Quote from: pdw1 on March 26, 2022, 08:22:46 PMIt is their last truly great album. It was all down hill from there but what a run it was.

That's my view, as well. There are for me two good records after HYF, these being Test for Echo and Clockwork Angels. But neither is really important in the bigger picture.

A lovely day was forecast, with plenty of sunshine and a light wind from the east. The plan was to do at least a fondo, but possibly 100 if I got up early enough.

I did get up at 0730, and I set off at 0805 on the Cannondale. I'd decided to do the first 50 miles of the Norfolk route, then come back. And that's pretty much what I did, although I went slightly further than 50 miles.

Just lovely out there. I took a fleece and a pair of tights in my backpack because I assumed it would be cooler later but I didn't need them. In the end I was a bit annoyed with myself for bringing them. Glad I was able to top up my tan lines a bit.

As usual I stopped for a feast at the village shop at Buckminster, ideally situated 40 miles from home.

Listened to more of my audiobook, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Must admit it did draw me in a little though more because I was interested in the fantasy universe in which the story takes place than the story itself, which still feels a bit directionless. Also listened to footy chat on 5 Live, Gilles Peterson on 6 Music and a bit of the England game on Talk Sport.

Really a glorious run out. I love that part of the world east of Eastwell. Quite pleased as well that I managed to navigate the 50 miles without recourse to Google Maps, although I've done the first 31 many times.



Lots of pheasant out at the moment. I saw a very recently expired one on the road at Stonesby, but a public-spirited chap out walking a dog thoughtfully removed it from the road and threw it into the hedge at the side of the road as I was passing. I think it had been hit by a car. Very quick, I'm sure.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6887232446

That was a breeze. Pick a warm day and eat like a horse. That's the key to doing long rides without wearing yourself out.

Back half an hour before sunset, on 101.30 miles. 464 this month, pretty good going for a March and 1182 this year.

Yes I heard on Talk Sport this afternoon that it had gone to 6-5 in the 98th minute. Remarkable.

Was sad to hear this. I never really connected with the Foo Fighters to be honest. Always thought of them as occupying that lowest-common-denominator space between pop music and rock.

There's a lovely anecdote from our erstwhile comrade Fred Barchetta on Facebook, by the way.

I'll listen to it tomorrow and let you know.

It's more than 4.. 

Sabbath have had a surprising number of singers, haven't they?

Prompted by discussion elsewhere, Close to the Edge.

Well there's no mathematical proof, but there is at the very least a strong case for the proposition that Manchester United is the biggest football club of all.

At least you can sit in the garden with a beer or two

Wordle 279 3/6

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Quick one again this morning. When I saw the first three letters of the second row come up green, I thought I'd got it in two! But the solution was obvious after that.

Quote from: Matt2112 on March 25, 2022, 09:46:08 AM

Quote from: Slim on March 17, 2022, 03:53:02 PMBut Manchester United is the biggest football club in the world.

By what metric? Genuinely curious as most citations I've seen have that as a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

History and importance.

During my lunch break today I took advantage of the nice weather to fit a new inner tube and two new tyres onto Boardman II. Beautiful day, sunny, light winds and easily warm enough for exposed legs so I left work early and took the new tyres (and inner tube) for a spin.

Normally I wouldn't do more than 25 or so with a new component, but I wanted to do at least 40 and I took the risk. I thought I might even do a Fondo - but probably not, since the weather looks good on Saturday as well when I'll have more time for a long ride.



I did the southbound route. Kept going south as far as Dunton Bassett. I'd usually continue on to Gilmorton from there, but since I was about to turn back I took a different turn, to go exploring a little. This took me to a village called Ashby Magna. From there, rather than turning back to come the same way, I followed a sign back to Dunton Bassett which looped me back round to the usual route after about a mile.

Really nice run out. Nice to have the old legs out again. I did take a pair of tights in my backpack and was tempted to put them on when the temperature dropped after sunset. I didn't bother. But interestingly I found myself pedalling back into warmer air, now and then. The dip between Ibstock and Ravenstone though was like being lowered into ice water.

Back on 48.97 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6877352086

I do think the second Boardman looks better with plain black tyres.

So: the Welsh are still in with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup, having beaten the Austrians 2-1 at Cardiff.

Italy have failed to qualify for a World Cup again, as well.

24th March, 1982

The ice patrol vessel HMS Endurance lands a detachment of twenty-two Royal Marines from Port Stanley, at Grytviken, South Georgia. They have been sent to investigate the presence of Argentine military personnel there.