Thursday, 14 May 2015
Edward writes: Today's weather forecast was distinctly dismal with rain predicted about mid-day and a maximum temperature of no more than 12 degrees. Add in a cold easterly breeze and the prospects of a good ride were not high.
The schedule for the day was Ashwell for coffee and on to Ardley Farm for lunch. With Sarah at the helm the fifteen riders who assembled at Haslingfield Green set off for the climb up Chapel Hill and down into Barrington, followed by Orwell to take us out to the A603. This, of course, took us through a near deserted Wimpole Hall and then on to Arrington and Croydon.
Fortunately there was no climbing of Croydon Hill today as we turned left and briefly back to the A603 for the turning to Wendy and Shingay. Going was relatively easy with the following wind but as we approached Guilden Morden a light drizzle started causing some to get into their waterproofs.
Donning the waterproofs near Guilden Morden
We went into Steeple Morden and finally into Ashwell and Day's bakery for the usual coffee and buns and a sit down under the tree and in the little village garden.
Ashwell
Ashwell
The weather by now was very unpleasant at 10 degrees and nobody seemed to have the heart for a ride out to Ardley Farm so the leadership agreed that we should make our way home. We left Ashwell and returned to Steeple Morden and then turned for Litlington and Bassingbourn and now we were riding into the wind and the rain became a little heavier. We passed through Meldreth and Shepreth, Barrington again, and another climb over Chapel Hill into Haslingfield finishing the ride at 1.15pm and
33 miles.
As it turned out, shortly after we finished the rain became much heavier and there would have been little pleasure in the return from Ardley battling against the wind and the rain in our faces. Our thanks to Sarah, supported by Andy for the ride and let's hope for better weather next time out.
Edward Elmer
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GPS track (GPX).