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.
So that said, I have started. Yesterday was forecast as nice so Hey! why wait?Yesterday (26 July) I set off West towards Ditchford Bank Fishery, so small that it is barely on the map.
Getting out of the city towards the South West I crawled up hill past the local Refuse tip, it was, as ever, clogged with trucks all trying to squeeze past me as we negotiated the many chicanes. Not nice. Once through though it is very close to the country.
Once off this road I made for Icknield Street, the famous Roman Road running from Gloucestershire to South Yorkshire – although here it has sadly deteriorated and is too popular with fly tippers. I came out at the top of Forhill and from then it is a huge downhill until eventually I end up in Hopwood before more hilliness to get to Barnt Green. Further on, alongside the Birmingham Worcester Canal, I asked someone to take this photo.
I was making for Ditchford Bank Fishery and my favourite cafe where Mandy, Maggie and family members make proper toast with bread cut in doorsteps and lots of butter.
At my half way point I discovered that I had a shortfall of about 2 miles so i continued on to the pleasingly named ‘Flying Horse Lane’ and then turned back for baked beans and coffee at Mandy’s.
Returning I had the big challenge of getting up Forhill. Before I injured my knee I could make it all the way on my bike, but now I have to get off and walk where the gradient gets more severe just before the summit.
So that is the first 40.70 miles done.
My route took me through Selly Oak, Lifford Lane, Walkers Heath. Ickneild Street, Forhill, Hopwood, Bittel Lakes, Barnt Green, Tardebigge, Lower Bentley, Ditchford Bank, detour to Flying Horse Lane
LEJoG 82 