Sunday, 28 December 2008
A glorious winter's day, quite cold but with sunshine almost all day. Geoff led us more or less directly to coffee in Melbourn via Shelfords, Newton and Fowlmere. We arrived at Phillimore's Garden Centre to discover that the coffee shop was closed until next weekend, so we went next door to the "Country Gardens" Garden Centre next door, which I prefer anyway because of the comfy sofas in the coffee shop.
View Larger Map
When we returned to our bikes Averil discovered she had a puncture. Ian and I set off on our own leaving everbody else to wait with Averil. We took a very pleasant route via Great and Little Chishill, Langley Lower and Upper Green, Duddenhoe End and Wendens Ambo to the Temeraire PH in Saffron Walden where we were joined by the other after a short while. For lunch I chose the excellent value £6.10 "Roast beef and a pint" combo.
After lunch we returned fairly directly to Cambridge via Audley End, Catmere End, Ickleton, Duxford, Whittlesford and the Shelfords (where we passed another member on his tricycle). I decided not to meet up with the afternoon ride at Scotsdale's but headed straight home via the DNA route. I was back home by 3.40pm, so no need for lights.
51 miles in total: an excellent winter's day's cycling.