Sunday, 03 June 2012
Paul writes: Neil, Mike C, Paul and leader Adrian gathered at Brookside for the 9.00 am departure in very different weather to the previous Sunday. Light to moderate rain accompanied us all day.
Our outbound route took us along the now familiar route of Barton, Haslingfield, Chapel Hill, Shepreth, Basssingbourn, Steeple Morden and Ashwell to the coffee stop at Hinxworth where we were joined by John S.
After a welcome warming coffee and cake, Neil return to Cambridge and the remaining four of us followed Adrian on what for me was a new route. After returning to Ashwell via Bygrave, we skirted the back of Baldock then rode up Weston Hill and through Weston and Hall's Green to lunch at Ardley.
After lunch, the drier period before the lunch stop was followed by heavier rain as we followed a sequence of lanes, B-roads and a short length of the A10 through Cottered, Throcking, Sandon, Therfield then the welcome long downhill to Royston. Our route to tea at Shepreth was along the A10 and through Melbourn to avoid retracing our outbound route.
After numerous cups of tea and more cake all departed for home - at great speed for some. My last glimpse of the group who returned over Chapel Hill was as they disappeared over the old railway bridge approaching Barton. An enjoyable if wet day covering
77 miles home to home.
Paul Dover