Saturday 11th July - Come and meet your own Waterloo

Despite a few close calls, we haven't yet darkened the welly man's hometown this year. we even let the recent bi-centennial of napoleon's last stand pass without recognition.

so let's put a few things right with a long overdue visit to wellington.

on the return you can face your own waterloo on lower terhill (lower??? you descend quite a way to the TOP of cothelstone after climbing this baby!!!) i may even try to ride it this time, following my last 3 walks up it.

route out will be toll road, sea front, anchor, brent knoll bogs and tri-stop will be the willow's centre or north curry.

usually this ends up being a 95 miler, but we could go back via north newton for a 2nd stop which might make it a 99.9er if we fancy it.

"Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way"

Ivan. You let me down! You promised 99.9 and it was 101.6.
Seriously though. A great ride and thanks to everyone who gave me a wheel at some point or other. (Why did nobody give Pete one?)

Mine was 99.93

Southbound again I don't know if I'm going or leaving home
Boy got to be moving
Seems like the boy is bound to roam

Anyway we headed south to enjoy the warmer temperatures of the lower latitudes. Twenty to Twenty five expericed riders (minus Scott) enjoyed a sensible pace towards Woolavington. We were treated to the Strava Bianci much to the chargrin of the local dog walkers but with a tail wind it was soon dispatched. Then a reverse Burrow Bridge route got us to the Wetlands Centre where Fifteen of Westons best riders decided to stop. However it was not to be as they couldn't managed the sudden influx. So they headed off towards Langport in search of vitals.
That left ten of us to continue southward and enjoy the steady climb up to Blackwater. I always think thats the climbing done but there is more! We took a brief break to allow everyone to regroup and Chris broke out his salty balls which looked like Ferrero Rocher. Eventually we turned right and headed downhill and enjoyed a great decent towards Wellington. Unfortunateley Pete broke a spoke in his front wheel. We limped into Wellington where we found a local Raleigh specialist bike shop. Pete bought a replacement wheel which was a big upgrade on his old one :-). We sniffed out a new cafe which was very good value for money and included a free sauna. With the wind on our backs we enjoyed a brisk ride northwards towards Sponkton Monkfish. As we were employing a two stop stratergy we stopped at the Maunsel Lock cafe. When we rejoined the A38 it was the usual chain gang pace. It was then just a case of grinding out the miles until we reached wsm. I think Ivan acheived his goal and managed another 99.9 miler.

TTC = 4.48/5 vfm
OJC = 9?
KF = 4.444/5
Stats = http://ridewithgps.com/trips/5679500