Girls on Cogs

Miles Cycled : 80
Hours taken: 7.5
Navigation: Not bad

Well it made a pleasant change waking up at the Bamford Barn with a clear head! Hel’s and I tucked into a large bowl of porridge with some left over cream from last night……. Surely we need the calories!!
Everyone pulled together to clear up the barn and all headed off in different directions about 11.30am to go walking, climbing and mountain biking. Hel’s and I a little pleased with ourselves leaving 30 mins earlier than planned. We set off at a good pace and headed towards Bakewell and Matlock, using the A6, although it was busy it was also scenic and psychologically it worked well because we cycled nearly 30 miles in 2 hours…. If only for the massive hill towards Wirksworth!
Stav might have a point about the talking (see Tuesday night Club)!!! We did a lot less of it because of the busy road and progressed more miles.
We stopped every 2 hours to eat and apply much needed sun cream. As we approach Derby we decided to take the cycle route towards Melbourne and the signpost for Leicester. Started quite well and eventually ended up on the canal path. Again started reasonably well, but the signs disappeared and the good path turned into a very narrow and bumpy one. We next cycled along a path parallel to the A50. Slightly less scenic and more lots of broken glass! Also encountered a group of ‘youths’ on bikes who gave us a bit of banter. We politely thanked them for moving out of our way and cycled off at high speed…… shame it was the wrong way and had to cycled passed them again feeling a little stupid!
We were now on the homeward stretch, so decided to take the A6 again via Loughborough. We had a quick coke in the pub and set off. Again busy, but not too unpleasant and the sun was still shinning as we arrived home just before 7pm.

What we learned: The canal is not a good option and we probably should of remembered that from one of the early outings in the year.

Cycle paths are not always signposted well.

Less talking… maybe we should only do that every 2 hours?

Sunday night drinking in the pub garden with your mates….is brilliant!!