Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Tina Filby writes: A party of 11 set off on a glorious sunny afternoon, heading west out of Cambridge on the cycle path alongside the A603 to Barton. Here we turned off to Haslingfield, where we tested our leg muscles riding up Chapel Hill, and enjoyed clear views over Cambridgeshire before dropping down to picturesque Barrington. We continued to Shepreth where we took the cross-country road through Malton to Orwell.
We had a couple of short main road stretches - one along the A603 before we turned off to Wimpole, and another along the A1198 to Arrington - but mostly the ride followed quiet country lanes. Averil had warned us about the long hill climbing north out of Croydon to East Hatley (no exaggeration!) and certainly our route through Herts and Hunts was much hillier than some of the recent flatter Fenland runs.
After passing through the Gransdens we reached Gamlingay and our tea stop at The Cock. Here we met up with some of our senior members. Large platters of generously filled sandwiches, selection of cakes and pots of tea duly arrived and even Mike paused in telling jokes to tuck into the spread!
An hour later, refuelled and refreshed, we returned home, taking a shorter route through Longstowe, Bourn and Toft, arriving back in Cambridge just after 7pm.
I hope Vic had a safe ride home to Linton in the gathering gloom. This reminded us all of shorter days ahead and the need to carry lights for the final part of the ride home.
Thanks to Averil for leading the ride and keeping an eye out for occasional stragglers! A grand
46 miles in total.
Tina Filby.