LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 408 Sunday 10th April 2022.
A beautiful morning greeted us if a little chilly, but the sun was already out as I ride to the club where Terry and David had already arrived. With the urn on the car park was filling, Richard was back from his epic cycle ride around the country with his wife, an adventure many of us can only dream of.
9.30 and we were away fast sporty , slow sporty and an advanced fast and slow very confusing but it all sorted its self out on the road, so by the time we had got to the end of Blacwells end our group had formed with Chris and Mat pushing on with David and Michael leaving us to to follow on through Tibberton into Bully lane through the lanes lined with the blackthorn flowers in the hedgerows and the trees bursting into life from a long winter. The views were stunning of the forest in the distance as we crossed the A40 through to Northwood Green where we turned left over the railway bridge dropping down before climbing up to Chaxhill emerging and crossing the A48 in the Rodley lane lovely quiet roads which were dry for a change on this ride the lane led us past houses which hadn’t been touched for years probably the same now as it has been for years. Then we took a diversion to Rodley sands to see the Dolphins Ken promised, I imagined a small Butlins or Haven site a pub by the river and thousands bathing on the side of the river. What we got was a farm gate a field of sheep and a view of the river if you climbed on the fence, but no Dolphins, but lovely views of the forest in the distance above the Severn valley, so back to the bikes and back across the A48 at Westbury and around a rather rough lane back to Northwood green and Blaisdon where once again passing the pub the smell of the Sunday lunch wafted across the road, it was here that the sporty group caught us up and followed us to Huntley before realising they had gone wrong so took a left towards Ross to get back on route. We turned right through Huntley on the Newent road passing the Taynton Triangle up the hill and on to Kents green and at the junction of Hooks lane Terry and Alan were coming from Newent direction and once again sped off in front of us, Ken hinting that the push for home was soon so watching him like a hawk we didn’t realise Dave had got a lead, which was short lived as he had to wait for a car at Upleadon bridge so we caught him up and the pace certainly lifted, all watching the others for the push that never really came and we got back to the club together.
Matt had donated a box of Raspberry chocolate bars which seemed a big hit so thanks Matt.
Thanks to everyone who ride and helped out today it was great to see everybody.
Yellow leader.
