A ride to Chaddesden

I’m a little sentimental today. Maybe it’s because I’m listening to Latvian classic popular music and some of the singing festivals’ songs. Sun, Thunder, Daugava is a really great song. Every time I’m singing it, I feel touched:

Well, maybe the topic of Latvian folk singing came into my blog just because on Saturday I had a Latvian choir concert in Rowfant House near London Gatwick Airport. And I sang a lot!

Anyway, the main point is – I haven’t cycled since ages (since 14th of August to be exact). And today I finally did it! A day was really warm and sunny (+17 degrees Celsius). So I managed to get back on my bike. Funny enough, I was cycling in my tight jeans skirts. I felt just like Poppy of the Happy-Go-Lucky (it has 7.0 rating on IMDb). You will understand what I’m talking about, if you have watched this cheerful film.

Today I cycled for one hour and five minutes and managed a distance of 12,7 km. My average speed was 11,7 km per hour and maximum – 27,8 km per hour. Aha, I enjoyed a slow ride through the city.

This time I cycled to Chaddesden, locally known as Chad. It’s a large suburb of Derby. I just followed the cycle path downstream along the River Derwent. After I reached Pride Park Stadium, I crossed the river and went on exploring Chad. Unintentionally I stumbled upon a really nice recreation ground in the middle of Sussex Circus. Of course I took a chance and swung for a while. Afterwards I cycled back to the city center via Darley Abbey.

I must admit, it was a nice ride. October in UK is a suitable month for cycling.

Sunbathing on the bicycle

Nobody believed that yesterday it’s going to be a hot day – the temperature reached 33,3 degrees. And I knew I need to get a tan for the rest part of my body, because during the unconference Cycling for Libraries I managed to tan only partly and in six days I’m going to wear a beautiful dress for my friends’ wedding. So I went for a risk and went out for a cycling.

I left home shortly before half past one and returned back shortly before six. The cycling time was three hours and thirteen minutes, and I managed a distance of 50 km. The average speed was 15,5 km per hour, but the maximums speed was 34,6 km per hour.

I didn’t know where to cycle, I just knew I needed to find a cycle route without lot of shadows. And since I didn’t want to cycle on busy roads, I cycled downstreams along the River Derwent. I passed by Alvaston Park and the turn to Elvaston Castle, till I reached the bridge to Borrowash. Here I thought I will cycle to Long Eaton once more. But suddenly I noticed a road sign to Sandiacre, and remembered there is a really nice canal path I could cycle along. So I took the Nottingham Road (B5010) to Sandiacre.

Erewash Canal and Trent & Mersey Canal

Sandiacre is situated 11 km west of Nottingham and 14,5 km east of Derby. I have visited it once during one of my cycling days. So I was sure, I will like it.

Sandiacre

Indeed, it was a really good day for cycling – it was sunny and a light wind accompanied me. Before continuing along Erewash Canal, I had an ice-cream break. 🙂 And I noticed a rowan-tree full with orange berries. Is it autumn already? 😀

Rowan-tree

I cycled from Sandiacre Lock towards Trent Lock where Erewash Canal meets Trent & Mersey Canal. I cycled along the National Cycle Network No. 67, by the way. And here it was the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. Finally I managed to get to it really close!

Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station

I continued to cycle along Trent & Mersey Canal. But soon the canal path ended. So I need to find a solution. I knew that the canal path continues. So I decided to follow a couple of cyclists who apparently knew where they’re cycling and I felt they also like to cycle along the cycle path. Eventually, after taking some busy roads and loosing my cyclists, I managed to get back to Trent & Mersey Canal. I knew this part of canal path from my previous journeys, so I cycled towards Swarkestone Lock. I felt really hungry and both water bottles were empty, so after reaching Swarkestone Lock I cycled back to Derby along National Cycle Network No. 6.

It was a nice adventure and also a possibility to discover new cycling sites. Now I hope my skin won’t hurt too much after this active sunbathing on my bicycle.

A walk to the Darley Abbey

After the Sunday’s exhausting ride, I decided to have a walk to the Darley Abbey. I didn’t want to forget how it is to have a simple walk, so yesterday I started my walk from Riverside Gardens in the city centre of Derby. It was a little funny, I just used the cycle path upstream (north) along the River Derwent, crossed the old railway bridge and walked along the river until I reached the Darley Abbey. Here I crossed the river and returned to Derby.

The walk along the river

I had a wonderful, slow walk through the parks I used to cycle. I spent two amazing hours and had a chance to listen to the bird songs.