Sunday 15th June 2025    

Haseley - Loughborough  80.5kms    2,100'

Well, an interesting day and a father's day to remember. If anyone had asked me a few weeks ago if I would consider riding 80 kms on a laden bike I would have laughed! Very tired but very chuffed.

Anyway, I feel I must comment on the Indian meal which we enjoyed last evening. It was quite exceptional and the chef is, apparently, a Michelin star chef who has taken on this restaurant.  A real treat. 

This morning, all went smoothly and we took a punt and started the ride by bypassing the route and following a main road with only Sunday traffic using it. Saved some time which, in retrospect,  was a good thing as we didn't arrive at our accommodation until around six this evening - a little weary! Tonight's understatement! 

Weather has been very kind and lunch was a pleasure taken on a proper bench surrounded by ,kiddies playground activities. At this point we  made the decision to book tonight's hotel and thus commit ourselves to a long continuation. It started so well. Lots of very fit cyclists on unladen bikes waved and hailed the old couple on the heavy bikes. Their day will come. No, really delighted to see so many people of similar mind. The terrain had ceased to be up and down and was nearly flat for quite some time and we were making really good time and then we entered Coalville and the route went haywire following tracks which were badly signposted and then others which were so neglected, they were unridable. However,  the tenacity of Master  a gator untangled the devious paths but we lost a lot of time. What we did do though, was cross the M1 which seemed quite a milestone.

Planning on tomorrow being a little shorter as we have to conquer the maze through Nottingham.