Ride report

Avoiding the hills near Marlborough, I went via Burbage and then on familiar roads near the Kennet and Avon Canal, passing the pumping station that feeds the canal at its highest point. Chilton Foliat with its road works left me wondering why Berkshire’s contractors can lay their tarmac patches flat and flush with the road, and Oxfordshire’s cannot. Quiet lanes soon got me to the fast descent into Lambourn where I had lunch. A cyclist and motor cyclist were chatting outside over coffee, I locked my bike to “I doubt he lifts that up very often”, referring to my camping load (which is quite modest compared to some loads I see). A gradual ride up, past the Seven Burrows burial mounds was the last climb of the day, followed by Blowingstone Hill with its annoying give way line at the bottom. The lanes via Goosey and Tubney saw some nice skies, and me home in time for afternoon tea, and to air the tent and sleeping bag.