Ladies Circle

I was looking forward to our next Circle meeting – a shopping evening at Sharon’s house - as I had not been able to make the last couple of meetings and was eagerly anticipating a good old catch up with the girls. So when the email dropped into my inbox I was expecting to see address details and start time.

“Our next meeting is a cycle ride along the Trent...” Whoa! Brakes on a minute and back up! Cycle ride? Where’s my shopping evening gone?? This is what happens when you miss a meeting! It turned out that the shopping evening couldn’t go ahead so a last minute replacement was needed, hence the bike ride.

OK, shock over with, down to the reality of an evening cycling along the canal. On the plus side, it was a dry evening and not too cold; and if I could have looked around rather than concentrated on staying upright on a two wheeled mode of transport, I could have told you that the scenery was lovely; and the goal at the end was a meal in a pub.

On the negative side – I don’t have a bike! Slight problem I thought, and maybe even enough to get me out of it but no, Angela had a bike I could borrow. Thanks for that Angela! I don’t “do” fitness either so hopefully this was going to be a meander through the countryside and not a flat out sprint. Hmm, think again...

So off we rode, into the sunset, following Angela who hasn’t passed her cycling proficiency test and doesn’t know about giving signals before turning. She may have known where she was going but the rest of us didn’t! Cue, rapid braking and last minute turning down narrow pathways. A couple of wrong turns later – it seemed that Angela wasn’t quite so sure of her directions as she thought – and we were flying alongside the canal. It was like something from an Enid Blyton novel! This was no gentle ride, we were off at a fair clip! Maybe it was the draw of the pub spurring us on.

I can confirm that bike seats are about the most uncomfortable place to put one’s behind, especially when the paths are a tad bumpy! Being on a borrowed boy’s bike didn’t help matters but I never gave up; I was going to get there if it killed me! And I wasn’t the only one finding it a little uncomfortable. I could hear squeals from in front of me and behind as we hit an unexpected rut in the path. I have also learned not to believe either Angela or Dawn, Area 20 Chairman, when they say we’re nearly there – they lie!

Finally we arrived and were rewarded with several glasses of wine, for those not driving home afterwards, and a chocolate brownie dessert for me, who was driving! And that’s when the realisation that we had to cycle back again suddenly hit me! Noooo! It was now beyond dusk so lights were turned on and we readied ourselves for the journey back. It was tougher going back and the fading light made it hard to avoid the rough parts.

It was a wobbly legged girlie who finally dismounted her trusty steed at Angela’s and staggered indoors for a welcome glass of water. Note to self – don’t drive next time, that way a welcome glass of wine would be permitted instead!

It was not the evening I had envisaged but we still laughed, even while we cycled – except on the way home when there were lots of midgies to avoid and opening your mouth was an invitation for them to fly in! Would I do it again? You bet I would, but maybe I need to get my own bike next time.

Gotta Love Ladies Circle!