No Photos (but a quick catch up)

Thursday 31st May


Last night I got a text from a team-mate Helen who said she wanted to get out on a little training ride.  Nothing too taxing but we were going to meet on the Spen Valley Greenway.  She was going to take the car about 2.5 miles down to the Tesco Supermarket car park.

I set off from home and rode to the Greenway.  I had been feeling there was something wrong with the bike but  no-one could spot the problem.  As I was sailing down the long hill towards the Greenway it felt like I was riding on cobbles.

Anyway, got on the Greenway and pedalled down to Cleckheaton to meet Helen as the sky was looking very threatening and I wondered if this had been sensible!  Thankfully I had my waterproof on so wasn't too worried.

Helen was nearly ready when I got there and off we went.  It was drizzling a little bit but never mind.  We headed up the Greenway first to the top, turned around and were soon at the bottom end of the Greenway and decided to be civilised and go and have a coffee somewhere.

Coming off the Greenway we were a bit further down than I thought we were but as luck would have it there was a cafe.  A nice cup of coffee for me and a coffee and toasted teacake for Helen and we were about to set off when I realised how wet and mucky I was!  The seat, thankfully, was wipe clean so I warned the cafe staff that they would need to wipe it down.

Anyway back on the Greenway and we were chatting and pedalling at a good speed but I couldn't get out of my mind the wobble on the bike.  We were soon back at Cleckheaton where Helen bade me farewell and I carried on up a bit further.  By this time the rain had been coming down a fair bit so I was feeling a bit soggy.

Hunsworth Lane is a long road, sometimes a bit steep but finishes right in the heart of my village so I set off with determination up it.  This is nothing for those riders who fly up hills at 20 miles an hour but I HATE hills.    I have now decided to see them as a challenge rather than a hindrance.

I was chuffed to bits to make it up without getting off (although some Octagenarian with a zimmer frame could have walked past me at times as I was going so slow).  Twenty four miles done and dusted.  When I got home I realised how wet I actually was.

I rang the bike shop who told me to go straight down (Firth Cycles at Queensbury, Bradford) even though they were very busy Barry didn't want to leave me in the lurch knowing I was doing the Germany ride very soon.  Turns out there was two wheel tapes in my front wheel and one had slipped and so the tyre wasn't properly in the rim.  Also the back brake block had been chafing my back tyre so I needed a new one.  All done and sorted.  BARRY, YOU ARE A STAR!

Tuesday 6th June    Jubilee Day


I got up at 6am and went out for a walk with the dogs.  Half way round the walk I looked at my watch and was amazed to see it was only 5.35am!!!  WHAT!

Home again I got my breakfast and we went to a car boot sale.  Didn't buy much but it was a pleasant morning out anyway.

After lunch I nearly talked myself out of a bike ride but decided to go for it.  I set off to do the same ride as last Thursday just to keep my legs turning.

Whenever I have done the Greenway I have usually struggled to keep up the momentum on the return journey so my aim today was not to drop below 10 mph apart from any obstacles (gates, dogs, people).  Charging off at a good pace I kept a check on the speed and even up the little hills I actually managed to not drop below 12 mph!  Very well pleased with myself.

Once I got to the top I turned round and went back down to where I had dropped off last time and then faced Hunsworth Lane again.  Even that didn't daunt me today.

I arrived home dripping in sweat but so pleased with my endeavours today.

If anyone would like to sponsor me the money is going to a local charity called Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure   You can go to http://www.justgiving.com/HelenaRom and give via the page or by text.  Thank you so much.  Any money is much appreciated.

A Local Walk

Friday morning dawned warm and clear. I was out of bed at stupid o'clock and out walking with the dogs by 6.30am.

I thought I would take you on a little tour of my walk.

First I went down through the village past the village green:

The Millenium Sign post

The entire Green

The Stocks

Then I went down a little footpath that comes out into a big field:

Over a stile and down what was an old railway line for the mines. You can just see the dogs in the field on the left:

A feather I found on the path. I thought it looked good against the fencepost

Then cross the road and down another footpath/farmtrack where there were hundreds of bunnies and Bear and Evie went off on a chase (with no chance of catching them I might add):

The track bends to the left and then we are in another big field. Sometimes there are cows or sheep in here so I am always wary with the dogs here but at the moment it is a grass meadow and the grass is about 18 inches high. The dogs went off chasing rabbits again:

Yes that is the footpath ahead of me

That's Bear among the grass and he is a German Shepherd cross!

Can you spot Evie? Top left hand side. She was bounding through the grass like a kangaroo as she is only small.

Over a stream and into another field. At least the footpath is a little clearer here. This photo isn't as sharp, as I was shooting into the sunlight.

At the other side of this field there is a track that goes between some trees and bushes and over a little stream. Then the next field climbs fairly steeply uphill.

Looking back over some of the fields I have crossed. This is the field where we go sledging when there is enough snow to do so.

Bear trotting up the track

No it's not a tombstone in the middle of nowhere. It is a lone gatepost. I would love to to know why or how it comes to be alone in the middle of a field:

Leaving the field I walked up an unmade road known as Furnace Road, past some stables and up to a main road. This looks like a path straight to the house but it is on the other side of the road.

Now a bit of road walking, then through a housing estate, up a steep little hill and through a 'snicket' and I was on the path between the two moors near home. There was a lilac tree in full blossom which smelled divine in the early morning warmth.

I headed back towards and up the top moor as that takes me home:

Comfrey in abundance at the gateway to the moor