Cycle Date
When you've had what feels like the longest week at work, stuck indoors, sometimes all you need by the time Saturday finally rolls around is a good few hours in the great outdoors. On Friday evening, we left our weekend plans in the hands of fate with Dan and I making use of our Date Night Jar.
So, on Saturday morning, I donned the gym leggings, comfy layers and trainers, we packed a bag, grabbed the camera and popped off to rent some bikes. Now for those that know me particularly well, the prospect of me getting on a bike, voluntarily no less, is nothing less than laughable. In fact, when it was mentioned in a Facebook status, I immediately revived a concerned text message from Tom asking 'Why on Gods green earth are you on a bike?', which may just sum up my feelings to organised outdoor activities. Maybe this Northern air has had a strange effect but there I was, pedalling away, on this neon yellow beast.
We cycled along the Manifold Valley cycle path, which runs for 8.5 miles through the lovely Staffordshire countryside alongside rivers, rolling fields full of Spring lambs and even a cave if you fancy a bit of a climb, finally ending up in Manifold. It's entirely flat so for those cycling novices amongst us, it's ideal plus, it has plenty of rest stops along the way for mid-point ice creams and a well earned sit down.
Six miles in, I was somehow still alive and to Dans surprise, still capable of mustering a smile, although that may have had a little something to do with Dairy Milk ice cream.
Now, as someone who hasn't been on a bike since a family short break to Centre Parcs in 2009, a 17 mile round trip on a mountain bike, did have the potential to break me as a person, especially when we throw in the fact that to a certain lovely boyfriend of mine, who in a former life competed, biking is second nature. By around the 7 mile mark, the promise of a pub lunch and alcohol was seemingly the only thing spurring me on.
Despite my rubbish fitness levels, it was so lovely to get out and about and properly see the area that is essentially on our doorstep, for once, not through a car window. It might not be the sea and I might not have sand between my toes, but I do feel incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful place. You know, I think I might be getting used to this country-life...
And finally, if only as proof that Dan was actually there and not just in charge of the camera, I give you this absolute treat. Two guesses at which point this was taken. If my face here doesn't just scream 'GET ME TO THE PUB' i'm not entirely sure what does.
With an 8.5 mile cycle back to the car and bruising starting to well and truly come to light (lets just say, pillows have come in incredibly handy and next time, we'll be making use of gel seats) we made our way, slightly less enthusiastically, back along the path and back to the car. I think we can both safely say that the nap we had as soon as we stepped through the front door was the best nap we've ever had.
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