A Series of Unfortunate Events...

Saturday 8th January - the troubles began with an evening in Gatehangers - the new route was discussed, at length, with local farming folk who totally agreed (sort of, vaguely) that it was, indeed, an excellent route.

Next a text arrived - it was from Amber offering to pick up Alex in the morning so they could cycle back up the hill together from Wescott (Alex left her bike at Amber's house - bottom of the hill - last week). However, the new route would take us back past Amber's house so that wasn't a good idea. The trouble is the alternative was decided upon in an alcoholic haze - Alex would walk/backy down to Wescott with me. Vicky would meet us there. This was, with hindsight, a bad plan - we got off to a slow start and delays on route are what led to our eventual downfall. That and a series of events that were really quite unfortunate.

Sunday 9th January - was a frosty morning. I was excited about the new route. Over my breakfast I posted on facebook that I was heading out to cycle on ice, on a new route and that love would surely flow between us Belles. Oh many a true word!

Alex arrived in the garage, love a flowing, as I was preparing my bike, and advised me that the paperman had reported nasty roads. "It's a bit of frost" (I thought) and told Alex she didn't get out of it that easily - the ride is on and I presented the 'new route' with excited glee.

There follows a series of  events that were so unfortunate they are almost shocking. Over the next few days this series of unfortunate events will be blogged by Belles various:

• Alex will report the journey downhill to Westcott and her happy reunion with her bike.
• Amber will explain how she quickly became deflated and how this was resolved.
• Vicky reveals how cycling can bring back happy memories of gates and fields and things.
• We will all share thoughts and perspectives of our ultimate downfall.

This is the route - note it doesn't follow roads all the way - herein lies the problem!