Thursday, 13 March 2014
Edward writes: This morning it was foggy with a temperature hovering around two or three degrees centigrade. This didn't deter fourteen members assembling in Hauxton, no doubt reassured by the forecast that the sun would prevail and we could look forward to temperatures in the mid teens. Adrian was our leader and, as last week with Mike C, an interesting ride could be guaranteed.
Sawston
We left Hauxton via Little shelford and when we reached Whittlesford, for once we didn't turn at the church to use the cycle way to Sawston, but instead went further along to the recreation ground and used the narrow path through the mill to the railway and over the Sawston bypass. This led to a further narrow path which brought us out in Sawston near to the new health centre. This is also close to the Pampisford turning so we were not on the main road long as we went through Pampisford which brought us out on the A505. This gave us a close-up view of the work to construct the new cycle way to Great Abington and it's coming along nicely.
Linton
We passed through Great Abington and reached the A1307 and, rather than use the back road past Hildersham and Linton, we took the path alongside the main road which goes by the Linton turning, but we carried on a little further to take the turning for Hadstock. The last time we used this road, coming from Hadstock, water was running down the hill, but today as we climbed the hill the road had completely dried out.
Hadstock
Shudy Camps
More climbing took us through Hadstock before a nice gentle descent to Bartlow. Here we turned right for another climb up to the turning for Shudy Camps and then followed Mill Green and Cardinal's Green before another crossing of the A1307 and the Old Red Lion in Horseheath.
Horseheath
No praise can be too high for the way we are looked after here with coffee and cakes already for us. Already enjoying their coffee were Geoff and Vic F.
On
Monday 7 July, the day the Tour de France departs from Cambridge, the landlord of The Old Red Lion is organising a short ride down to Withersfield to see the riders go through, followed by a ride back to the pub for a hog roast and to watch the finish in London on the big screen. We are told that all are welcome.
Horseheath
On leaving the pub one or two returned home but this still left a large group to carry on to West Wickham and over Wratting Common, where Bill left us, and the turning down to Little Thurlow and again the road had dried out considerably from the last time we were this way.
Towards Little Thurlow
This took us all the way to the A143 for a mile or so to just past our regular coffee stop of Adam's (formerly Tubby T's), and we now turned into the nicest part of the route as we entered the quiet lanes of Suffolk.
Near Wickhambrook
By now the sun had at last began to shine and the temperature rose accordingly and this, of course, showed all the early blossom to good effect. Although the snowdrops which were in such abundance this year are now finishing we were well compensated by the many displays of daffodils which decorate the grass verges particularly on the approaches to the villages. This ride took us through Cowlinge, Lidgate, Dalham and Moulton. This just gave us a couple of miles to the Animal Health Trust in Lanwades Park which is close to Kentford. We arrived here at about 1.20pm which is just right for the cafe here as they cater for all the people working on site and any earlier they would have been very busy. As the weather was so good we all sat outside in the sun and enjoyed an hour's break. This was a nice place with friendly staff and well worth visiting again. From May to September we were informed that they will be open at weekends.
Lanwades Park, Kentford
After lunch Jacob, Jerry and Mike CC left us to take a more direct route home whilst Adrian led us back to Moulton where Geoff left us and then, after a long climb, to Cheveley. By now as the afternoon wore on the sun became very hazy but still very nice for cycling and we we faced it as we cycled westward. The ride now took us through the rolling countryside through Saxon Street and Woodditton and down to Stetchworth and Dullingham. Rupert left us in Dullingham and the remaining ten headed to the Brinkley-Six Mile Bottom road where Vic left us leaving the remainder to head for home through Six Mile Bottom and the two mile straight road, which many motorists seem to regard as a racetrack, to the Great Wilbraham turn.
Near Six Mile Bottom
Adrian and Averil left us to go home to Cambridge leaving the last small group to head for home through Fulbourn, the Gogs hills, the Addenbrooke's cycle way and Great Shelford. This just left Craig and Curly to complete the circuit which would have given them
68 miles.
As always thanks to Adrian for our ride which took us along some roads which even some of our more experienced riders had not been along before. Of course great weather doesn't go amiss either.
Edward Elmer
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