Test Valley Weekend. Sunday 27 August

Today we did a loop from and back to Andover taking in many quiet Hampshire lanes with old villages full of thatched houses. Weather was sunny and warm up to about 21C with a brisk NW breeze.

We headed out of Andover on lanes to the north via Charlton and up Charlton down. Then down the valley of the Bourne Rivulet a currently dry tributary of the Test. We stopped for coffee at a Pub at St Mary Bourne Village.

Then on down to the Test with a good tailwind. We took a loop on byroads round to Longparish and came across a Ford Sam knew of on a side road with an adjacent footbridge. All of us thought it was too deep to cycle except Phil and Mary who decided to give it a go and provided us with our mid-morning entertainment. Momentum soon evaporated in water 2 foot deep and they had to wade across. A couple of the many pictures I took are below.

We continued on a scenic byroad via Longstock to stop for lunch at Stockbridge where Phil and Mary laid their socks out to dry in the sun.

After lunch we continued south on byroads via Hougton and then a little lane Sam told us was known as puncture alley. I duly obliged by gaining the only puncture of the day. The others were grateful for a post lunch snooze in the sun.

We continued down to Mottisfont 6 miles NW of Romsey and then north on more lanes and some climbing to Broughton where we stopped at the Greyhound Inn for Tea.

Then back to Andover on lanes near Middle Wallop airfield with gliders swooping in to land. 52 miles for the day.

Edwin

Sunday 27 August. Phil and Mary getting in deep water

Sunday 27 August. Phil and Mary wading out of the ford

Test Valley Weekend, Saturday 26 August

Test Valley Weekend. Sam's first puncture

Evening Ride - The Royal Oak, Lagness

Unfortunately the last evening ride of the season was completely washed out. Rain which started in the early afternoon had developed into a serious downpour by the evening, and then got progressively worse as the night wore on. 

Any prospective riders had sensibly decided not to turn out. Rather less sensibly, the rides leader went down to the start point "just to check", and got drenched for his trouble.   Yes, I admit, it was me.

Graham 

  

 

Sunday 20 August. Leaving after elevenses at Rowlands Castle

Sunday 20 August. Lunch at the Five Bells, Buriton

Sunday 13 August

Five of us gathered at Walberton Pond on an overcast day for the long ride to Shoreham Airport: Edwin, Jill, Colin, Phil & Mary. We took the usual route through Madehurst to Whiteways and descended to Amberley, then followed the road through Parham Park and on to Storrington. From Storrington, we followed the main road in increasingly heavy rain to Wiston Tea Rooms where we took our refreshments inside for a change. When we left the T-Rooms, the rain had eased and we continued north and then turned right along a minor road, right again along a B-road, and eventually arrived at Steyning. From Stenying, we took a minor road at the East of the Village which led south through the Downs to the A27 and the back entrance to Shoreham Airport which we reached at about 12:30pm. Shoreham is now used for commercial flights and the restaurant was full of people.
From the Airport, Colin navigated us to the coast and along the front to Worthing, then through the housing estates to the Look and Sea Centre where we stopped for tea. The Littlehampton Lifeboat "Blue Peter" was being serviced on the slipway. By the time we finished our tea, the weather had taken another turn for the better and the sun shone as we continued to the main road (the footbridge was closed) and then along the bike track to Yapton, Barnham, Oving, Merton Pond and home shedding riders as we went until finally Jill continued alone to Hunston.
Phil Turner

Sunday 13 August. Getting ready to leave Shoreham Airport Cafe

Sunday 13 August. Phil manhandles the Tandem over a Gate in Ferring

Wednesday 9 August . Evening Ride, Felpham start to The Bader Arms, Tangmere.
I (Edwin) led this ride and I was joined at the Fox by John, Val and Jo. Weather was sunny but fresher than of late. We took a direct route on Cyclepaths and backroads to Bersted and then across to the start of the Cyclepath to Chichester. Here we were confronted with a large flood several inches deep caused by a leaking pipe.I cycled through the middle and the others round the edge where it was shallower. We continued on the backroads to Colworth and then round the back of Oving and across the Airfield to Tagmere. For a change we beat the Chichester start group comprising Arthur and Lynn and Phil and Mary by about 10 minutes. We returned by the same route and as we did so the full Moon was just rising in the east and glowing a golden orange colour possibly caused by colours in the sky from the sunset to the west (a Harvest Moon). This is something I have never seen before and would certainly have missed if I had been indoors watching telly instead of out on the Bike. Edwin

Sunday 6 August. Ride to the Country Inn, Bepton.

Arthur led this ride and was joined at Chichester Cross by Brian from the Isle of Wight, Harvey and Keith Dodman. Weather was warm and humid reaching about 25C with cloud and sunny spells.

The group took a direct route up the Centurion Way to West Dean and then the main road via Singleton to stop for elevenses at The Moonlight Cafe, Cocking.

I (Edwin) met the group at Cocking riding there direct after riding an early morning 25 mile time trial and returning home to change bikes. Alan and Liz also rode direct to Cocking and we met Adrian at the Pub making a total of 8 out on the day.

We took a direct route to the Pub on lanes arriving at about 12.10 beating Horsham Section for a change by about a minute. We were glad to get our food orders in first as service was fairly slow. We had a chat to some Horsham Section members about good routes in the Chichester area.

We returned on the same route and into Lavant. Alan, Liz and Harvey rode on to Aldingbourne for tea while the rest of us went to Goodwood Flying Club for tea.

My mileage on the Club Ride was 39 but with the addition of 51 miles done earlier on the 25 and riding there and back my total for the day was 90 miles.

Edwin

Saturday 5 August. Climping Beach Picnic Ride.

I (Edwin) led this Ride and I was joined at Bognor Library by 10 others including Dawn and Fred and Philippa and William. Weather was warm and sunny at about 24C.

We took backroads and Cyclepaths to Felpham and then Limmer Lane to the Summerley Estate. Then more back- roads via Ancton and Elmer. Then along the beach involving some walking over the pebbles to Climping.

We settled on the beach for a late picnic lunch and some sunbathing and a few of the more energetic took a swim. At the beach we met Alan and Liz and Julian and a friend taking total numbers out on the day to 15.

We took a fairly direct route back with a stop for tea at The Lobster Pot cafe on Felpham Seafront.

Edwin

Saturday 29 July. BBQ @ Phil & Mary's House, Runcton.
There was a good turn out for this, with the weather warm, muggy and
overcast.

Those that wanted to cooled off in the heated (and illuminated) pool whilst
Phil cooked the meat brought along on the outside BBQ and Mary prepared the
buffet inside. After dining on meat and salad we were treated to a
selection of excellent cakes for dessert.

We all chatted into the evening, I left at 10pm to cycle home, arriving back
at 11.30pm. It rained on my journey back but fortunately not enough to
require waterproofs. My mileage for the day was 66km.

Adrian