19 December - Thursday Ride, Newport & Barley - 36 miles

Just a few degrees positive but not much wind so comfy riding conditions apart from wet and muddy roads everywhere.

Rode over to Dorringtons at Newport on my own, meeting up with quite a large group there.  Continued on to Barley via Clavering but decided to come straight home rather than stop for lunch, mainly because it would have taken a while and it would have cooled down.

17 December - Waresley and Moggerhanger - 48 miles

Calm day but only a few degrees above zero.  Not cold because very little wind.

Took the Ridgeback, which has the larger tyres and more robust mudguards needed for winter riding.

On from Waresley with 11 in total, most on a Tuesday ride for ages with everyone making the most of the mild conditions.

Down Tempsford hill to the crossing (closed, as usual) then round through Blunham to Moggerhanger.  First time there and a nice addition to the venues list.

Back via Sandy and Gamlingay.

10 December - Southill via Sandy - 57 miles

Rode to Waresley with Mike Stapleton.  Eight wanting to go on so took the normal route but didn't turn down towards Tempsford.  Instead continued on to Sandy, using the same cycle paths as recently.

Got my front wheel off the path just after a couple of offset barriers and landed on my left hip.  Okay at the time but sore later.

On to favourite Southill cafe.  Tables set with Christmas crackers so we thought there might be a reservation. Instead they said to take the places and use the crackers.

Continued on via Biggleswade where Sarah left us for the station.  Then back via Shingay-cum-Wendy and across the A1198, cutting the corner to the A603.

28 Nov - Thursday Ride to Jordan's Mill via Sandy, 45 miles

Mild and almost no wind.  Had to go to doctor first so went straight to Queen Adelaide.  About 15 riders.

Interesting route led by Jacob, out around Sandy and taking in several tortuous cycling paths.  Lunch at Jordan's Mill.

Took the Ridgeback for its first group ride, do or die on whether to sell it and by a cyclocross bike.  Really enjoyed the ride and no problems whatever in keeping the pace.

26 Nov - Waresley and back via Bassingbourn

Grey day but calm and promising 5 deg max.  Felt a bit cold coming away from Waresley and decided not to continue on for the longer ride.

Came back via Guilden Morden and Bassingbourn to pick up a prescription.

14 Nov - Thursday to Swavesey and Houghton

Pleasant day with fair wind from the west.  Big group, setting off for Swavesey coffee stop via Caldecote and Boxworth.  More at the stop and the usual big slabs of cake from the ladies there.

On via Fen Drayton, Hilton, Graveley and the Offords, then round to Godmanchester and the corner cafe in Houghton.  Back along the nice lane, leaving the group soon after to head down to Conington, Knapwell, Bourn and home.

Barbara didn't want to go over Chapel Hill so braved the A603 to the Orwell turn.

12 Nov - Just Waresley, on the Ridgeback

Out and back.  Only one bike there when I arrived at 10.45 so didn't hang about.

7 November - Thursday Ride but just to Ickleton

Pleasant day again and a big group at Greta's.

Set off for Ickleton via the normal Elmdon route.  Stayed just for the break before heading back with Sue. Beginning to feel quiet chilly so time for the overshoes.

31 October - Thursday Ride, Jordans Mill via Queen Adelaide

Adrian's ride so a surprising route to Croydon and on to Jordans Mill.  Nice day and loads of people out. Counted over 30 at the first stop and most carried on.

29 October - Waresley ride, on to St Ives

Quite chilly to start, Garmin showing 8 deg but rising to about 14.  Windy on the homeward stretch.

Rode out to Waresley with Barbara and Mike S, meeting up with most of the regulars.  Eight went on to St Ives, stopping at one of the favourite cafes for lunch.

Started back along the guided bus route but turned off part way along with new rider Rob, and headed for Boxworth.  He was setting a fast pace which I struggled to match, but turned off towards Yelling when I turned the other way for Knapworth, Bourn and home.

