12/04/2022 - April Gran Fondo
As I started typing this up the morning after the event, I had a 10 minute loop of the Chemical Plant Zone music from Sonic 2 playing, and I was tempted to create a title from that! This day out was another that didn't go to plan, but it certainly had some highlights!
Around 2330 the night before, I'd finally settled on a plan for the day. North Wales was out, the Advances were too costly. Manchester was the same, Liverpool had some weird routings going on and eventually I settled on my choice of fare and times to Telford Central. £11.50 Advances each way, leaving on the 0857 from Hereford and the 1702 on the way back, which gave me a shade over 6 hours to achieve my Gran Fondo. I'd done it before in similar timescales between Newport and Bath Spa, I could do it again here surely?
After remembering upon rising from only 4.5 hours or so of sleep (my work schedule has completely changed, so I'm still adjusting to 10pm finishes) that my beast needed a clean, I had just enough time for breakfast and packing the bag before I had to hurry up and get going. With having to collect my tickets from the TVM, thanks to having cycle reservations, I had to allow extra time in case of delays in getting there and any random queues for the TVM. There were no issues in the end, and before too long I was joining 175003 for the journey to Shrewsbury.
That went by surprisingly fast, and I had left some light rain behind in Hereford which had thankfully not really affected me much at all when I was outside. I knew the forecast called for some more light rain later on, so I was prepared for it. Even the connection in Shrewsbury passed by quite quickly, although the final few minutes of waiting for the pair of 158s to hurry up and turn up was a bit frustrating. The crowds were certainly building up, and when 158821+158840 rolled in they soaked up the crowds well. Thankfully, it was not an issue getting my beast on board, and I am sure this was my first time on a Welsh 158 with my beast.
Before too long, I had topped up my relatively light breakfast (I had wanted more, but time had run away from me) and arrived in Telford Central (sorry, Chavford Central). Thankfully, and surprisingly, there was some National Cycle Network signage nearby for Route 55. By the way I was set up and ready to go, I had 6 hours to go, challenge accepted! Of course, this would not be a day of following the little blue signs/stickers without some poor/missing routing information, and I was only 0.3 miles up the path before it became confusing at a 4-way junction of paths as to which way was correct. This happened again further on, and I ended up getting lost at least 3 times further on too.
By the time I reached the A518, I gave up looking for any more signage and followed what looked like a really new pavement alongside it. Not even Maps showed it as an option, but it did seem to have a weird fascination of showing me traffic flows and not cycle paths which is unusual. I will have to check if it's got the correct filter on after an update actually. Anyway, soon enough the rain arrived and out came the waterproof trousers, and now I was back on Route 55. This took me along what must have been a long ago closed bit of road, the old cats-eyes are still mostly in place and even some of the old white lines are visible. I guess this must have closed when the A518 was improved some time?
Fun fact time, did you know there is a similar situation in Runcorn? The new road layout and roundabout has completely changed the roads around there, and you can still walk/cycle past part of the old road which still has the signage for the roundabout in place! I believe I have a photo of it somewhere, and I wonder just how many places around the country are like it?
Anyway, eventually I reached Newport (no, not the South Wales or Essex ones you are possibly thinking of!) and I came to a junction where I could go left for Route 552 or some sort of right-then-left for Route 55. The 55 would take me to a former railway route to Stafford, the 552 towards Market Drayton and, eventually, North Shropshire and Cheshire. I turned left, which gave me the bonus of seeing this Newport properly. It's a nice market town, certainly worth exploring one day. Logic said I should pull over somewhere and grab a coffee before continuing, but I did no such thing. Did you honestly expect me to follow such a sensible idea?
I followed the 552 out of town and up towards Whitchurch (Shropshire), taking me on the day's first hill climb of significance, which led me to the A41 and crossing over that took me onto country lanes. A little further on up from there, at a junction for Knighton (no, not that Knighton on the railway!) I finally reached 10.9 miles. I was so far behind my goal it was crazy, all that getting lost did not help! Off with the waterproofs, skullcap and even the coat now, and I was looking forward to a lunch break at Market Drayton.
That plan changed at Soudley, where there was a road closure, and I ended up deciding not to follow the diversion but to replan my route entirely. I needed to get over to Stafford anyway, so having figured out that route with help from Maps I was soon on the way. Two Science in Sport gels (blackcurrant this time, one of my top 4 flavours with orange, pineapple and tropical being the other 3. Before you ask, no I have no idea what order to rank them in, they're all too good for that!) got me some energy back into the body and it was time to pedal away.
