I have followed Penny and her yellow bike for many, many, many miles (she has followed me on occasions) but today was the final training ride we would take together before we leave for Costa Rica.
It was sunny and cool and easy to choose a route – our favourite, Lychett, Wareham, Arne, Corfe Castle, Studland and the ferry, Poole bay and back to Broadstone.
Light rain was forecast but it didn’t materialise - hoorah.
It was sunny and cool and easy to choose a route – our favourite, Lychett, Wareham, Arne, Corfe Castle, Studland and the ferry, Poole bay and back to Broadstone.
Light rain was forecast but it didn’t materialise - hoorah.
We climbed the hills at a rapid pace and came down the other side even faster. We made really good time.
At Corfe we were tempted, but resisted.
From Corfe to Studland it’s a long and not insignificant series of hills. At the top we break to admire the view (in other words catch our breath) and take on fuel; cereal bar, banana and a drink.
At Corfe we were tempted, but resisted.
From Corfe to Studland it’s a long and not insignificant series of hills. At the top we break to admire the view (in other words catch our breath) and take on fuel; cereal bar, banana and a drink.
Scanning the horizon the army are firing on the ranges near Bovington camp, booms from their guns in the distance, and the smoke coiling up through the air.
From here it’s down hill towards the chain-link ferry.
From here it’s down hill towards the chain-link ferry.
The Costa Rican ride is coast to coast, we will finish with a dip in the Caribbean.
So with time to spare we practised our beach/sea celebratory dash, posing on the beach, or soaking up the sun – briefly.
So with time to spare we practised our beach/sea celebratory dash, posing on the beach, or soaking up the sun – briefly.
Being British the queue of cars waiting for the ferry ignored the two middle aged women capering about on the sand by steadfastly looked straight ahead waiting for the ferry to finish loading on the other side.
We queued but on the wrong side
We queued but on the wrong side
From the ferry we had a clear view of Brownsea Island and Brownsea castle.
Once off the ferry we rounded Poole bay where there were other people practising a celebratory dip too!
Once off the ferry we rounded Poole bay where there were other people practising a celebratory dip too!
The brisk wind up Evening Hill should have prepared us for the ride around Baiter. So strong was the head wind that it made riding on the flat more challenging than some of the hills we had climber earlier, with the added obstacle of waves breaking over the path and making us wet!
Finally we arrived back at base - 38 miles and feeling we could both easily continue for another good few miles more.
We agreed: must now be ready for the Costa Rica, coast to coast challenge.
Amanda
We agreed: must now be ready for the Costa Rica, coast to coast challenge.
Amanda