Sunday, 09 January 2022
Peter H writes: This was a glorious day for a ride. Cold but sunny and bright. Five others joined me at Brookside for our ride to Fowlmere: David S, Liz, Nigel, Rachel and Simon. We were the "moderate" ride: there was a parallel "loiterers" ride which was due to depart at the same time, and which was still gathering when we set off promptly at 9.30am. As we passed through the Shelfords and Whittlesford we were joined by Susan and then Phil.
We could see the effects of the recent rain – the road up to the ford at Hinxton was closed to cars, and I certainly would not have wanted to drive or ride through it! Luckily we had the option of the footbridge which we all took.
We paused at the top of Coploe Hill for Nigel to take a photo, before heading down and up to Elmdon and then down again from Chrishall before going up again to the highest point in Cambridgeshire just outside Great Chishill, followed by the long and satisfying descent to Flint Cross. I was getting hungry by now but it was not far to El Cafecito near Fowlmere.
I had just got my spinach and ricotta empanada (kind of south American pasty-like pie, very tasty), when the loiterers arrived, seven strong, along with John S. So I think there were 16 CTC Cambridge members there in the sheltered seating outside El Cafecito – quite like old times.
After our coffee/brunch, the group shrank as some of us headed directly back to Cambridge while others came with me on an extra loop round to Barrington, over Chapel Hill (always seems steeper in the winter) and home via Harlton, the Eversdens and Kingston.
Home about 2.30pm for a second lunch, with the sun still shining. An excellent outing, and thanks to Alex for preparing a good route out to Fowlmere with plenty of climbing!