55 miles.

10 October - Thursday, Dullingham

Don't have the full route but it was 56 miles.  Drove to Greta's again because the ride was going to be north east, so avoiding the extras.

1 October - Tuesday Ride, Waresley and back

Needing to get back so just out for coffee with the group then retraced route.

26 September - My Lead, Great Saling

Lovely day, fortunately, and lots out.  Drove to Greta's, thinking I should end the ride at the nominal place, even though most people made their own ways back home.

Didn't know the route beyond Thaxted but the Garmin worked a treat.  Stopped in Newport for the drinks break the on to lunch at the Andrewsfield place.  Continued on across to the Great Saling end where the track ran out for a bit then resumed but came to a high fence with a notice on the other side saying no entry. Adrian found a way round and we prepared to set off.  Found that someone had had a puncture on the track so a bit of a delay fixing it.  Continued on to Sawston where I was taken by surprise as most turned right at the lights whereas three of us had gone straight over.  So an abrupt end to my leading!

19 September - Thursday, Ashwell

Decided not to do the full ride so came back from Ashwell.

10 September - Aborted Tuesday Ride

Very windy so decided to turn back at East Hatley.

Kefalonia 7 Sep

Walked through Skala and along towards Mounda beach, picking up some stuff for lunch on the way.  The road went inland but we took a punt on following a track down towards some houses that did indeed join up with the road to the hotel down there.

Free loungers and umbrellas so made use of them just in time before lots more people came and grabbed the rest.  Very shallow water so had to walk a good way out to be out of depth.

Decided to have a go at walking back along the beach despite having been said it wasn't the way to go.  Bit of a clamber in places but quite easy, arriving at a superb swimming place just before the start of the Skala beach.

Stopped off at the first bar on Skala beach, having refreshing drinks before heading back to pack.

Went to a restaurant on the way out of Skala, that we'd walked past earlier.  Very good meal and service and a bit of a sob story from the waiter about how hard it was to make ends meet in the off season months.  He then miscalculated the bill and gave us 10 euros too much change, so very grateful we'd pointed it out.

Home next day.  Odd check-in arrangement where they took the bags but didn't let us through into the departure area until just before the flight because it was small.  When the flight was called we joined a queue that turned out to be people jumping the gun for a later flight, so were called out for our flight, bypassing them.

Collected by Steve W at Stansted, ahead of schedule.

Kefalonia 6 Sep

Captain Vangelis boat trip to Ithaka.

Very calm so no problems for Hilary.  Stopped for swimming off the boat on the way to the main town Vathy where we had a 90 minute stop.  Walked through the town and found a free archaeological museum with some very intricate little seals and pottery items.  Told that people like Madonna, MR Bean and John Hurt have houses here, and a very good choice indeed.

On from here to a smaller port where we stopped for another 90 minutes including lunch sitting outside on a very narrow street corner.  Had a mooch around after, walking around the bay a bit.

Back via another place for swimming off the boat, then seeing goats walking nonchalantly along cliff paths.  Shown how the earthquake of 1953 had lifted the whole island 60 cm, revealing undercuts on the shoreline that had previously been underwater.

Evening meal in a restaurant off the main road and a lot quieter, ie away from the Brits.

Kefalonia 5 Sep

Second day with car.

Drove into Argostoli and had a good walk around the centre, seeing a loggerhead turtle close in to the edge of the promenade.

On along a new road going inland over the mountain range but running out suddenly into the old narrow route towards the end.  Went down onto Myrtos beach and spent several hours there, reading and swimming.  Superb beach.  Bathing was just like being in a giant swimming pool, very clear water, vivid blue with white sand below.  Had a cheese pie for lunch at the small cafe.

BBQ and Greek dancing in the evening, meeting up with some of the other residents.  Long conversation about railway lines from the naturalised Welshman from Reading, now living in Swansea.  Some people watching by Hilary on the other couple, a Timothy Spall lookalike and his glum partner, both on their second relationships but not looking too comfy.

