Sunday 19 March. Ride from Chichester Cross to Coastguards Cafe, South Hayling.

Weather today was brilliant blue skies all day but still cold with the usual NW wind originating in the Russian Steppes. The wind strength was down on the last few days and temperatures were up a degree or two reaching a balmy 7C.

Numbers were down on those we normally see on a Hayling Island ride with some away and some no doubt put off by the cold. I led the ride and was joined at the Cross by Harvey, Phil and Mary and Alan and Liz. Phil and Mary were having a warm down ride after completing a 200 kilometer (125 mile) Audax ride yesterday.

We took the usual Clay Lane route to Westbourne and then down to Emsworth for an elevenses stop at the Greenhouse Cafe where we settled for a table outside in the sun.

We continued to Havant and then down the Hayling Billy Cycle track down the west side of Hayling Island. Portsmouth and the Spinnaker Tower showed up well on a very clear day. Nobody was inclined to have sandwiches in the cold wind so we all had a meal in the Coastguards Cafe on the front.

The return route took in lanes on the East side of Hayling Island and then across to Hillier’s Garden Centre Cafe near Bosham for tea. Near the Cafe they had a set of Conservatory chairs for sale called the “Edwin Suite” and there were some comments that I ought to buy it. After tea we headed home in different directions.

My mileage for the day was 43 and mileage from and back to the Cross was 31.

Edwin