Ride 8 Heavy Metal Truants IX Charity Bike Ride

On Saturday evening  I went for a bike ride with my sister Sue who is currently staying with me.  We had a leisurely ride around the roads and trails in my local area.

Soon after we started we had a New Forest road block with ponies across the trail. This little foal was a bit skitty, so we passed slowly.

It started to get busy! 

We then had a then a traffic jam!

The trail through the woods was quiet.

There was a nice reflection on the river.

There were still a few bluebells out.

We saw Robins, blue tits, Blackbirds, Mistle Thrush and heard Chiffchaff, Cuckoo and Song Thrush.

We caught sight of a deer camouflaged in the woods.

We did just over 10 miles. 

That takes me to Leicester.

Only 40.9 miles to go!

Thank you for reading my Blog

Julie x

  

Ride 7 Heavy metal Truant IX Virtual Charity Bike Ride

Today (Monday 24th. May) was a day of showers and my attempt to dodge them wasn't wholly successful! I wasn't feeling my best either.

It was also the first proper day of the Heavy Metal Truants ride  (for those with better fitness and health than me!)  My thoughts were with my Truant buddies today, especially with it being a showery and cold day - the temperature 'real feel'. here was only 6 degrees!

As I set out on my ride and saw some ponies and a foal.

I had a good view of a buzzard at one point.  

The sky was dramatic, but thankfully it was dry at this point.

There were lots of cows about.  One was really pretty, but it wasn't safe for me to stop and take a closer photo.

As I headed back towards Brockenhurst, the heavens opened. But this pony and her Starling friends didn't seem to mind!

As I got back home, the worst of the rain had eased, but it didn't feel much like May.  But I know that with every pedal stroke that I do, with your fantastic support and sponsorship,  I am raising money for 4 great children's charities - Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins, Childline and Save the Children.

A bit of cold and rain and sore legs and sore bum is nothing compared to what some children have to cope with each and every day.

Knowing that I have now reached £345 in sponsorship is a great incentive and I thank each and everyone of your you for your sponsorship. Knowing that for every miles that I cycle, nearly £2 goes to these great charities helps me on my way. Thank you.

If you haven’t sponsored me yet, but wish to, you can do so here.

I clocked up 10.34 miles today.

Barry has calculated that I am now in Lutterworth.

Only 51.3 miles to go by 4th June

Thank you for reading this

Julie x

Ride 6 - Heavy Metal Truants IX Charity Virtual Bike Ride

I had a busy week last week that culminated on Friday (which is usually a cycling day for me) in assisting Barry in replacing our shed roof!

I did over 7000 steps in the garden being Barry's Gofer/climbing ladders over a 9 hour period and was exhausted by the end of the day!

The ME fatigue lasted a few days so yesterday was the first day back on the bike where I did a 3 mile round trip to meet friends for a walk.  But I forgot to record it, so I’m not counting those cycle miles.

I am always motivated by knowing that each mile that I cycle will help 4 great children’s charities - The Teenage Cancer Trust, Childline, Nordoff Robbins and Save the Children. But this morning I received extra motivation in a sponsorship that took me over £300! So thank you to each and every one of your for your sponsorship.

If you haven’t done so already, you can sponsor me here.

Today, I planned a bike ride and a catch up with my friend Nerissa as we hadn’t seen each other for a few months, so I set off on the trails to the outskirts of Lyndhurst to meet her.

This route took me through the bluebell woods that I  visited on rides 2 and 5 and were pleased to see that they are now  out more.

The trees, especially the beech trees, are looking beautiful.

I met Nerissa and we headed back down the trails to Blackwater, did a loop of the arboretum and cycled back along the roads toward Brockenhurst, where we saw some lovely Highland cattle.

Retracting my initial route, we cycled back through the bluebell woods where we stopped for a drink and a snack whilst enjoying the bluebells and then headed back to Lyndhurst.

Nerissa peeled off for the school pick-up and I cycled round the one way system to eventually join another trail that leads back to Brockenhurst via a different route.

Thank you Nerissa for your company and helping the miles fly by whilst we chatted.

Despite it clouding over, the weather stayed dry and I cycled into Brockenhurst to empty my aluminium recycling bin before heading home.

This ride was a total of 21.79 miles.

So Barry has calculated that I have followed the Grand Union Canal from Northampton and I’m now in Crick.

Only 61.6 miles to go!

Thank you for reading this.

Julie x

Ride 5 -Heavy Metal Truants Challenge

Today after some emergency shed roof work, I managed to get out on my bike for a short ride (after having a puncture repaired by my mechanic - thank you Barry!)

My route took in a Neal's Yard delivery, then I headed to the trails as I wanted to see if the bluebells were out.

