Saturday, 09 April 2016
John F writes: Six cyclists left Brookside at 1pm for this afternoon's ride to the Old Swan Teashop in Hare Street. This is open only on the first Sunday in the month and today was my first visit.
There was a stiff southerly breeze today, which meant we had would have a rather hard ride on the outward leg but an easy ride home.
At the start
We set off and rode south via the DNA path and Ickleton, where we persuaded Ray to stay with us despite recovering from a severe cold, to Elmdon, which we reached at 2pm. We continued to Duddenhoe End, where Ray and three others left the group for a short cut through Clavering (even though we had plenty of time since the purpose of a 1pm start was to allow a longer ride avoiding the pressure of getting to the tea-stop before it closed).
John E and I continued along the planned route down to Arkesden, Wicken Bonhunt and then, having crossed the B1038, we took the steep climb up to Rickling where we turned right by the pond.
John E at Rickling
After a short stop to admire the black swan and other water fowl we cycled along largely traffic-free lanes through Berden and Stocking Pelham to Furneux Pelham (where surprisingly the Brewery Tap was open and seemed to be doing a brisk trade). A long uphill climb along a quiet lane through Little Hormead brought us to the tea-stop at 4pm. The others were already there together with Mike S enjoying tea and cakes by the pond.
Tea at The Old Swan Tea Shop
Some not-so-old swans
After tea we returned together mainly on quiet lanes through Great Hormead, Anstey, Nuthampstead, Shaftenhoe End and the final climb of the day to Great Chishill. From where a swift descent (no pedalling needed) brought us to the A505 at Flint Cross. We reached Cambridge via Fowlmere, Newton, Hauxton and the excellent Trumpington Meadows path. I was home at 6.15pm. John E and I made a rough estimate of the distance at
50 miles.
John Ferguson