Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Ian Driver writes: Sunday afternoon was grey cloud and breezy. The weather forecast of sunny intervals turned out to be one sunny interval. However the wind was reasonably warm and seldom in our faces, so it didn't cause too many problems. 5 other riders were at Brookside.
With Battle of Britain events on over the country, I decided to take the DNA path to the Shelfods, Whittlesford then Duxford. There was no event on, but I hoped to hear a couple of Rolls Royce Merlin engines overhead, in the end we saw a lone Spitfire.
From Duxford we waved goodbye to the flat roads and started on the undulating hills that surround Saffron Walden. We rode from Duxford up to Strethall then swung around to pass Audley End with some long climbs, fast descents and splendid views.
We cycled through Saffron Walden then followed the Ashdon road to tea at the Ashdon Museum.
The pace had been reasonably quick, so we arrived at tea a little early, just in time to see 6 or so riders from the day ride leaving. Everyone appeared to have their energetic legs on today.
The route home was more direct via the Abingdons, arriving back in Cambridge with the light fading fast, if it had been a later tea, I would certainly have needed my lights.
46 miles on the clock at home.
Ian Driver
Photos by Julia.