Ride and Stride 2023 – Report

I had previously decided I was going to venture further north this year and drove up to Gamston (just south of Retford) as my starting point. The plan was to ride 77km (48 miles) and visit 28 churches [click on the image for a full-screen version of the route]. All went to plan until I took a wrong turning somewhere near Babworth and found myself passing Ranby before I realised I had made an error, thus adding 4 miles to the route! Shortly afterwards, I encountered my longest-ever wait at a level crossing as I had to wait for FOUR trains to pass on the East Coast Mainline at Botany Bay (!) crossing. I stopped for a light lunch consisting of Brazil nuts and raisins with an apple at Clayworth and soon afterwards realised I had a puncture. I topped up with air and limped on to Hayton where I accepted the problem needed addressing. I couldn’t locate the source of the slow puncture so replaced the tube instead. The remainder of the ride passed with no further incident, apart from increasingly tired legs! In the end, I had cycled 52 miles and visited 29 churches (I discovered a Methodist Chapel in North Leverton which wasn’t on my list). I then drove back home for a pint of orange juice and lemonade, a long shower, an evening in front of the TV and an early night.