Sunday, 29th July – Oxford Circus – (about 45 miles)
All too soon it was the morning, and we assembled in the lobby to fill up on water and for Marrsy to fix Spans bike a little – we set off to find the closest Maccy D’s. Again thanks to tech, this was simple to do and within a few mins we were ordering the breakfast menu. Very easy to get 1000 calories down your neck in this place for brekkie, so suitably fuelled we headed for the Magic Round-about. Last year I had brought padded shorts and pants, this year just the shorts and already I was suffering. Nothing too bad, just that uncomfortable feeling on sitting on a razor sharp saddle. Anyway after the delights of Swindon town – off we went towards Kingston Bagpuize.
Had a real steep hill just out of Swindon, but for the rest of the morning it was really fast undulating countryside. Once you got your legs spinning it was a really nice ride, not too hot, not too cold – we made great time. I was told we were off to the “White Horse”, imagine my disappointment when it was a big carving in the hillside and not an actual pub. And we didn’t actually get to see it, we just cycled next to it. Before we knew it we had got to a nice little pub by the river and although slightly early we stopped for refreshments. Lovely sausage and mash was just finished when the rain came down. We migrated into the bar and sat on the smallest table in the world, with our squashes waiting for the rain to stop. Wasn’t long and we set off back up the hill we had just come down to continue our journey.
We made it back up towards Kingston Bagpuize then East through Appleton and onward to Cumnor, as it was a easy day Marrsy thought it wise to take us for a fun downhill section in the opposite direction, then back along a busy road into Oxford – we appreciated that.. ;o) Got into Oxford and although I had booked the hotel I really thought Marrsy had gone mental when he took us in the complete opposite direction, I could not believe he had got it wrong – he hadn’t. Round the outskirts of Oxford and at the hotel nice and early.
Quick shower and change and we were looking for a way into town, no buses from the stop we looked at so we ordered a cab to get us into the historic city. Once debarked Brend took us for an interesting journey into time and space around the many impressive buildings, A few photo opportunities later and Marrsy led us down a back alley and to a quite wonderful little pub in the middle of buildings with no sign as to how to get there. They served lots of different ales, I had a San Miguel. We sat in the Sun and talked nonsense – this is what the cycle adventures are all about. A couple of pints later and we had decided on supper, so with the trusty tech directing us we set off to the next pub. Once in more ales and Miguel were quaffed, I thought I had bought a wonderful painting for a quid – it was actually a postcard – robbers. Then to the pizza place, big pizza, couple of beers then off home to dream of hills and peddles.