A nice relaxing bike ride

 Our last full day at the mill saw us split into several groups for various activities. Kathy and Einar had to work so they stayed at home. Chris didn’t want to do any thing so he stayed at home. The rest of us did exciting things. Ian and I had dragged our bikes all this way, and we weren’t going home without a bike ride. The weather was glorious so we devised a plan that involved a forest and an old railway. We left the mill the Chopping Knife Lane way, but carried on up the hill to a very nice bench at the top. I noticed this as I was waiting for Ian.

We crossed the very busy A4 and on into Savernake Forest. Alex had warned us that, no matter the plan, it was very easy to become lost in the Forest. Ian dismissed him out of hand. We approached our first turning, just trees. Mmmm. Never mind, we readjusted and we’re going swimmingly until we burst out of the trees into a mans back yard. He sportingly set us back on the right path, the right path being a narrow mud bath. We did eventually find the central avenue that we had been looking for all along. 

After our sojourn in the Forest we dropped back down into Marlborough and found the Marlborough to Swindon railway path. Past a sewage works, and on until we found a nice bench for our lunch of crayfish sandwiches.

A nice bench

With a visitor

We soon came to Ogbourne st George , where we hoped to get a coffee at the pub. Bad news. The pub didn’t open till 4pm! Oh well. This was the point where we would turn for home. Ian spotted a nice looking roman road that would take us straight back to Mildenhall. Ok. Let’s try it. As well as straight on, it was straight up. No problem. And the view from the top was stunning. I noticed this as I waited for Ian.

What a view

Once at the top, it was up and down all the way to Mildenhall, and then we were on the road to Stitchcombe. Then back at the Mill.

Some steep hills there!

Alex, meanwhile, had decided on a 20 mile run, also on the railway, then off to Barbery Castle. He said he had to go up a hill too, but we ascertained that ours was harder.

Vicky had decided on a trip to Uffington and it’s famous white horse. She walked up to The castle, the White horse, and Dragon hill, circling around the manger. This did involve some bog snorkling, And she returned with mud up to her ankles.

The white horse from above

The exceedingly muddy manger

Mud

Selfie from the top

After we got back I had a lovely bath,  Stuart came to cut the grass and Ian did some work. 

Later on we had booked an Italian for tea, the rival to Pino’s, Sapore D’Italia. Leaving Misty to fend for herself we all piled into the car for Marlborough. It was lovely to be back in a restaurant again just doing the normal thing of having a meal. And it was two for one cocktails which the little ones made good use of. Us oldies went for a nice bottle of red.

An evening out!

Tire and replete we headed home to the mill, to find that Misty had been busy stealing and eating a box of chocolate biscuits.