Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Nigel writes: Tonight was an excellent evening for a night ride: mild and dry, with very little wind, and a sky that was clear enough to allow us to enjoy the full moon all the way. Despite the promising conditions only two other riders joined me at Brookside: Paul and Dimitris.
Full moon over The Gogs
Our route this evening was one of our classic loops, the one I call an "anti-clockwise Dullingham". We set off from Brookside and headed out of Cambridge along Hills Road before turning onto Wort's Causeway for a warmning climb over the Gogs to Fulbourn. From there we continued east through the Wilbrahams before turning east onto the long, straight road that leads to Six Mile Bottom.
From Six Mile Bottom, Dimitris and I continued up Brinkley Hill to Cemetery Crossroads before north to Dullingham and Swaffham Bulbeck, whilst Paul took a shortcut along the main road which saved sufficient time to allow Paul to reach the pub first.
Many houses along the way were decked with Christmas Illuminations, and the moderate pace of tonight's ride allowed plenty of time for me to stop and take photos of some of the best.
Fulbourn
Great Wilbraham
Great Wilbraham
The planned pub stop for tonight's ride has been The White Swan in Lode, but I was aware that the kitchen there was closed so we took the opportunity to try a new pub for a change. This was
The Shed in Lode.
Beer and chips at The Shed, Lode
It's quite a large pub/restaurant located in a former social club which opened a couple of months ago. I'm pleased to report that our visit was entirely satisfactory (though it would benefit from some cycle parking outside), and the bowls of chips we ordered arrived very quickly. We all agreed this place was well worth another visit next year.
Setting of from The Shed, Lode
Afterwards we returned home via Bottisham, Quy and Fen Ditton.
Bottisham
I arrived home just after 10pm, having cycled 50km (
31 miles).
Nigel Deakin
Download
GPS track (GPX).