Sunday 10 September. Ride to the Eden Project. Steps Bridge to Golant.

Today was to be a shorter ride than the previous 2 but with a lot of climbing. Weather was warm and sunny in the morning and humid with cloud and mist in the afternoon. Temperatures reached 24C.

Steps Bridge is self catering but Mary did us proud for breakfast with pannier supplies of porridge and pancake mix with golden syrup and other toppings.

We needed the good start with a long climb from the Hostel to a ridge. Then a steep descent to Mortonhampsted and then another long climb with many ups and downs to the top of Dartmoor at 1500ft. One hazard was sheep lying at the side of the road which would suddenly decide to get up as we approached.

We stopped at Postbridge for elevenses with takeaway coffee and snacks which we enjoyed on the old bridge. We continued with more climbing past the Prison. Then a long descent to Plymouth and a chain ferry
To Torpoint and lunch there.

We continued across to Looe and a stop for tea and then backroads to Fowey and another chain ferry. Soon afterwards Colin left us to ride on to St Austell to catch a train to Bath from where he plans to ride home from tomorrow. We rode on to Golant YHA which is about 6 miles from the Eden Project which we visit tomorrow.

66 miles for the day.

Edwin

Sunday 10 September, Elevenses at Postbridge, Dartmoor

Saturday 9 September. Swanage to Steps Bridge.

Today we continued our ride towards the Eden Project with a ride from Swanage to Steps Bridge on the eastern side of Dartmoor.

Weather was again sunny all day with a great 20mph easterly tailwind again. Temperatures reached about 23C.

We had an early 7.40 start thanks to the Youth Hostel agreeing to supply us an early cold breakfast. We headed north towards Wareham and then turned off on a quiet byroad part of the South Coast Cycle Route. We stopped at Moreton where Laurence of Arabia is buried to look at a Church with unique etched engravings on the windows.

We continued on back roads to Dorchester and stopped for elevenses at Tchibo in the High Street.

Then on and westward taking a back road gradually climbing Eggerton Hill and a sharp descent to the north of Bridport and lanes west. We climbed a steep ridge to the East of Axminster and stopped for lunch at a Pub at the top.

After a few miles we crossed the border into Devon and down to Axminster. We had to take the busy A35 for a few miles to Honiton with many climbs. Then a signed cycle route on the old road to Exeter.

We were short of time so we gave tea a miss and rode through Exeter and then 10 miles of ups and downs on the Moretonhampsted road to arrive at Steps Bridge YHA at 6.00. The Hostel is due to close at the end of the month so we were among its last visitors

93 miles for the day

Edwin

Saturday 9 September. Colin and Phil and Mary climbing a ridge near Axminster

Friday 8 September. Ride to Eden Project. Chichester to Swanage.

4 of us met at the Cross, myself
( Edwin) Phil and Mary and Colin. The plan is to ride down to the Eden Project over 3 days and then Monday look round the Eden Project and train back.

Weather was perfect with clear blue skies all day and a strong easterly tail wind and temperatures up 21C.

We had a good early start at 7.30 and rode via Clanfied and Exton which we reached at 9.00am. Elevenses was at Bishops Waltham. On the flat B road to Fishers Pond we reached a steady 20 mph. Then on via Ampfield and Romsey to stop for lunch at Carlos's Tearooms near Wellow.

We continued on quiet byroads through the New Forest with many horses beside the road. We reached Burley by 2.00 and then down to Christchurch and along to Bournemouth. Then along the Prom to Poole and the Sandbanks Ferry. From the other side it was a short ride to Swanage to stop at the YHA

100 miles for the day

Edwin

Friday 8 September. Riding Bournmouth Prom

Sunday 3rd September. Arun Crossings Ride.

This DA Event was our Sections second of the year ably organised and led by Colin. I joined Colin at the start at Pulborough Station with Avryll and Gill. Alan and Liz and Nicola did part of the route generally in the opposite direction. Gill rode on road but joined us for part of the route in the afternoon.

4 members from Arun Adur and 2 from Horsham joined us.

Weather started dismal and drizzly but soon dried up with bright sunshine by the afternoon with temperatures up to 23C.

Colin led us on a very good route with many rough tracks and lanes many of which were new to us. Despite the area being well known to us by road the tracks added a new dimension and many of us had no idea where we were most of the time. The ride took last years route but in the opposite direction and with the addition of some tracks we had not tried before. We completed 12 crossings of the River Arun during the day.

We headed for Penelopes at Wisborough Green for 11s but that was closed for redecoration so we diverted to Fishers Farm nearby. Soon after elevenses Dave Fox had a fall from his bike and very adroitly scrambled clear of an approaching car. He was none the worse apart from minor cuts. We continued on many more tracks to stop at the Haven for Lunch. We were joined there by a large group from Horsham Section who came direct by road.

Tea was taken at Fishers Farm and then a convoluted route back to Pulborough.

I didn't have a Bike Computer but the route mileage was approx. 30 miles.

Edwin

Arun Crossings Ride. Lunchtime at the Haven

Arun Crossings Ride. Riding a track from Wisborough Green

Sunday 27th August: Stansted from Chichester Cross.

There was a good turn out for this, with members of the Moulton club accompanying the ride. We decided to head to Stansted instead of Petworth to try and avoid bank holiday traffic on the main roads.

We set off from Chichester Cross in brilliant sunshine. It was an odd day weather wise as it was warm in the sun but chilly in the shade, so it was difficult to decide what to wear when cycling. We headed west out of Chichester and across the level crossing, travelling via backroads through Fishbourne, Hambrook and Southbourne before having elevenses at a cafe by a marina on Thorney Island.

After elevenses we set off north to Stansted House cafe via Emsworth and Westbourne. Upon arrival we enjoyed eating our meals outside even though it was fairly windy by that point! The other riders had afternoon tea at Fishbourne Roman Palace tearoom, however I headed straight home after lunch. My mileage for the day was 69km.

Adrian

Test Valley Weekend. Monday 28 August. Andover to Chichester

Monday 28 August. Sams puncture on the HMS Mercury road

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