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Saturday 23rd May: Shropshire Hills
Today was the planned visit to Bishop's Castle. The place with the Coffee Shop, the Cake Shop, the second hand bookshop and the CD shop - all 4000 plus of them!
For me it is a sort of because I have always - well, I think once I bought nothing -found something to tickle the fancy. Given that I know no here else where one can find such a range of musical material it's worth the effort. Given they are second-hand it is impossible to guess what might be found but on this occasion two rarities by Cage were available. Rarities because if one wants Bach, or Beethoven , or Mozart and so on there are many, loads, of discs to be had. But of mine only a few.
We duly set off, meandering through the hills, observing the various vistas nto Wales and eventually, some 17 miles later parking at the top of the High Street. The problem was that I kept on looking at the roads and thinking about them as cycle routes! Yes and they would be a challenge in either direction. That is, from the Anchor towards Clun, about 10 miles. Or the other way which involves some slightly steeper and longer hills.
The shop was as productive as I had hoped, except that one disc of Stockhausen, a real rarity, was damaged with a deep scratch on the playing surface, and, as the owner put it, for the dustbin. However, I had listened to all of them and out of my 20 or so discs, rejected only 3 as music not for me. So I ended up with some Rolf Hind, really a pianist who we have heard at the Royal Festival Hall playing some Feldman. Then there was also some Wolfgang Rihm, a composer I had never heard before. Finally a collection of solo pieces for a wide variety of instruments by Berio, called Sequenzas. All should make for an interesting drive into Scotland. Then I found some books to complement those that were already in the van; some Scandinavian crime thrillers in the main. So, after that visit and rather less well endowed with cash than before, I left to wander into the town, find Meryl and head home.
Driving along the road from Clun was fun as I kept on explaining to Meryl that it would be a flat and easy to ride. The only hill was at the end and then only a mile or so and fairly gently. Meryl insisted that it was uphill all the way….but I said it wasn't, maybe 2 miles, but no more than 3…or 4. But anyway, it was very easy and no problem.
The ride eventually took place and after a descent of 5 miles ( OK so I underestimated the length of the climb!) Meryl stopped outside the pub in Newcastle. I was advised to continue on further; then instructed to keep going. Reluctantly I did so and so I made it into Clun, a further 5 miles…….downhill. Clun is an old pretty little village with some pubs and shops, one street and a very narrow bridge.
Anyway, I now began the return trip and this required a little effort on my part but, as I already knew.. not a huge amount as the 'hill' was generally straight forward even if it was generally uphill. As I have found out before, the impression created by a drive along the road is not always helpful. Meryl agreed that it was not too bad as she did indeed manage to cycle up the slope, or slopes, with only a little discomfort!
A return visit is called for, I think as the circular route would be about 36-7 miles or so.
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