You know those weekend that you can’t wait to arrive, one of those weekends where you have several things planned, you can’t wait for 5:00pm on Friday afternoon for the weekend to start, well that was my weekend up until about 4:59pm on Friday. Saturday’s failures are already documented in my previous post, Sunday did not get much better.
It was early Sunday morning before my eye lids registered closed, which then meant that it was late morning before they opened again and when they did open they brought along a friend called head ache and no it was no drink induced, I have not had any alcohol since New Years eve before you ask (or accuse). On the up side it was dry and clear-ish out, having sorted the gps last night it was looking like a decent ride was on the cards if only I could get a clear head.
One very large cup of tea ( Ikea tea cups, hold about three normal cups) and scrambled eggs on toast, the bike rack is fitted and the car loaded with 3 bikes (son is with us today) and we are off, heading for Moors Valley Country Park. It is only a short drive but by the time we get there I still have a stinking head ache. While it is only up the road from us this is the first time I have ever been to the Country Park (wife and son have both been as part of organised visits in the past). As a bonus the sun was now coming out to play as well.
Having downloaded a cycle route from the Internet for Moors Valley and having resolved the GPS issues I am soon ready for the off. The wife has been kitted out with a copy of the Parks family cycle routes for her and the son but it soon becomes apparent that if I head off on my route and the wife heads off on the parks family cycle routes they may never be seen again. See the cycle routes all start from the visitors centre and well the wife was about to cycle off in the opposite direction!! It turns out that my route follows the family route to start with so we head out has one happy family having a day cycling. It soon becomes apparent that I am not going to get off on my own ride and am soon pootling round after my son and wife.
After several near misses (a lake, a tree, a bridge and a dog) the son starts to complain that his legs ache, now I am pretty sure this is the same with most families that this always happens at a point furthest away from the start point and the son expects to be beamed back (Star Trek style) to the starting point to save his legs. After much convincing that he was going to cycle back we started to head back.
No sooner are we back at the visitors centre than the sons legs are soon carrying him to the play grounds and then the steam train ( wish I could bottle that recovery potion). So I am left holding the bikes while the wife and son go off on a little train journey. By the time they get back I am resigned to the fact that we are going home.
The drive home went via a local craft shop so the son could get some more items for his school project where I am left to mind the bikes again in the car park while the wife and son go shopping. Its not all bad, I did get some time to myself…………………………………..when I was left to wash, clean, oil and put the bikes away, no surprise there then!
Just over two miles yesterday, 6.8 miles today gives me a total of 9 miles for the weekend, not impressed. Wonder if the boss would let me have another two days off as I had such a miserable weekend??
