wake up and record my ride. Unfortunately it seems that the battery is conking out – or perhaps it just feels a bit unloved! I’ll do my best with Komoot mapping and photos of my mileage meter after each ride. I certainly don’t want to jeopardise my chance of raising funds to help the increasing number of abuse victims (please don’t forget to donate to the charities that I support using the links on the left hand side of the page). People have been so generous with help, even though most families are finding it hard themselves in these difficult times.

I started off on my well used route past Lifford Lane Tip, then on to Icknield Street and I chose to get to Ullenhall via Mockley Manor (with a ferocious drop down where I once got caught in a pile up of bikes at the bottom when someone slipped in the mud). After the climb up to Mockley Manor care home I feel as if I should be admitted there myself!

I’m trying to carry on raising money for charities who help victims of domestic abuse but I want to base it from home as accommodation is now so expensive.  I will not be gong round and round Birmingham, instead I will strike out from here and use it as a base. I’ll try to do 100 miles a week if possible – I find that I can still do about 40 at a time despite my knee problems. To get variety I will sometimes access the start of the ride by train or ride in only one direction and get the train back – but I will pedal the planned distance.

I have wonderful memories of my End to End bicycle ride last year and I feel so lucky that I managed to get through it without any terrible weather incidents: storms, high winds or floods. Thank you so much to all of you who contributed so generously to charities who help rescue victims of Domestic Abuse.

I received a rather surprising  Christmas present. We were sitting round the tree when two of my grandchildren handed me a big cardboard envelope.

Hi folks I’m back again: I still want to raise money for charities who combat domestic abuse, so I’ve been thinking of pedalling across Britain again next year but this time side to side. It will be much shorter, but there will be a further challenge as I’m going to carry camping equipment with me; just like a snail with its home on its back and probably just as slowly.

Thank you to everybody who has been following my blog and donating so much money to the charities who help victims of abuse. You have been really generous, especially considering the difficult times we are living through: the war in Ukraine, climate change and the rocketing cost of living amongst other things.