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Brian on top of The Long Mynd |
Christened ‘Brian’ by my eldest daughter for obvious
reasons, it all started with a chance conversation with a friend of mine. “I’ve
got an old Rourke frame you can have if you want it” said Simon, “but it’s in a
fairly bad way”. When I walked through the door with a rusty, and rather sorry
looking frame over my shoulder after one of our regular Tuesday night rides,
Mrs L was not so amused.
So back to the final ride. With a family and friends holiday
booked down in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, it was obvious. Whilst the
kids and my eternally understanding VMH travelled down in the car, I’d use the
opportunity to ride there. With a route plotted and the afternoon secured off
work, it seemed the perfect way to enjoy Brian for one last time.
The first 50km or so were on familiar roads as I headed
South from Shifnal towards Kinver and Bewdley. From here on in, it was all new,
and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It was certainly a hilly one, and the
20% climb away from the ford(I used the bridge!) was a particularly lung
busting section. Brian, as has been typical of our time together, soaked it all
up. Quiet lanes and picturesque villages passed and the views across the
Worcestershire roads were spectacular. 100km passed and I was in the home
straight, surely. One last effort was required to get up and over the Forest of
Dean, before being rewarded with a fantastic last 10km or so as I dropped off
towards Parkend where we were staying for the weekend.
Thankyou Brian!
Is Brian leaving the stable? Going to a new owner or kept as part of the family. I kept my vintage Mercian even after the new one arrived.
ReplyDeleteBrian's leaving the (riding)stable, but will re-appear in a new guise. All will be revealed in a future blog i'm sure.
ReplyDeleteSo, what will the new machine be called?
ReplyDeleteNot too sure about the name yet. Will probably let the kids decide(as long as it's not too silly!)
ReplyDelete