The roads were pretty muddy and wet, not to mention fairly narrow and twisty in a lot of places, but it was a good ride through the countryside and before long I was riding through the outskirts of Eccleshall. It looks like it's a bigger place than I imagined it to be, but time was not on my side to go and explore. I set off along what I soon discovered was the A5013, which explained why it was suddenly busier than the other roads had been! Thankfully by this point I was able to drop the hammer, to put the power down and it became a Maximum Power Thrashfest for the next 5 or so miles.
At one point, I had been going up to Stone first, then along Route 5 back to Stafford, but that was not happening. Nor was there a diversion to Norton Bridge and onwards to Stone or Stoke-on-Trent, maybe next time? Great Bridgeford gave me more options to change my mind again, and just before the big roundabout with the A34 and M6 I took a short Maps check break as road signage was unclear. Thankfully the road I wanted to Stafford was indeed there, and I ended up pulling over near B&M at some retail park in the town centre. 29 or so miles by now, at nearly 2.5 hours into the ride, it was time for lunch, coffee and to get some water for later on.
With a surprisingly nice vegan sandwich from Tesco and some popcorn devoured, I went off in search of Greggs as I wanted to get another step closer to my free coffee. With that consumed during a quick stroll around the town centre, which I have to say right now is actually nice in places, I popped into B&M thinking it would be a better move than Aldi. Not really, and it reminded me why I don't really like B&M. It's a nicer quality shop than my local one, I'll grant them that, but places like Home Bargains, B&M, Aldi and Lidl really aren't my sort of shop. I do make an exception for Aldi occasionally, but normally only in desperation unless there's cycling stuff on offer. Call me a snob if you will, I know I am. Talking of quickly, I had considered going into McDonald's for a coffee, but the one I'd passed in Telford stunk so much of cheap burgers, and this was passing by at a modest distance away from it, that it put me off going in there for anything. Yes, including coffee and their hash browns! They are officially on my list of 'only in a desperate situation' now, I like their coffee and hash browns, but it would seem the ethics have grown stronger and I cannot support a company primarily in the business of selling cheap burgers!
Eventually, after nearly an hour in Stafford, I was finally back on the move and I was looking for Route 5 to take me south towards Wolverhampton. I found it, eventually, but then I somehow got lost and went back to the alternative plan. That was to ride to Penkridge via Coppenhall, and I didn't know Hyde Lea Bank was there let alone how steep it was. Still, that got defeated and before I knew it I had enjoyed some more country lanes. Passing under the viaduct carrying the railway, a Pendolino went north so I got to see a train going over it after all. Penkridge looks like a nice enough little place, not enough to persuade me to explore it some time though.
After a break outside the station, I soon had a plan to get to Telford as by now time was ticking by fast and I had a lot of ground to cover. That stop in Stafford was far longer than I had planned, and now I was getting a bit concerned I'd not make it back in time for the train and still make the minimum distance (62.4 miles) for the Gran Fondo. My first choice of route had to be terminated due to a large flood ahead, so I ended up returning to the road I'd not long ago done back to Levedale.
Once I got there, and I must add that the sunny spells were seriously welcome and enjoyable, I was onto some rather rural and poor quality lanes in a handful of places. The sort that are used so infrequently they aren't even signposted! Maps and GPS were incredibly helpful for getting me back to Telford I have to say, I would have been lost without them! A short way before Church Aston, it was time for another energy gel before continuing to put the power down whenever possible, riding through all sorts of villages and hamlets as I went along. After skirting along the top of High Onn, and yes I appreciate those of you reading this without a map will not know where I was as I didn't either, it was time for another Maps check. Country lanes all look the same after a while and it's easy to get confused, especially in an area one is not familiar with. All the place names that are new, roads never travelled on, it's easy to forget where one is meant to be going!
Thankfully this next sector was easy enough, turn right, left at the crossroads and keep following the road to the A41. By now time seemed to be accelerating away, and once past the A41 I was into Cheswynd Aston I think. Another nice looking little settlement, and my train back to Shrewsbury was now less than an hour away. I ended up following this road to Newport and back to familiar territory. Back onto the 55, and opposite a girls' school I had to pull over for a short break. My 4th SiS gel of the day was required, I was starting to feel the effects of the tight time restriction, hunger, tiredness and so on. Thankfully after that gel and filling the water bottle I felt better again and got moving sharpish.
I was soon back on the path alongside the A518 and whenever possible I put the power down as well as keeping an eye on the distance and time. I was running out of faith by now that I'd make it, and instead of simply following the same route I'd taken on the way out of Telford I stuck with the A518. That allowed me to pass the railfreight terminal at Donnington, which currently plays host to various 197s and a 196. If I had had time, I would have got photos or at least the numbers! The more I see of the new trains the more I like the look of them.
