Wednesday, 06 July 2016
Nigel writes: My companions for this evening's leisurely loop through the uplands on the Cambridgeshire-Essex border were Ray, Andrew, Beverley, Kenny and newcomer Dennis. After a delayed start at Brookside we set off south, following our usual route via the busway and DNA path to Great Shelford and continued from there to Little Shelford, Whittlesford and Duxford and Ickleton. Once again it was a fairly dull, overcast evening, but fairly warm with only a light breeze.
We continued south to Ickleton and climbed Coploe Hill, pausing at the top to regroup and to pose for the mandatory group photograph.
Coploe Summit
On evening rides I always adjust the route in depending on how fast we are riding, in order to allow us to arrive at the pub by 8.30pm. Since it was now almost 7.40pm I decided we should descend the far side of Coploe Hill and then turn right onto Royston Lane for a slight shortcut along this notoriously bumpy but scenic lane.
Royston Lane
Royston Lane
We followed Royston Lane all the way to its end at Chrishall Grange. Here one of the group, riding ahead of the leader, sped past the turn to Fowlmere but Kenny gamely volunteered to chase after them and bring them back.
Despite this excitement, we were still able to take a diversion past the bird reserve at Fowlmere before arriving at The Plough in Shepreth bang on time at 8.30pm.
Once again. The Plough demonstrated why it has become a regular destination on our evening rides, with excellent beer and the speedy delivery of our orders of chips and other snacks.
We left the pub slightly later than usual at about 9.25pm, with the western sky still showing the remnants of what must have been an attractive sunset a few moments earlier.
With our lights now switched on, we returned home to Cambridge via Barrington, Chapel Hill, Haslingfield and Barton. I arrived home at the later-than-usual time of 10.20pm, having cycled 54km (
33 miles).
Nigel Deakin
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GPS track (GPX).