Loulabella's Blog

What a busy summer, sadly not much sewing got done, although in the past week I have produced 3 bags and two tweed rabbits. Also just completed a lovely cushion and drunk plenty of tea. Still have a way to go for the fund raiser for Mary Rose School in October as well as an up and coming sewing sale/party at my house in November. I did make three stunning quilts this summer, one for Dans Mum and Dads 40th wedding anniversary, my parents 30th wedding anniversary and Chris and Faye’s wedding present. Will post some pics soon of recent creations and will have my Folksy site soon so my sewing can be purchased online.

Now for the bikes….

Its been a great summer, plenty of mountain biking. First we had the Sierra Nevada in Spain way back in May. Then in July it was down to Dorset for a week where we did 3 evening/night rides and explored some bridleway that hadnt seen any horses or bikes for a while.

We celebrated Dans 30th in style with bikes and picnic at Q E Park and went back to Q E a few weeks later where I did the xpert loop for the first time, I just had to ‘man up’ and do it. My Mum was horrified ‘what if you brake something?’ she cried.’ Hopefully not my forks although that means its time for an upgrade eh? After that we had a great time at the ‘Big Bike Bash’ in Avon Tyrell in the New Forest, the kids came , Dan raced in the XC and I just larked about on me bike and ate ice lollies, yay!

We then headed up to the Cumbria to stay with my Mum and Dad in law who live on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. First we did the Northface trail at Grizedale Forest, which rocked (it was actually very rocky). This was similar to Spain for rocks and climbs but wetter and greener. Then Dan showed me round his backyard and we did a bit of the Dales recently featured in Singletrack ‘The Howgills’ which is where Dans folks house is, it was wet, muddy and ridden with bogs and sheep, loved dodging the gorse on speedy descents and nearly ripping my arm up on barbed wire.

Best place on earth (bar Pompey)

the hubby

So now its on to Autumn and trying to get ‘Girls who Ride’ on the go, all female group rides and such, just cant seem to find many women who mtb in Portsmouth, or even just ride for the heck of it. Ah well I wont give up that easy! Off to the Afan Valley in October to celebrate 4 years of wedded bliss by attemting the mtb black run and entering the Kona Mash up in December, my first official race.