Sunday, 04 April 2010
Ian Driver writes: I didn't know how many to expect on Easter Sunday (if any!), but as it turned out, two other riders turned up: Peter, who hadn't been out since the Autumn so a welcome return, and Mike K, so the ride was on. I noticed the Cross Keys pub at Brookside is no longer and a Japanese restaurant is opening.
I wanted this to be a bit of an Easter special, so I took the ride out along the DNA path (we waved to Addenbrookes to spare a thought for Mike S and hope he has a speedy recovery), through the Shelfords and Newton to Thriplow. I thought the daffodils and spring lambs would be nice and Eastery.
I took a loop in Thriplow along Church Street then Farm Lane followed by Lower Street. This gave us the best view of the flowers and the lambs and always cheers my humours.
We then headed through Fowlmere and crossed the A505 on the start of a climb that would take us through Heydon, Great Chishill, Barkway and Reed. It was here the wind began to bite. This is a fair old climb with a strong wind in the face, but the views at the top are a nice reward. Stevenage CTC had taken me along this road on the week before on the "Start of Summer Time" Audax. I never fail to see other riders along here and I never tire of the view back to Cambridge.
We headed across the A10 and reed and on to tea at the Heath fitness centre café.
After tea, we were in a mood for a fairly direct route back. I took us through Royston and onto the cycle track that leads along the side of the A10. You soon cross the A10 off this track and into the back of Melbourn for the lanes home. I left Mike and Peter to return home to Foxton. Mike and Peter went back through Thriplow for a second look. This is a gem right now and would recommend it to any ride passing by in the next few weeks.
41.22 Miles on the clock.
Ian Driver.