So off I set, reaching Upton without difficulty and finding the path that takes me towards Chilton – which is where my problems started. The path was small loose stones and on a hill at the start and I just couldn’t make any headway -eventually I had to resort to getting off and pushing the bike. Once the first incline was over it wasn’t too bad, but the stones were still snap, crackle and popping alarmingly under my wheels, but finallly the stones changed to a very odd smooth shiny white surface, which was much more pleasant to ride on, if a little slippy. Eventually I reached a junction, which I thought was the turnoff I had to take towards Chilton, so I go into my pockets to check the map, only to realise that my mobile phone isn’t in my pocket. Less alarmed than puzzled, I realise that either its fallen out somewhere or I didn’t take it with me, so decide that I’d better retrace my steps. Going back down the hill was possibly worse than going up, a couple of times I feel the back wheel slipping away from me, and the sound of stone pinging off into the undergrowth from the weight of my back tyre is very disconcerting. Still I reach Upton without killing myself – and its such a relief to be cycling on tarmac again. I get back on to the cycle path to Didcot and just like last week absolutely bomb along it – faster than the outward trip – is it the home stretch phenomenom or me just getting my second wind – I dunno. So I get back to the flat, maybe 90 minutes after setting out, and the damn mobile phone is sitting on the dinner table ;-/. Perhaps I’ll make another attempt at the full route tomorrow – weather forcecast claims its going to be sunny, but I think I’ll give the other route , the on-road route, a try.