Yesterdays bike ride was mud and rain, todays bike ride was mud and flood waters, mind you todays ride was dryer and warmer, I had to stop and take me coat off I was so warm.

I should of taken the hint when the second field I rode into along the river was 3/4 flooded, I had to ride through the water along the edge of the field to the hedge at the top of the field and ride along the top path. I made it back to the river bank path but several short section were under water and at another stage I had to take to the high path again. Even here I got bogged down in mud and had to walk out. I should of realised this was a prelude of what was to come.

My thoughts were on the field I had to ride through on the other side of the river by Throop water mill, last couple of times through there it has been a mud wallowing hole, but as strange as it was when I got to the field it was not as bad as I had expected. I managed to make it to the airport without any mishap.

Just to add a little extra to the distance I decided to do a small loop around Sopley forest This is where I found a puddle where I don’t normally see a puddle, not a problem was ride through it, bad move, I rolled into it and flew over the handlebar out of it!! It was actually a ditch with a vertical side. The rest of this route was a swamp, I was actually glad to get out and back onto the road.

I quickly made my way out of Sopley and headed for Hurn Forest and then down to Oakdene Caravan park, now I should of known that if I am 200yds from the bridge over the river and the entire path is flooded then riding closer to the bridge through the flood water is not going to improve the situation, queue a 180 degree turn and me riding back the way I came, I did not fancy the gravel paths of Hurn forest again so it was the pavements of the A31 via Parley Cross and home for me.

All in all an eventful ride of 18.6 miles which give me a total of 28.9 miles for the weekend riding, here hoping it will help with the weigh in tomorrow night.

I am on Facebook now, I’m trying to get a group going Overweight Mountain Biker pop over join in and say hello