There was promise of sunshine – well there wasn’t any.
I’d hoped to spot some birds on the lakes in Brockholes Nature reserve, I even took my binoculars – I only saw a few coots and a couple of swans.
Maybe a few arty photographs – my camera had reset itself to the wrong setting, so most were out of focus.
I was intent on improving my fitness – just the opposite as you will see.
What else went wrong – well I didn’t get a puncture, thank God.
At the start of the Guild Wheel, I start at the Crematorium, I seemed to be going well yet the cyclists (amateur at best) seen in my photo kept passing me, and I struggled to keep up their pace. My breathing wasn’t right. After my brief unsuccessful stop off at one of the hides in Brockholes for a while along the flat rural section alongside the Ribble I gained a better rhythm. But on the two little rises into Preston I puffed and panted and just avoided dismounting. It was Half Term and there were families out in the parks. I was still just behind those two as we approached the docks, they stopped for a break and I peddled on. The long drag out alongside Blackpool Road was taken slowly, but I misjudged the turn-off for the steep bit onto the bridge and ended up walking. Under the new bridge for Preston’s Western Distributor road and I found myself flagging. A timely bench was too much of a temptation and I succumbed, maybe some food and a drink might help. The pair whizzed cheerily past.
Off again, Preston North End were on their training ground, but they have recently screened it off, so I could only hear their punishing work-out. I felt I was on my own punishing workout. Cottam came and went, and I knew the hilly section was coming up. My legs were the proverbial lead. I just about managed the slight rise over the railway before entering Broughton, new houses everywhere. I knew of the seat opposite the War Memorial and was glad of another sit down and some emergency chocolate. The inscription says “Rest awhile and think on their sacrifice” I sat and thought for quite a while.
Round the back of Asda I plodded on just wishing the next three miles away. I dismounted at all the little inclines and in fact towards the end after a steep hill I just kept pushing the bike for some distance and relief before cycling the last half mile. I’ve not felt so tired for ages, even after my bath I’m feeling stiff and achy.
Sorry to be so miserable, perhaps I should do a Covid test tomorrow.
It certainly sounds like you’re coming down with something. I hope it passes quickly. It takes me ages to get back to normal fitness after covid so let’s hope if it’s that, your recovery is swift and steady. Rest awhile 😉
Thanks for that, good advice.
You’ve not been drinking coffee in a pub in Hurst Green recently, I hope. I dare say though you did better than I would have done on a bike COVID or not. Take it easy.
I hardly go to a pub anywhere these days. That is an after effect of the Covid lockdowns.
Yes, I learned my lesson there. And it was a poor cup of coffee too. Back to a Thermos in the car.
Was that the café or the pub?
It was the pub (next to the village hall) Not the Shireburn. Hard to say though. I was only in twenty minutes and the place was empty. It might have been Asda on Saturday, but I was only in there for five.
The Bailey Arms is looking downtrodden.
These things are a mystery.