INSIDE THE WORLD OF MEETUP

 I'd spent ages trying to find a 6-7 mile circular route but failed. So I created a longer route with the option of dropping out via public transport. The hot weather didn't help with the list dropping from 10 to 5 on the final morning.  The first leg from Shepshed to Belton went ok until we hit to problems. The first was a group of cows that started moving towards us a big aggressively. Then one footpath had become overgrown since the test walk. Read stingers and thorns. We reached the Queens head in Belton for the first break then headed slightly uphill to Long Whatton. Most of the footpaths we walked were rarely used. At the Falcon nobody dropped out and we stayed much longer than planned for food. Then did the final 3 miles back to Shepshed

  It looked like a night out worth booking accommodation for. 40 of us are meeting up in Queen of Bradgate, followed by a night at the fan club, which I'd not been to for at least a year. A warm night, we sat out front until we got moved in by security. Only about half the group were going to the fan club, which was a disappointment. Also, several of the good people didn't show up at all.   It was a fairly typical night at the club, but the group size steadily dwindled. I forced myself to stay out to justify booking accommodation. Overall, not the best night.

 A steady night out due to having to cycle home from the airport. 4 pubs that were all new to me. Cured, Fellows, Fothergills and The Castle. Great turnout and good to catch up with familiar faces. The main downside was the slightly blustery weather. Case in point was Fothergills, which was more of an eating place, but it was too cold to sit outside. If we had gone an hour later, we wouldn't have been getting in the way of the people trying to serve food. Overall, a good night.