Thursday, 20 November 2014
Edward writes: More than a touch of autumn weather greeted the fifteen riders who assembled at Haslingfield Green for today's ride out to Swavesey and St Neots.
It was grey and murky and a temperature of no more than about 5 or 6 degrees centigrade. Belinda was in charge today and she led us out to Harlton where we turned right and headed up to the A603 and on to Comberton.
Haslingfield
In Comberton we crossed the high street and soon joined the long road which climbs up to Hardwick on the old road to St. Neots.
Comberton
Comberton
At the top of Long Road we turned left towards Hardwick, crossed over at the roundabout where the road crosses the A428 and then dropped down to Dry Drayton. We continued to Oakington and once through the village we were able to join the busway for a pleasant few miles untroubled by traffic down to Swavesey.
Oakington
Busway at Swavesey
Why do we go to Swavesey? Bbecause here we find the Baptist chapel and a chance to spoil ourselves on a wonderful selection of homemade cakes which this week were provided by the ladies of St. Andrew's parish church. Of course, when we arrived we found another nine or ten other members thus making for a very convivial break.
Swavesey
After the interval it was time to press on, and after the usual exchanges of personnel, eighteen left to make their way to Fen Drayton. The temperature by now had risen to about nine degrees as the sun had started to break through and it was very pleasant as we approached Fen Drayton. We still had to go out towards the A14 as it passes by Fenstanton and this time we used the underpass to bring us to the road leading to Hilton. Soon we came to the B1198 and then a couple of miles on about the best road surface in east anglia to bring us to Graveley - if only all road surfaces were like this! Graveley took us past the giant wind turbines and then the long, almost straight, two miles through Toseland and out to the B1043. This left us with the run in to St Neots and the Ambiance Cafe for our luncheon interval.
St Neots
By now the sun was out and it was pleasant enough for those with sandwiches to sit outside in a degree of comfort. Inside the cafe we found Doug and Richard M already tucking into their lunches. Once again, after lunch a number left us but still thirteen set off for the start of the afternoon session, the time being 1.30pm.
We crossed the meadows and threaded our way through neighbouring Eynesbury and over the A428 and then set the compass for an easterly bearing so that we came next to Abbotsley. This was followed by Great Gransden and Caxton when it was time to switch on our lights as the sun was beginning to disappear.
Caxton
We came to Bourn and at the the turning for the Eversdens some left us to go straight into Cambridge leaving about half a dozen to finish the ride, via the Eversdens, back to Harlton and Haslingfield, finishing at about 3.30pm and 54 very enjoyable miles. Our thanks to Belinda for taking us round and keeping us all together and no doubt there are a few more rides like this tucked away in her locker.
Edward Elmer
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