Day 29 : 62.3 miles

A work-free day today, thanks to a (now) Royal couple, so it was a good opportunity to get out on the bike. I didn't really have any route planned and sometimes I like that. Head out and follow the nose so to speak.

Went over to Curridge then looped back over Grimsbury fort and along to Bucklebury. Partly to see if there was any sign of Press or police, but nothing except this sign.

Then looped back from Bradfield and headed for Aldworth. Climbed up the lovely long drag up the Western side of four-points. From there went down Streatley Hill over the Thames to Goring. Apparently the best kept village in the South. It is pretty out that way.

As scenic as Goring is, it's always busy with traffic along the tight streets. Not today though. Really quiet and deserted this morning. I guess everyones either in work or watching the TV.

From there, it's a U-turn, back over the Thames, and head directly West for my Nemesis; Streatley Hill. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy climbing, but there's something about Streatley Hill that makes me try to avoid it. My cycling buddy and I will try to do the climb at least twice a year, and today was one of my opportunities. The hill is even mentioned in a 19th century poem:

" And when you’re here, I’m told that you
Should mount the hill and see the view;
And gaze and wonder, if you’d do
Its merits most completely:
The air is clear, the day is fine,
The prospect is, I know, divine –
But most distinctly I decline
To climb the hill at Streatley !
But from the Hill, I understand
You gaze across rich pasture-land;
And fancy you see Oxford and
P’r’aps Wallingford and Wheatley:
Upon the winding Thames you gaze,
And, though the view’s beyond all praise,
I’d rather much sit here and laze
Than scale the Hill at Streatley! "

I've shed over a stone since my last attempt (I'm 6'1" and now weigh 75kg) and it was noticeable. The climb today was still hard, but seemed a lot more manageable. And that was with legs that have ridden for the last 30days.
So with Streatley Hill done, it was back down through the quiet lanes of Upper Basildon and home. Really enjoyed todays ride. Quite hilly taking in over 3000ft of climbing, and it's taken me over the 1000 miles for April. All good.

As a side note, this was taken by and itchy trigger finger as I was fumbling with it to put the phone away on the climb up Hook End. Kind of thought it was cool, so it's blogged.