On Saturday I cycled for three hours and a half and managed a distance of 41 km. And during my ride I visited another county of England – Leicestershire (by the way I’m living in Derbyshire). And this is a story of how I crossed the border of Leicestershire.
First part of my journey was the same as for the Ride to Elvaston Castle. I started my journey from Riverside Gardens in the city centre of Derby and followed the cycle path downstreams along the River Derwent towards Elvaston Castle. But this time I passed Elvaston Castle and continued along the River Derwent until I reached a bridge towards Borrowash (a village in Derbyshire) and turned left. I cycled along Station Road and turned right onto Nottigham Road. Then I took right turn onto Draycott Road and continued along until I reached Draycott (a village in Derbyshire). Next village I passed through was Breaston (a village in Derbyshire). Here I took right turn onto Sawley Road, crossed the railway and continued along Draycott Road (again!). I turned left onto Tamworth Road and continued along until I reached Long Eaton railway station (originally Sawley Junction).
At this very moment I need to confess to you: during my ride I tried to reach the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station (a coal-fired power station), and it always seemed very close and easy to reach. So I didn’t even notice where my time went. It was an obsession. And a really silly obsession because I didn’t have a map of the other side of the River Derwent. I just followed the road signs that led me to Long Eaton (a town in Derbyshire) and then towards Castle Donington (a village in Leicestershire).
Long Eaton: View to Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station
I was 2,8 km away from the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station (back then I didn’t even realize how hard it is to reach it by bike!), so I decided to cycle in the direction of power station. I cycled back to the point where I turned left onto Tamworth Road and continued along towards Castle Donington. From this point my journey was really uneventful. I crossed the border of Leicestershire and eventually I reached the highway A50. Guess what – bicycles are not allowed on the highways! So my dream of reaching the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station was doomed.
At least I can show you one photograph of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station which I have taken once at East Midlands Parkway railway station (a railway station in Nottighamshire). Isn’t it amazing and impressive?
East Midlands Parkway: Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station
On my way back towards Derby, a full moon accompanied me. And I felt someone’s watching over me..
Cycling for Libraries via Dace 