The bluebells were a bit more advanced than last time I cycled this way, but still not fully out.

I saw a selection of birds - Blackbirds, Robins, Great Tits and got a fantastic view of a Buzzard that landed in the trees close to me.

It's lovely seeing the trees in leaf.

A pony was just at the side of the track.

I was lucky to see a heard of Fallow Deer and this one obliged me with a (distant) photo. 

After doing a loop of Rhinefield Ornamental Drive Arboretum, I cycled back on the road, enjoying the trees and and seeing the ponies on the moor.

It was motivating to know that I had reached my target and know that for every mile that I cycle, £1 goes to children's charities that do great work. 

Thank you very much for sponsoring me - it really does mean a lot to me.

I'm hoping that I can keep fundraising  - perhaps get  the equivalent £1.50 or £2 for each mile.

If you haven't sponsored me yet, you can do so here.

Knowing that the money raised means that children are being supported when they are going through challenging times, is very motivating and worth the pain and discomfort.

The 11 miles cycled today means that I'm now (virtually) in Northampton. I taught in Northampton for a couple of years (until I succumbed to M.E. and had to retire. I also became an avid Northampton Saints rugby fan. So it brings back great memories of my time in Northampton.

Only 83.4 miles to go.  I'm over half way!

Thank you for reading this and for all your encouragement.

Julie x

Ride 4 with Corinne and Duncan

Today I embarked on my 4th ride the The Heavy Mental Truants charity ride in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins, Childline and Save the Children.

My friends Corinne and Duncan accompanied me and lead me on a tour of the New Forest, including a couple of roads that I'd not cycled on before - always good to find new roads.

Before I met up with them, I had some donations for the Charity shop in the village hall, so I started off with a large rucksack full, which my back was pleased to be rid off!

We set off in sunshine, but a black cloud seemed to follow us, but it did at least stay dry today (after our soaking last Friday!)

We rode mainly on the roads today, setting off towards the west of the New Forest.

During the ride we saw a Buzzard, Thrush, Sparrows, a Little Egret. A one point, Corvids were circling and cawing overhead. We heard Stonechats, Chiffchaffs and a Cuckoo.

We stopped at High Corner for a drink and a piece of flapjack - well we needed to keep our energy up!

We did a short stretch of the ride on gravel tracks and was rewarded to see this beautiful pony

As we came into Brockenhurst, the donkeys were there to greet us!

After saying goodbye to Corrine and Duncan, I went back to the village hall to check on the recycling bin that I monitor and empty.  It was full, so I emptied it and just about got it home - I need a bigger cargo net!

Thanks to Corine and Duncan, today I cycled just over 32 miles.

That takes me to Stoke Bruerne, in Northamptonshire.  We used to live quite close to here and walking along the canal here was a favourite walk of mine.

What helped me through the miles today was knowing that I've already raised £135 for Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins, Childline and Save the Children. Thank you for all those who have sponsored me - it is very much appreciated and helps to keep me pedalling! You can sponsor me here here

Only 80.48 miles to go!

Thank you for reading this.  

 

Ride 3 with Barry

Those who know me well know that I'm not a morning person. But I've decreed that Monday's and Fridays are generally going to be my cycle days (so I have some rest days in between). But yesterday when we looked at todays weather forecast and saw 40+mph winds for today from 10 am Barry suggested that we get up early and do the bike ride!

So we set off before 7am and enjoyed listening to the birds singing. We heard Chiffchaffs and saw, Blackbirds, Robins, Chaffinch, Great Tits, Jackdaw, Pheasants, Rooks, Thrushes and this little Blue Tit and some next boxes in Pilley! 

Riding with Barry did make it a bit quicker than normal, so there weren't so may stops for photos, but we did have to stop for a road block :-)

I was allowed to stop and take and take a picture of the bluebells :-)

Barry did admit that he saw things on the route that he doesn't usually see going at a slower speed tan normal for him.

Cycling back across the strip of road by Hatchet Pond, which is always a windy area, we could feel the crosswinds and we were glad that we were only a few miles from home.

Having eaten a recovery cooked breakfast, we are now watching the trees swaying in the wind and are pleased that we are home!

The bike computer says that we cycled 24.9 miles (although my watch said 25.23, but I'm going by the bike computer) so I am  virtually now as far as Luton.

This would be day 1 if the ride hadn't been virtual - not a day's cycling that I would like to do, but hats off to all the Heavy Metal Truants who've done it over the years for charity.

Thank you Barry for teaching me a new road route and for kicking me out of bed early.

Only 126.9 miles to go!  You can sponsor me here.

Thank you for reading this.

Julie x