This is great but has made me realise I definitely have a preference for flatter nature and cycling fixes and spend much more time pootling along by rivers than going up hills.
I think it's probably acceptable to have a favourite hill which you appreciate exclusively from the bottom of it, haha! Rivers are cool too, but we're not especially close to any unfortunately
Ah they were the days. Especially enjoyed it when people didn’t close the metal 5 bar gate halfway down just beyond the blind corner, and you’re carrying too much speed and the track is too dusty to even fathom stopping in time. 😂
But... Which hill?! I can't believe you haven't told us!
Also I can totally tell you where to find glowworms every year - we did a glowworm spotting RFY ride along the bike path between Westerleigh and the Bristol/Bath Railway Path
Ah this bought back warm feelings of nostalgia of summers spent riding across the local common and moorland up ‘our’ hill. That report you linked makes for pretty bleak reading, although I can’t remember there being much in the way of ‘play spaces’ when I was a kid really, you just went out and found somewhere you liked, an industrial wasteland, a big oak tree, an abandoned house. Nothing was off limits and everything was subjected to boys ‘up to no good’. Ah good times.
You're right there, we just used to roam around the town, probably being low-level nuisances as far as the adults were concerned, but also not doing any harm. As I am now a grumpy old man I have to try very hard not to look at teenagers (especially those who seem increasingly keen on wearing balaclavas to obscure their identity, or ride around on very illegal electric motorbikes) as if they're somehow worse than I was.
I am in love with this writing; of the lifelong connection and joy forged from climbing this same hill. I've only been climbing my favourite hill for a decade, but the connection is still there. Everyone SHOULD have a favourite hill.
This is great but has made me realise I definitely have a preference for flatter nature and cycling fixes and spend much more time pootling along by rivers than going up hills.
I think it's probably acceptable to have a favourite hill which you appreciate exclusively from the bottom of it, haha! Rivers are cool too, but we're not especially close to any unfortunately
Ah they were the days. Especially enjoyed it when people didn’t close the metal 5 bar gate halfway down just beyond the blind corner, and you’re carrying too much speed and the track is too dusty to even fathom stopping in time. 😂
Closed gates + 90s MTB brakes = potential hospital visit :D
Good times though, endless summers and all that!
Love this, welcome back Lewis.
But... Which hill?! I can't believe you haven't told us!
Also I can totally tell you where to find glowworms every year - we did a glowworm spotting RFY ride along the bike path between Westerleigh and the Bristol/Bath Railway Path
Ah this bought back warm feelings of nostalgia of summers spent riding across the local common and moorland up ‘our’ hill. That report you linked makes for pretty bleak reading, although I can’t remember there being much in the way of ‘play spaces’ when I was a kid really, you just went out and found somewhere you liked, an industrial wasteland, a big oak tree, an abandoned house. Nothing was off limits and everything was subjected to boys ‘up to no good’. Ah good times.
You're right there, we just used to roam around the town, probably being low-level nuisances as far as the adults were concerned, but also not doing any harm. As I am now a grumpy old man I have to try very hard not to look at teenagers (especially those who seem increasingly keen on wearing balaclavas to obscure their identity, or ride around on very illegal electric motorbikes) as if they're somehow worse than I was.
There’s enough clues in there for anyone who’s lived locally to work out which one it must be!
I remember the RfY glowworm ride, I couldn’t make it and was disappointed to miss it
I am in love with this writing; of the lifelong connection and joy forged from climbing this same hill. I've only been climbing my favourite hill for a decade, but the connection is still there. Everyone SHOULD have a favourite hill.