Which Way To Go? (July 29th)

Every now and then procrastination comes along and tampers with your day. Today was one of those days. For whatever reason I wasn’t overly enthusiastic to get back on the bike this morning. It was likely the rain. I know, I know … I should be used to that by now. And generally speaking I am. But it felt like some other mysterious force was slowing me down as I prepared for today’s ride.

The plan for the day was to pedal into the Peak District. As the name suggests, there were a few big climbs on today’s itinerary. Of course, with big climbs come big views which more often than not make the climb worth it. The downside to today’s plan (yes, I suppose some people would consider the big climbs the downside) was that I really didn’t know exactly where I was going or where I would be staying. I had sent out a few Warm Showers requests but by the time I hit the road I hadn’t received any responses. I’d have to deal with that later.

My bike was finally loaded and ready to go at 10:30. Considering the procrastination factor, that doesn’t appear to be all that late until you also consider the fact that I woke up shortly after 7:00 AM. I think 3.5 hours to get ready is more than a little excessive.

My sluggishness did not dissipate once I started pedalling. Between the rain, fog, and more-than-frequent map checks to make sure I didn’t miss yet another turn, I just couldn’t seem to get into a rhythm where I could just enjoy the ride.

As I approached the turn which would take me to the hills of the Peak District I started to reconsider my plan. As mentioned before, big climbs bring big views. And, quite frankly, I kind of like big climbs. However, if the views that come as a result of those big climbs are blocked by rain and fog, well … that’s more than a little disappointing. I say that speaking from experience.

That said, after much deliberation I decided to alter my course. I still didn’t have a final destination in mind but a different route was now the new plan. That first part of that plan would have me riding towards Sheffield.

As luck would have it, I happened to have a WiFi connection when I made the decision to change my route. So, before I resumed my sluggish ride I sent out a new Warm Showers request. I still didn’t know how far I was going to go but I thought I’d send out the request and see if a destination presented itself. I pressed “Send” and then hit the road.

The new route started off reasonably well. Yes, it was still raining. And foggy. But the wind wasn’t in my face and that’s always a a plus. The biggest challenge were the cycle routes. I know I’ve stated my concerns with cycle routes in the past and today reaffirmed those concerns. I’m sure I’m in the minority (I frequently am) but I really don’t like trails. At all. Yes, they seem great in theory. And they are. In theory. However, in practice they can be very frustrating.

I think trails can be great for locals or if you are otherwise familiar with the route and, as such, not required to check a map every two minutes to make sure you’re still heading where you want to go. However, one problem with today’s trails (who am I kidding, this peeve isn’t limited to today’s trails) was the obstacles that occurred regularly along the route. I’ve been told that these obstacles exist to prevent people with motorbikes from using the trails. I admit, I don’t know how much of a problem that really is but I’m guessing it must be significant given the prevention tactics that are in place. That said, while these devices may prevent motorbikes, I can’t help but think that they also deter cyclists … which is a bit of a problem since it’s a cycle route. The barriers are so tight that my handlebars could BARELY pass through. It’s really hard to get into the rhythm of the ride when you have to constantly stop for these devices.

When I finally approached Sheffield it was 3:00 PM and I was more than a little frustrated at my slow progress. I mean, 4.5 hours to travel 40 km is demoralizing. Fortunately, I received a well timed morale boost in the form of a Warm Showers response. The host’s name was Tony and he was able to host. Sort of. His email mentioned that he was actually heading out of town for the weekend but he has a “sleep out” in his backyard or, as he called it, a “glorified shed” with electrics, A/C, WiFi, fridge, bed. I couldn’t help but think of Anne’s tiny house in Victoria. It sounded great. And I officially had a destination for the day.

My destination was now a town called Rainworth and it was about 50 km away. I was optimistic that I could get there by 6:00 PM. Spoiler Alert: My optimistic estimates need work.

Much like this morning’s ride, the route to Rainworth was not exactly direct. There were trails, side roads, more side roads, and more trails. Each of which required frequent stops along the way. It became evident rather quickly that my 6:00 PM prediction wasn’t going to come to fruition. To add to the fun, much of the afternoon was spent riding in heavy rain. Very heavy rain. Once again my shoes were drenched. So was the rest of me. And yet I pedalled on.

Eventually my patience for the start and stops of the trails had abandoned me. I could take it no more and I consulted my map. Of course, consulting a map on a phone in a downpour is more than a little challenging. Wet screen. Wet fingers. The phone was about as happy as I was. That said, I finally figured out a route that would get me off the trails and back on the main roads. Yes, there would be traffic but that generally doesn’t concern me. And it didn’t concern me today.

Fast-forward past my 6:00 PM estimate to 7:00 PM. To say that I was soaked would be a huge understatement. However, I was also at my destination. A destination that wouldn’t require me to set up my tent. Nine hours after starting today’s ride I was finally “home” for the night.

It’s always a bit strange wandering through a stranger’s yard when they’re not home. You definitely want to make sure it’s the RIGHT home before doing such a thing. In this case, Tony had left very detailed directions and I knew I was where I was supposed to be.

The “glorified shed” that would be my home for the night was fantastic. It was just as Tony had described with a bed, heat/air conditioning, couch, electrics, and a fridge stocked with food and beer. Unexpectedly though, the room also had a projector and big screen on the wall. A really big screen. I’m not going to lie, it was a rather amazing surprise.

It took some time but I finally got all of my wet gear off of the bike and inside without soaking the whole place. Fortunately, there was a mat on which I could put everything. From there I went into full relaxation mode. I sat on the couch, had a beer and some of the many snacks Tony had provided, and watched a movie on the big screen. Okay, I may have watched two movies. And an episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

In between all of that viewing, I also met Graham, Tony’s neighbour. Graham was an essential part of this arrangement too as he had a key to Tony’s house which provided me with access to the washroom (I still haven’t gotten used to calling it the “loo”). Side note: Tony is in the process of adding a shower and toilet to the the “sleep out” but that’s still a work in progress. But an impressive work in progress.

To say that today was a grind would be an understatement. Physically, it wasn’t a particularly tough ride. Mentally it was exhausting. Perhaps that’s why it felt so great to just turn off my brain for the evening and watch a movie (or two). It’s funny how something so simple can turn a struggle of a day into another great day. And it was a great day.

Today’s totals:
Distance travelled: 98.79 km
Ride time: 5:32:31
Average speed: 17.82 km/h
Maximum speed: 62.69 km/h

Oh, and near the end of my ride I caught a brief glimpse of Bolsover Castle which looked pretty impressive (castles are funny that way). Sadly, I was in the midst of a torrential downpour at the time and stopping for photos would’ve been a futile effort.