Kefalonia 4 sep

First day with hire car.  Drove up through Poros and Sami, then cut through the ravine running diagonally across the island.  Stunning views of Myrtos beach from above, unbelievably blue water.

  

Drove on to Fiskardo, which was quite chic with large yachts and expensive restaurants.  Walked around the harbour and found a restaurant with a great view from the terrace, overlooking the bay and out towards Ithaka.

Drove a few miles along the top coast, parking at a cove where there was a good beach but lots of people.  followed the Sunday Times suggestion to walk through the holm oak mini forest to the next pay, which they said was idyllic and deserted.  Not quite so now, maybe because of a new access route signed from the main road.  Even so, very clear water and sandy once off the pebbles on the water's edge.

Drove back on pretty much the same route, stopping off at Sami for a short walk, then Poros for an icecream.

In the evening went to a restaurant that was a bit overrun with Brits but got in early and were served quickly before them.

Kefalonia 3 Sep

Took boat taxi to Katelios and set up at the far end of the beach from the small resort.  Good swimming. Sat under sun shade but still got slightly burnt as the sun was quite intense.  Relaxing read, nice lunch at the small taverna, then back on the 4 pm boat taxi.

Walked up the hill away from Skala for evening meal at the Neptune fish restaurant.  Had a table on the deck of the mock ship, and very good swordfish meal.

Stopped off for an icecream at a posh place on the way back, open late.

Kefalonia 2 Sep

Walked up to old town, taking the road behind the Crystal Palace site.

Stopped at taverna at 12 for drinks, joined by nice couple John & Margaret from Midlands.  Stayed on for lunch after they left, very acceptable meal.

Back down to room for swim, wash and brush up before going down to town for evening meal.  Sat in the outside area at back of a restaurant just at the sea end of the main street.  Good quick service, good food.

Kefalonia 1 Sep

Collected at 5.30 am by Butlers taxi. Flight on time, arriving into a wall of heat.
Almost the last drop-off in the resort but quickly installed in the room. Fairly basic but large, with mezzanine floor and two more beds up there. Self catering kitchen wouldn't run to much cooking, one frying pan, two ring cooker and a microwave.

Walked down to the town to recce, had swim in pool then went to local supermarket for provisions.
Nice meal in restaurant at the bottom of Main Street, round the back so away from street noise.

Posted with Blogsy

25 August - Bibury, on way back from Cheltenham

Stopped on the way back and did this very pleasant ride in sunny weather.  Stopped at pub for lunch, sitting outside.

22 August - Thursday, Shuttleworth, Hilary's First

Lots of showers.  Went direct to the Queen Adelaide, taking shelter in Orwell and seeing the rest of the gang going past soon after.

Lunch at the Shuttleworth cafe then back in increasing rain.  Invited to stop off in Orwell for tea and cake by David, who we haven't seen since.  Hilary survived admirably.

20 August - Boxworth

Superb day for biking, warm, light breeze.  Very few people at Waresley because most had gone on a ride from Linton.  Just three of us went on, Sue, Mike Culnane and me.

Took nice quiet route from Waresley along the lanes towards Graveley, then Fen Stanton.  Diverted off to the Golden Ball hotel/pub for lunch on Mike's recommendation.  Had chicken baguette that was very good, sitting out in the garden.

Relaxing sort of ride, not fast, good conversations along the way.

17 August - Reunion Ride

Played golf with David and arranged to go off first so we could get back to his by 1 pm.  Did so, beating Matt and Helen by minutes.

Set off immediately, heading for Ayot St Lawrence as a lunch stop.  Slight hiccup in the Garmin mapping, which wanted us to go down a walking-only track at one point.

Sat outside for the burger lunch, with temperature dropping and some rain starting.  Didn't last and we set off again along lovely country lanes but quite undulating.  Easy ride up to Clifton and along to Arlesey, but then an unscheduled walk over the station bridge carrying the bikes.

Quite strong headwind from there back to St Ippolyts, with more traffic.  Safely back for a shower, pre-dinner drinks then dinner, joined by Hilary.

15 August - Thursday Ride to Clavering Lakes

Adrian's ride so a few bumpy tracks included.  Another big group of about 20 setting off from Greta's.

Took route through Whittlesford, Duxford, Hinxton and Ickleton then off through Littlebury Green and Wendens Ambo before the run down the B1383 to Newport and the coffee stop at Dorrington's.

Continued on through Woodend Green and Henham before a convoluted ride up to Clavering Lakes.  Had an overpriced baked potato with chilli and prepared to see off back just as a shower came over.

Back through the Pelhams and Building End before leaving the group and turning off left to Great Chishill with Rod Kennedy.  Called in on the Hanningtons on the way through Melbourn, not having seen Tony for weeks because of his shoulder bursitis.

12 August - Evening ride

Andy was keen to keep his new biking regime going so he, Barbara and I met up at about 4 pm for a flexible ride, depending on the conditions.

Stopped in Ashwell for a confab and decided not to do the hilly route across through Sandon but instead to go down to Hinxworth and back around towards Potton and Gamlingay.  Nice evening ride with superb lighting, low sun, golden wheat, very green greens, black cloud and rainbow in the distance.

Stopped off at the newly refurbished Chequers in Orwell for a refresher or two.

Interesting cricket while we were out.  Australia were chasing 299 in the fourth test and had reached about 140 for 2 when we left.  Arrived home to find England had won by 74, with Broad doing a demolition job to get England to 3-0 up.

8 August - Thursday ride to Saffron Walden and Ardeley

Big group for this ride on another sunny day but not as hot as last Thursday. Big group of about 18 set off from Greta's, so had to split into two to allow cars to get by more easily.

Took route through Newton and Fowlmere, followed by the long climb up to Great Chishill and across to Barkway and the Silver Ball Transport Cafe.

Collected Barbara and Andy there and set off through Dane End, Sandon, Roe Green and Cumberlow Green on the way to Church Farm at Ardeley.

Road closed at one point because two idiots had tried to pass each other, one with a tractor and trailer, the other in a van that tipped over.  We had to clamber into the field and bypass the blockage.

Coming back John F the leader got ahead of us and we missed an important left turn that caused us to end up on the A507.  Phoned to see where people were but found it was easiest to continue along this road to Baldock despite the fast traffic.  Met up on the high street in Baldock and rode back through Bygrave and Ashwell.

6 August - Waresley to Ashwell

Most of the regulars had met at Linton for a ride with Joseph so only a few at Waresley.  Six of us went on, including Barbara and her friend Andy who'd just bought a new Trek and was keen to start regular cycling.

Decided against taking him on the Southill route but instead went down through Potton to Hinxworth and back through Ashwell.

1 August - Scorching Day, Great Dunmow

Averil's ride and a big turn out at Hauxton with 16 starting off in temperatures already high in the 20s on the Garmin.

Took the traditional route down through Hinxton and Ickleton before taking to a track along Frogge Street that cut across to Coploe Hill.

Then down towards Strethall and Catsmere End before cutting across to Audley End and The Temeraire in Saffron Walden.  Discovered my wallet was all but empty so bought a sandwich from Dorringtons for lunch.

Interesting but slightly tortuous ride from there to Woodend Green and Henham, and on to Deb's Diner in Great Dunmow.  Lovely spot beside the lake, eating sarnie outside before going in for tea and cake courtesy of Jacob's £10 loan.

Came back up to Thaxted with the group after lunch.  Then confusion as Tina and I had elected to turn left towards Debden while the others were meant to go straight on.  Everyone turned in fact, and three shot off ahead.  The rest were then called back leaving Tina and I to catch up the three and explain what had happened.  Continued on as a group of five, stopping for very welcome cold drinks in the village shop, now scaldingly hot in the sun. Lovely pause in the shop's aircon.

Tina and I left the others as they went on up to Saffron Walden, while we turned to Newport, Arkesden, Great Chishill and home.

25 July - Swavesey & St Neots

More nice weather.  Big group at Haslingfield, about 16.  Set off on a slightly different route towards Swavesey, some muttering from the die-hards but what the hell, leader's prerogative.

Nice slab of cake at the Church hall, and a few more people joining the throng.  On to St Neots and the Ambiance Cafe.  Very busy in the town because of market day.

Featured lady of the day .... our Sue

Others taking shade ...

... and others in the full glare

Back to the Orwell turn together then bye bye from me.

18 July - Train to King's Cross, Bike Back

Met up with Nick just before nine and caught train to King's Cross, meeting up with others who'd come from Cambridge.

Eight in total for the ride back.  Lovely weather and amazingly off the streets of London within a couple of miles, joining the cycle track on the tow path out towards Stratford and the Olympic Park.

This was in Victoria Park, where we stopped for liquid refreshments - out.

Great ride along beside the canals, but quite slow.  Stopped for refreshments along the way, getting towards Nazeing.

Then on to Hunsdon and a lunch stop at the Fox & Hounds.  Big mistake, very expensive.  Bought drinks then went across road to the Spa shop for sarnies and pies.  Incurred wrath of pub staff but what the hell, message that drinks at £4, starters at £7 and mains at £14 were just too much.  Nice garden though.

Rode on, hitting some stretches of road where the tar had melted.  Not nice, goo sticking to tyres and picking up stones.  Tried to avoid wet bits and soon turned off onto better roads.

Back up to the London-Cambridge route, turning off towards Fowlmere after Elmdon, and home.

60 miles.  Map included train ride.

16 July - CTC, Waresley to Hemmingford

Lovely day.  Met Sue with friend and made way to Waresley where the numbers were very down on normal.  Even so, six went on from there, heading towards St Ives.

Turned off before getting to Hemmingford, so map below doesn't fully apply. Went to White Swan pub in Conington for lunch, sitting out in the garden.

Then stopped at the icecream place in Toft before the final push home.

12 July - Short Ride Before Meeting Clare

Drove back from Canterbury, getting to Shenfield with enough time for a short ride before lunch.  Nice biking country when away from the main roads.

Kent Day 4, Charing & Wye, 11 July

Bit more overcast but developing into another nice day if a bit windy.  Customary bacon & egg breakfast before saddling up for a ride to the south west of Canterbury.

Took the riverside path to Chartham then continued along the cycle route to Shalmsford Street and Old Wives Lees.  Very quiet roads apart from the occasional huge tractor, and very undulating like Cornwall.

Stopped briefly at the far end of the ride, just before Charing, for a choc bar and slurp from the water bottles, watched by two tiny ponies, just visible through the bars of the gate but coming right up to scrounge for treats.  Didn't have any, sorry.

Went down Pett Lane with its right angle bends, leading to what turned out to be nothing more than a rough track through the woods.  Lovely though despite being being very bumpy in places, and morphing into Pilgrims Way.  Emerged at Westwell then turned into Eastwell Estate, past a sign saying no cycling. Stopped to ask some walkers about this, only for the gates to close behind us so no choice other than to ride on through the south part of the estate and eventually past a golf course.

Soon arrived at Wye and the Tickled Trout pub, immediately a winner because of the lawn beside the river. Bit breezy but found enough shelter in the corner, to the right of the bloke in the photo.

Nice lunch of chicken baguette and a couple of Canterbury Ales before jumping on the bikes again for the ride back.  Alternately warm in the sun and cool in the breeze but a very pleasant quiet road through wooded areas.

