Saturday, 02 December 2017
Ian B writes: Seven of us (Alan, Alex, John E, Geoff, Sheila, Simon and myself) met up at Brookside looking forward to a day's ride out to Newmarket and Chippenham and a rest from the rubbish weather which has blighted our recent rides.
As I'm still a little unsure of the best way to get out of the City, Alex threaded us through the back streets, over the Carter Cycle Bridge, along a short stretch of Mill Road and onto the Tins cycle path. Here we met Rupert and set off through Teversham Drift, Fulbourn, The Wilbrahams and Dullingham towards our coffee stop in Newmarket. Here we met Edmund and Keith who were joining us and said cheerio to Rupert, John and Geoff.
Brookside
The ride to lunch was only 15 miles but it appeared a lot longer with the hills to Moulton and Gazeley making me regret the coffee cake I had thought was a good idea at the time. Also the milder, calmer, dryer forecast was a little out on all counts with the drizzle being fairly incessant. Still, it wasn't penetrating rain but it did make the roads, and inevitably our bikes, very mucky. Keith's white bike was definitely starting to look 2-tone by now. La Hogue were expecting us thanks to Rupert's reservation and at our table we were joined by Cheryl who had riden over from Ely. I have lunched here four times now and have been impressed by their service and food on each occasion. As you can see from the photo, both Keith and Alex are ready for Christmas but the rest of us will be making a special effort to be in the right spirits for our Christmas Dinner at Bourn G C this Sunday.
Lunch at La Hogue, Chippenham
After lunch we needed our lights straightaway, as we set off on our route back through Snailwell, Landwade, Exning, Burwell, Reach and Lode. Lodes Way was particularly mucky but much more preferable than the busy B-road alternative. Edmund and Keith had made their own ways home, so in the end it was Alex, Alan, Simon, Sheila and myself who made the
59 mile round trip, getting back at 3.45pm just as it was beginning to get dark.
Ian Bamborough
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GPS track (GPX).