A cold but bright day for todays bike ride on the Arkose which was an out and back to todays TP, situate the roadside on Grindon Moor over the border in Staffordshire. A total of 35 miles, 2,907 feet in 2hrs 38 min.

Cycloking tyres made for hard work on the tarmac but were handy for the copious amounts of cow shit on the roads. The farmers are muckspreading hell for leather at the moment around here as they can get on their frozen fields without wrecking them.

The roads very quiet and only one other cyclist seen, or rather two, on a tandem. Car parks at the beauty spots were open but very few cars in them, I suppose because they are a decent drive from major towns and cities.

The highlight of the day was seeing six Buzzards, five of which were perched on roadside trees, looking magnificent with their feathers fluffed up against the cold.