We were four: Graham Varga, Denise Motley, Del Marx and me. The car park was awash with magenta but they weren’t coming with us. Winners and competitors from the TT yesterday were out in force - a tough lot!
We hadn’t got to the gate before I discovered that I had pressed the button to reverse the route so from there on it was make it up if you can’t remember the way! We headed south up Malpass hill onto Firbeck, another hill and down to Letwell. Not much traffic and the wet stuff, which wasn’t worth the name rain, had gone. It was a good day for a ride with friends.
So on we went to Gildingwells, Woodsetts and Shireoaks. Two cyclist who knew where we were pointed out the route and we made good progress. We didn’t tell Graham till it was too late that the road was going to be hilly! This was not the same Graham who joined TVC some time ago, much fitter doesn’t notice hills anymore and coped as well as any of us.
From Whitwell we followed the brown signs to the visitor centre and found an outside table. Service was quick and the offerings welcome as we sat a while.
As always after a café we have to get home so set off back up the hill turning off towards Worksop. Once on the main road we three tucked in behind Denise and drafted right up to the big roundabout! Our make it up as we go route took us via the abbey to the canal and then up Kilton Hill.
Denise decided to leave us and go via Carlton, but with a moments dementia headed into the industrial estate! We waited for her at the entrance to the caravan storage place and took the opportunity to take a photo. She went left we went straight on and into Blyth.
It should have been an easy ride home but with a gear change problem I pleaded for a stop and we (Del) got a solution. We carried on through Harworth saying goodbye to Graham at the traffic lights and Del and I swept on to the cricket club. A good ride in good cycling weather!
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