Coronavirus - Sunday 7th June

I've got a longish ride and walk planned this week so although it was a gorgeous morning and M went for a run I didn't go for a ride. Finished off I Am A Pilgrim and asked Tom to mix. Had a zoom in the evening as it was Anne's 60th. On Tuesday I went for a ride with Kelvin, the Andys and Charlie. My first multiperson ride since lockdown. The plan was to meet Charlie at Ipsden but he might cycle towards us an meet us on the way. Coxy set off before us he wouldn't slow us down. We met Charlie here at Blue Tin Farm. You used to be able to see Didcot power station until they knocked it down.

No sign of Coxy and we couldn't contact him so continued to Ipsden. He didn't seem to be there but then turned up at the shop. His phone was flat and he was already knackered but had bought 4 bottles of Ferryman's Gold. We then made our way to Charlie and Helen's place in East Hagred for lunch. Originally they had wanted to make us lunch but we said we'd prefer to take our own. Nice garden, these are Canterbury Bells.

Coxy was really struggling on the way back so Robert picked him up from Streatley. Put all the cushions in the garden away when I got back as the weather is meant to break. We came back along the path north of the river. We'd done it loads of times many years ago but it seemed very difficult and we had to get off and push a few times. I wonder why. The social distancing worked well on the ride and at Charlie's although we did sit in their chairs and pass bottles of beer and bottle openers to each other. It still feels strange.

A bit of a lazy day on Wednesday, did a bit of soundtrapping and prep for the fantasy festival which looks like being a goer. Had a call down the Hop Leaf withg Kelvin and Andy in the evening.

On Thursday did a long walk with the Mansfield Rd Walking Society, me, Kelvin, Roger and John Rees. We got a train to Panbgbourne and walked back The train was more or less empty so we had a carriage to ourselves and it felt quite safe, Roger is also very careful as he has Jean to think about who is high risk. It was a great walk, although its a route I've cycled many times I've never walked it and we went up into the hills. Great walking and very picturesque.

When  we got back to Reading instead of going down Caversham Rd we went along the river, through the festival site and under Cow Lane bridge which now has a proper foot and cycle path. Saw some very tall hogweed just coming out of the festival site. Kelvin and Roger thought it was call cow parsnip but according to wikipedia its the same thing.

Ended up with a swollen right knee and painful big toe. According to my reckoning it was 12.5. miles. Had a call with the 1st Thursday drinkers in the evening. We're thinking that maybe the July one could be outside in a park somewhere.

On Friday I knocked up quick version of That's Entertainment in Soundtrap to see if JR and Russ were interested in collaborating. I seem to have a bit of what I assume is gout in my left big toe from yesterday's walk.

I realise that in these coronavirus posts I haven't gone into much detail about how the restrictions have changed and the number of deaths/infections etc but I found this Wikipedia timeline which is very detailed.

Bit of a lazy on Saturday had a zoom in the evening with T, S, J & A as it was meant to be M's graduation.

A good start to the day on Sunday, didn't get up until 1pm. Had another lazy day. My big toe is still playing up. I think its gout.