Day Ride to Melbourn and Saffron Walden

A glorious winter's day, quite cold but with sunshine almost all day. Geoff led us more or less directly to coffee in Melbourn via Shelfords, Newton and Fowlmere. We arrived at Phillimore's Garden Centre to discover that the coffee shop was closed until next weekend, so we went next door to the "Country Gardens" Garden Centre next door, which I prefer anyway because of the comfy sofas in the coffee shop.


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When we returned to our bikes Averil discovered she had a puncture. Ian and I set off on our own leaving everbody else to wait with Averil. We took a very pleasant route via Great and Little Chishill, Langley Lower and Upper Green, Duddenhoe End and Wendens Ambo to the Temeraire PH in Saffron Walden where we were joined by the other after a short while. For lunch I chose the excellent value £6.10 "Roast beef and a pint" combo.

After lunch we returned fairly directly to Cambridge via Audley End, Catmere End, Ickleton, Duxford, Whittlesford and the Shelfords (where we passed another member on his tricycle). I decided not to meet up with the afternoon ride at Scotsdale's but headed straight home via the DNA route. I was back home by 3.40pm, so no need for lights. 51 miles in total: an excellent winter's day's cycling.

Christmas Lunch ride to Waresley and Bourn

Today was the day of the club's annual Christmas Lunch. There were about seven of us at Brookside at 9.30am. Tom led us west along the Coton footpath up to Hardwick where Mick and I became separated from the rest. Mick and I continued on our own via the old A428, Bourn, Caxton and Great Gransden to Waresley for coffee at the garden centre, where we met quite a few others but not the rest of the official ride.


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After coffee we headed back east to Bourn for a leisurely Christmas meal at the Golf Club, where we met the rest of the morning ride. Tom told me they had stopped for punctures, which took some time to fix and so he had cut short their ride and gone for coffee in Cambourne instead.

There must have been about 24 in total at lunch, which was entirely satisfactory and served by friendly and competent young staff.

After lunch I cycled carefully back to Cambridge. The total mileage was 34 miles: insufficient to burn off the effects of Christmas lunch but very respectable nontheless.

Afternoon ride to Hauxton

Today was a perfect winter's day; cold but not too cold, and with bright sunshine all day. There were seven people on the afternoon ride. Jim took us south via the Shelfords, Whittlesford, Duxford and Ickleton. Then we continued south over Coploe Hill before turning west towards Chrishall Grange. Then back via Fowlmere and Newton to a typically splendid and convivial tea with John and Greta in Hauxton. There were about seventeen people at tea.


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Despite the day-long sunshine, patches of ice remained on a few minor roads in shaded areas, and two of us slipped over. Fortunately this occurred at very low speed and so I don't think anone was hurt or anything damaged. Todal mileage: 32 miles: