With plenty of time on our hands these days we elected to take the slow route south to the OCC’s AGM and dinner. Sally was desperate to get a little fitter after 6 months of blobbing out on the boat. A year on from our big American bike ride it was time to take to the saddle on a multi-day cycle tour of southern England.
We charted a cycle route and then worked out where
we might stay along the way. First stop was with Andy and Carolyn at their 16th century, half timbered home at Risbury, Herefordshire. The weather was cool but calm for this leg and we were, of course, royally received.
The wind built as we dodged the showers on our way to our Warmshowers hosts at Gloucester. Another great stop with food thrown in and fascinating company. We learned much about trans Canada cycling and modern business management from our lovely hosts as they were ‘scrum leaders’ by day and ultra long distance pedallers when off duty. Thank you Michelle and Nathan.
The forecast was getting grimmer with a major storm brewing but we made good progress towards Sally’s old work chum, Linda, in Chippenham arriving ahead of the rain.
Storm Noa was now just over the horizon which meant that the ride to Salisbury was going to result in a soaking with contrary winds to 50 mph. Time for a rethink! We snatched a window to scurry 18 miles to Bradford on Avon and dodged into a revivifying cafe just as the rain arrived. Suitably thawed and refreshed we took a train to Salisbury.
In Salisbury we explored the city and cathedral from our centrally located HQ at the Red Lion. As we did so the rain hammered down and the anemometer at Hurst Point clocked 60 knots. A good time to be enjoying a City Break and photographing the calm waters of the extraordinary modern font in one of England’s finest cathedrals.
South of Salisbury our route wound off tarmac onto rutted, muddy, and sometimes, flooded tracks. Storm Noa had left its mark. Fortunately our panniers kept the muddy waters out of our clothes and iPad and we had an idyllic ride through the New Forest to Barton on Sea and a warm welcome from Derrick and Ali Thorrington who had opened their home to us for the run up to our sailing club’s AGM.
The weekend’s meetings went well and there was the usual mix of inspirational people, convivial conversations and fine food.
The last 20 miles of riding threaded the lanes and gravel tracks along the coast and salt pots between Barton on Sea and Hythe with pauses at Gins Farm, Bucklers Hard and the Montagu Arms. Derrick and Ali led us through the maze of lanes before peeling off and leaving us to navigate the last 5 miles through the New Forest to John’s at Hythe Marina. Fortunately a straight road!
We had planned to sail Southampton Water on John’s, new to him, Colgate 26 but the forestay furling foil was in need of repair 8 metres up the mast so most of the day was spent figuring out how to do it with the borrowed equipment available. Late in the day the imperially threaded screw went back in its hole just as Dan, Georgie and the kids arrived.
The ride home will be just 15 miles from Craven Arms as our new senior citizen’s rail pass will be helping us most of the way with a little assistance from the Hythe Ferry.