Found a lad whose rear derailleur had smashed into the wheel, wrecking it completely.  Couldn't help other than to disentangle the chain and make it possible to freewheel, and provide some magic wipes for his mucky hands.  Went on to Chartham and the ice cream shop, finding a convenient graveyard as shelter from the breeze.  Then saw the sign for the Farmers' Market across the road, including home made ice cream so felt obliged to share one after popping and buying some home made marmalade and jam.

Back into Canterbury along the usual riverside path with its frequent cattle grills, arriving close to the high street.  Found Specsavers because Hilary's expensive rimless glasses had broken on one side, and found a suitable frame that they said they'd courier to the Cambridge branch. 

Kent Day 3, Sandwich, 10 July

Another sunny start to the day but promise of cooler and windier conditions.  Tried a few alternative places to spend the next two nights but the prices were much higher.  So cap in hand asked if we could stay on at the St Stephens Guest House, no problem.

Planned the route for the Garmin after breakfast, packed the bikes and set off on the same cycle track as yesterday, towards Fordwich.

Another nice quiet route to Preston where we stopped at a garden centre for tea and a slab of cake.  Qui te overcast now and a feeling of rain to come.  Continued on to Sandwich, parking the bikes in the grounds of the church turned visitor centre.  Walked to streets for a token pre-lunch amble, then had a ploughman's lunch each at the Red Cow.

Bit of difficulty finding the Garmin route out of Sandwich, having to retrace steps after discovering that the route we wanted crossed  the fast road we were on, but via a bridge. Had to make up an alternative that headed for the Garmin route without quite reaching it for ages, but passing this intriguing road sign telling us how far to Los Angeles etc.

Very undulating towards the end of the ride.  Found and followed the Garmin route through the hilliest part but then left it again for what looked like a more direct route back.  More direct meant busy and lots of high speed traffic but muddled on to find ourselves pretty much where we needed to be and a short hop away from the B&B.  

Kent Holiday, Day 2, Whitstable and Reculver, 9 July

Lovely sunny morning and a decent night's sleep apart from Hilary's difficulty with temperature of bed covers.  Good bacon & egg breakfast then into Canterbury to find the tourist office and pick up some guide books.  Asked about accommodation nearer to Ashford but they didn't have much information and couldn't phone for bookings so left it at that.

Lovely ride out of Canterbury mainly along a cycle track heading for Whitstable. Quite windy there but some brave souls sun bathing in the shelter of windbreaks, a couple even swimming.  The sea looked very uninviting, brownish with clumps of seaweed everywhere.

Rode on along the coastal cycle path, stopping at Herne Bay for a cuppa at the exorbitant price of 60p for tea, 80p for coffee.  Continued on to Reculver and rode up to the towers then, preserved as a navigation aid for shipping.

Doubled back and found nice pub for lunch, sitting outside on the terrace.

This photo of The King Ethelbert Inn is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Continued after lunch along quiet roads, turning off towards what should have been a cycle track beside the Stour.  Came to a level crossing with locked gates and a sign saying the route was closed.  Instead went along a path for a couple of hundred yards to another crossing and what turned out to be a very overgrown footpath.  In two about continuing but did so, enjoying a lovely route beside the river, albeit a bumpy one.

Stopped for a read and to cool feet in the river.  Restrained by Hilary from having a dip.

Emerged eventually from the path, at Fordwich, where there was a nice inviting pub for a beer and peanuts. Then found a splendid cycle track from there to Canterbury.  Decided to add a bit more to the ride by going down the cycle track towards Chartham, which was great apart from frequent cattle grids.  Had a nice choc Magnum and sit beside the playing field before heading back.

Showered and topped up on tea, then headed off into the city.  After a few false starts found a good eating place on the high street, finding a table outside on the back terrace.

The pies turned out to be only lukewarm so asked for them to be given another quick burst in the microwave, fine after that.  Ambled back along the riverside path for coffee and choc.  Hilary stayed up for a 2 hour filmed retrial documentary but all too much for me so succumbed to the call of sleep.