A cycle path around the Trench area saw another stop, and that led to a confirmation that I had basically no hope of making either the distance or the train at that point. Still, I powered on and joined Route 81. I never knew this part of Telford was so hilly! When I got close to Oakengates' railway station, I gave up all hope of making the train and I was getting properly wound up by it. I was making backup plans, I had to find a way to make the most of the likely outcome.
Still, I decided I would just keep going and see what happened. A sign for Telford Central railway station led me to the dual carriageway on the A422, not what I had expected! Fortunately in that area, some roadworks caused it to go down to just one lane, and I was not on it for long before Telford Central turned up on my left and the exit ramp took me away from the madness. Maps had suggested that the road was one to avoid, but I had had no plans to use it. I survived thankfully, I think I was on it for around half a mile and that was too much!
On a screen I happened to see, it appeared the train was expected at 1714. I hadn't had a chance to see what the time was, so I got down to the station as fast as possible. On the bridge over the platforms, I was on 62.2 miles so I was very close and it was 1704. Sure enough, the train was delayed and I had enough time to do a quick spin to get my mileage up to enough. By now the area was full of teenagers, and I was not far behind one who wanted to fill her lungs with weed, polluting the area with the toxic smell too. Genius, just pure genius, and as I played some cutscenes from Dynasty Warriors 3 and the Yellow Turban Rebellion battle during the typing (this took much longer than expected, I must say) I feel a quote here feels appropriate, "You flaming idiots!"
Anyway, down on the platform after reaching 62.5 miles and not in the style I had really wanted (those chavvy people in Telford, ugh!) I was soon presented with the sight of my train to Shrewsbury. I had expected a pair of 158s, but I had been blessed with something better in terms of pure enthusiast fun. It arrived with 153361 and 153910 up front, the 158837 as I discovered in Shrewsbury was on the back. I went up to 153361, which was unsurprisingly a bit full, so I stood with my beast where I had space.
I was so focused on a recovery drink of 4Move lemon and lime, for the much desired boost of Vitamins B and C which I should have had much earlier really, as well as typing up my notes on Strava that I was in Shrewsbury before I knew it and I barely heard the 153s! That was my first time on that line with a 153, so a bit of a bonus really, and it was not to be long until the 1631 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven would roll in with 175105.
That journey went by really fast to Hereford, and I cannot begin to describe the joy that the vegan ham and cheese baguette (claimed a free one from Greggs in Stafford) brought me, I was really hungry. Of course, I was incredibly grateful to the forces at work in making the train from Telford late enough for me to achieve my goal and make the train! Before too long, I was back in Hereford and on the ride back to base. I diverted via the ATM at Sainsburys first though, as that baguette barely touched the sides and I was still really hungry. So I got some cash out (that always feels wrong in this day and age!) and got a large portion of chips and 10 onion rings. £4.90 very well spent as it turned out, as I was not hungry afterwards for the rest of the night and I didn't end up snacking on something sweet afterwards. If I'd gone for something else, there's no doubt in my mind I'd have been unable to resist the cookies in the cupboard!
Overall, despite all the concerns during the second half of the ride, and getting lost multiple times, that was a good day out! The month's big challenge completed, and a good bit of proof that I was more or less recovered from the accident nearly 3 weeks ago. It won't surprise anyone that I had a very lazy morning following the adventure, and I managed to get a good solid 9 hours or so of heavy sleep. That doesn't often happen after a Gran Fondo! Finally, I want to make special mention of the fact I finished my adventure to the epic sounds of the Tokyo 2020 Victory Ceremony music. It's just such a great way to celebrate a big achievement!
Agreed there's only a limited amount of time, choosing wisely is difficult. I'm trying not to add things to my list to do, but that isn't easy! That helicopter tour, I've seen similar listed on a small plane and it is expensive but it could be the best way to do it. Admittedly, right now, I'm thinking a multi-day expedition walking through some of it could be a potential winner, to really reconnect with nature! With a really good hotel after that mind, preferably one with a gym and spa!
Yes indeed, Santorini I have heard is very expensive. Fortunately, I'd only be going for a short visit, with the majority if not all the tourist things getting ignored in preference to a good explore 
I find being at sea relaxing too. 
A large part of the reason for finishing this file once and for all is to find out what my all-time mileage is across the Beryls, my old mountain bike of 2020 and my current beast. I have a hunch the number is getting pretty big, and I want to know how close to 10,000 all-time miles I am!
