Tour De Restrap n Then Some

Leeds - Buxton Mellow gradients and gentle hints of undulation were short lived on leaving Leeds, residential streets took sharp angles towards the sky and one such stretch I sat down happily spinning my way up while my ears strained to make sense of grinding and creaking noise, my eyes darted from cranks to wheel only to catch a rider in my periphery steam past weating Reebok classics and gym kit, his calves alive with local miles.The bike creaking and twisting as he raced ahead swirving into a rabbit warren of terraces.Each crested hill revealed another sloping descent to be swiftly followed by another climb, the last major one would be Holme Moss, the descent down though was spectacular, forested hills, arm pump and settling down to a road that forked around a reservoir. Veering left onto the Longdendale trail and the Pennine Cycleway was a welcome rest, crispy flat gravel married with th sun flitting through the leaves reflecting off the reservoir down below was a magical way to transition west out of the Peak District.The exit was brief as I clung to the number 68 cycle route, an excellent meander with stunning views. The last few miles of the day took me back into the hills in search of a place to bed down for the night. Bed would not come before wading through knee deep fords and hike-a-bike down slabs of slate and sharp rocky sheep track all to satisfy my off road tendencies. Planned, plotted and as luck would have it perfectly timed to perch me up high for a restful sleep that would see me start the next day feeling fresh.Buxton - Coln St Aldwyn A clear morning set the tone for the days to come, blue skies and no cover ensuring the beating pulse of the suns heat was inescapable as my ride south continued. I scurried down one side of the valley only to clamber back up and out the other side, a tough start which tee’d me up nicely to drop all the way through to Buxton, stopping off for some free fountain water fill ups and architectural appreciation. On rejoining the Pennine Cycleway i got a chance to finally ride the Tissington Trail and High Peak trail, tracks i've driven over and only seen through car windows on previous trips up to the region. Darting pasty Derby and inching down through Warwickshire the canals and towpaths were excellent for making up time between the frequent ice cream and drink stops, quaint bridges, intricate locks for river navigation and beautiful homes on the water all adding to the journey.
Joining momentarily routes 41 and number 5 the section following on from Stratford Upon Avon was stunning. The heart of the Cotswolds, almost a second home for me, winding country lanes an excellent second choice where no off road options were available.The day closing out in a sleepy village with a friendly face, the next day to come was to be the most exciting. Coln St Aldwyn - Cranborne ChaseA lush introduction to Wiltshire and my first taste of the Wessex Ridgeway, joining the route in the tourist dense Avebury, home to the famous stone circles and Stonehenge.
Taking a brief pause not so much for the stone sites but to witness the draw of eager tourists. I perched in the shade to inhale two ice creams and then lathered on a few coats of sunscreen in preparation to really dive in and uncover what the trail was all about.
Words genuinely can't describe the scale and dreamy nature of what it was like to steam along mixed use Byways of fine dusty gravel, these perfect wide open trails surrounded by vast landscapes abound with a whole spectrum of greens and yellows. For a brief moment high up on the Salisbury plain where the King Alfreds easy intertwines with the route it's easy to think you are elsewhere in the world, with no sign of civilization it took me by complete surprise. Continuing to hug the perimeter of the Imber military firing range until Cranborne Chase and the Wiltshire Downs where things got extra lush, diverse forests and muddy trails further enhance the sensation of being elsewhere, but happily reminding myself that this is all part of home, a true gem of the South West. Home for the night would be a patch of grass and a guaranteed view for the morning.Melbury Downs - Lyme RegisRather than dealing with a tough climb to start things off, the mornings first 3 miles were down down down, a rough choppy and bone shaking descent leading me straight through the county border into Dorset where things got lumpy. Weaving through rooty woodlands, and muddy strips of forest where the sun seems to never reach.Ive had many moments enduring Dorsets hills and this was no different, apart from greater percentage of mud, grass and gradient. Hike-a-bike aside the landscapes were sublime and the Dorset AONB is genuinely outstanding. More grassy meadows and fast descents down into green valleys peppered with wildflowers were moments ill never forget, memories also accompanied by the somewhat ironic experience of being herded by cows. My 60th Mile was spent escaping what felt like imminent attack, followed by a full 60 minutes of trying to navigate the farmers land in order to rejoin the route while avoiding the bovine threat.Some bikeless scouting and brief walk i found my escape and continued on road to finish my journey, rolling into Lyme Regis after one more climb, of course.. Its Dorset after all.
Arriving to the beach, removing my shoes and swiftly donning swimming attire i soothed my sun charred skin and soaked in all the memories of those id met along the way.