Thursday, 14 February 2019
Edward wrote:b After a few weeks of indifferent weather the gods played a master stroke today with bright blue skies to welcome us to Haslingfield. It was a little chilly to start with but the weather people promised us a warm day with above average temperatures. Not unexpectedly sixteen arrived at the start for today's ride out to Swavesey (a favourite) for coffee and cake, in some cases cakes, and on to St Neots for lunch.
Haslingfield
Mike B turned up in shorts just to prove that it really was springlike and Greg revealed that he was staying out all day as mostly he claims that he has to go back as he is a key driver of the economy. That said, Tony, who was our leader today, took us out in two groups with Mike C leading a second group and that's in addition to his usual role in showing everyone else how to fix a puncture properly. (See Greg's report for last Sunday's ride.)
There was a slight wind, very slight, in our favour as we left Haslingfield for Harlton, over the A603 and into the Eversdens, Kingston and a brief pause in Bourn. For once the two groups managed to keep apart from one another as we headed up to the St Neots old road passing between Cambourne and Bourn airfield which is projected to be home to more than 3000 houses.
Crossing the A14
The road through Knapwell is mainly downhill and with that slight wind cycling was very easy and the two miles or so were soon covered. Up to Boxworth and now a very interesting experience, maybe challenging, with the new layout over the A14 but we managed it safely leaving us with the cycleway into Swavesey and the Bethel Chapel for coffee and those cakes.
It was no great surprise to find quite a few others there; in fact we counted 35 and maybe one or two more who weren't in the room so possibly approaching 40. Could this be a record?
This week the cakes were prepared by the Women's Institute and nobody can tell them anything about cake making including one made specially for Valentine's day (see picture and
Alex's photo on Strava).
Valentines Cake, Swavesey
Swavesey
As usual there were some independents including Bill from Ely and it was especially good to see Vic who was looking as sprightly as ever. Also there was Mike CC who had cycled all the way from Over. Well done, Mike.
Swavesey
By about 11.30am we set off again, still with about fourteen riders, to Fen Drayton and Fenstanton under the A14 (old), the new bridge over the A14 (new), and on to Hilton. The wind turbines appeared in front of us when we entered Graveley and soon we were on the road through Toseland and the long straight road down to the B1043 and the final run in to St Neots arriving at 12.50pm.
St Neots
With the warm sun most sat outside to eat sandwiches or having meals brought out them; In fact service was very quick. As usual Adrian appeared a little later, having followed his own route which gives him a chance to do some "rough stuff" and also gave him time to spend with Richard who had cycled over from Bedford.
St Neots
By about 1.30pm we got underway again, crossing the meadows and onto the road down to Abbotsley and still with about fourteen of us.
Abbotsley Church
Our route home took us through Great Gransden, where Sarah and Andy left us, Caxton and Bourn where we retraced our steps from this morning back to Haslingfield, arriving at a very prompt 3pm and exactly
50 miles. With near-perfect weather this was a great day out so thanks to Tony for taking us round.
Edward
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GPS track (GPX).