Ride 468 Sunday 1st October 2023 .
Firstly I would like to wish Di a very happy Birthday today and she celebrated it with a new sparkling bike with easier gears which she was promised would last her for 20 years.
Everybody would ride the Advanced ride today, which was nice as we had a good group out and with the weather set dry if a little overcast we were off. It was the normal route away from the club Blackwells End and on to Tibberton where we would make our way on to the Huntley rd and follow it via Solomans Tump to Huntley, where building work had started on the old golf course which was a shame as it was one of the nicest 9 hole courses around. Straight over at the lights and passing the cricket ground we wound our way down, taking in the stunning views of the whole length of the Cotswolds, to Northwood Green where a herd of cows had made the road a little messy but soon we were passing the red hart pub in Blaisdon before Turing along Velthouse lane, a narrow lane leading us through to Longhope where we climbed up through the village to Barrell Lane and now a tail wind would help us along to Aston Ingham, Chris’s Banana had kicked in by this stage and he flew along Barrel lane and was waiting for us at the junction. Now the drag up to the Penny Farthing at Aston Crewesa regrouping and we pushed on up onto the Linton Ridge where the normally clear views were a little hazy but Frank and Chris were pushing on so no time to stop and soon the Gorsley junction was upon us. With the ting ting sound coming from driving range at the golf course as we regrouped before climbing up onto the Kempley ridge and then the lovely drop down into Kempley and then down to the old Kempley church before climbing up to the letter box field where Adrian had a bit of bother at the junction with his cleats and there was no hedge cutter in sight this time. Greenway crossroads and Bromsberrow next and the 3 climbs up to Redmarley Frank and Chris still doing a good job pulling us along around Red Ditch lane and out on to the 417 , this is where the push for home started the pace gradually increased then Maggie provoked the lads with a definite injection of pace and these 3 swapped all the way home keeping a strong pace up.
I had forgot to leave a key so the Birthday Girl was left locked out unable to get in and have a brew but what was nice was Gill had bought some cake and they were joined on the scenic ride by David Sage who has been injured foe a few weeks and also Ken popped along for a brew and a bit of cake.
Thanks to everyone who ride today it turned out to be a great day in the saddle.
Yellow leader.