Leadon vale cycle club ride 436 Sunday 15th January 2023.
A Sunny morning greeted us if a little chilly but the roads were dry and that’s a bonus after I had to change the rides to some that wouldn’t involve flood water and as the days went on that got harder but a new set of rides to higher ground did the job.
There were a lot missing this week due to holidays but still a nice turnout, the sporty ride has been a bit light the last few weeks but Andrew and Bob were out Bobs recovery continues to be on track and they would set off on the Advanced ride with a few add ons, the rest of us glad to be out were riding the Intermediate which followed the Sporty pair up Barn lane and the dropping down Morend rd to Bridgend where I grew up so it was a trip down memory lane, then up Hoggs pitch a right pig of a climb especially with a car trying to get past but we made it out onto the Pendock rd where we pushed on over the M50 to Whiting lane past the Berrow Church and out onto the Rye Cross rd and then turning into Rye street we all bunched up again and still no floods the odd puddle but it seemed a good choice to head this way. This ride Zig Zagged our way through to Castlemorton Church the sun was out and it wasn’t as cold as I first thought. Now out on to the common the Malverns looking splendid in the winters sunshine , passing a flock of sheep grazing the side of the road we dropped down to the Welland rd and a short way down we turned across the common to a splendid gated lane which led us out to the Mavern rd, a quick regroup and we dropped down to Welland cross roads where we crossed over to the Inn in Welland where we climbed up to Upper hook rd knowing we would turn off before we got to Upton, we would end up in Tunnel Hill and loop around on to the Longdon rd into a head wind so it was nice to turn up to Hill End where we stopped and admired the views of the flooded Longdons Marsh. There was a lot of water around which reminded me why we were here. Castlemorton Church again from the other direction and retraced our route back by the Farmers arms and out past Birtsmorton Church, Upper Pendock now and a Muddy stretch before we passed the school, over the M50 again and out on to the main rd where now the push for home started, Chris and Bryan led the way leaving Steve to pull Maggie, Ken, David and myself back to the club. We were soon joined by Andrew and Bob and Di let me know she was home safely having ridden the scenic ride. A brew and a chat and the conversation this week got around to Jazz not my hot topic but I was surprised how many had a fantastic knowledge of this music and even our resident American Ken admitted that in his past he thought it was a music scene he should be interested in and admitted he had some records, but wasn’t sure or couldn’t remember who they were by.
A great ride lovely company and a bonus to be out with the weather taking a colder turn next week it felt today a little Spring like.
Yellow leader.