Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Nigel writes: Although the nights are beginning to draw in, with the sun setting at 7.50pm tonight, it's still August (well, for a few more hours anyway) and tonight's ride was held on yet another fine, warm, evening. Despite the pleasant conditions the turnout this evening was one of the lowest in recent weeks, with just two riders joining me for tonight's ride: Yasmin and Tim.
We set off south from Brookside, following our usual route via the busway and DNA path to Great Shelford and continuing from there to Little Shelford, Whittlesford and Duxford, reaching Ickleton at about 7.30pm.
We climbed to the top of Coploe Hill and paused briefly to admire the setting sun before crossing the border into Essex and dropping down the other side.
Coploe Hill just before sunset
There wasn't time for a loop via Catmere End so we turned right onto Royston Lane and followed it to its end at Chrishall Grange. When we were here two weeks ago, the air was full of the sounds - and dust - of harvesting but tonight the fields were all quiet, the harvest presumably having finished.
After crossing the A505 to Fowlmere and a short loop via the RSPB sanctuary we arrived in Shepreth and stopped at The Plough for drinks and snacks. This pub was as pleasant as always to visit, and Yasmin and I ordered plates of sausage and chips to fuel us for the return journey.
At The Plough, Shepreth
Afterwards we set off for home, passing through Barrington and climbing Chapel Hill. After a fast descent down the other side to reach Haslingfield we turned right towards Harston. Here Tim and I said goodbye to Yasmin, who turned off towards Newton, leaving the two of us to return to Cambridge via Hauxton High Street, Trumpington Meadows and the busway. I arrived home at 9.55pm, having cycled 55km (
34 miles).
Nigel Deakin
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GPS track (GPX).