WEDNESDAY 3 AUGUST 2005 - Evening Ride: Felpham to The Wilkes Head, Eastergate
Continued good weather conditions brought 5 riders to the start point, only to find the trip in jeopardy due to the non arrival of the advertised leader.
After some discussion I was co-opted as leader (there were no other volunteers despite my entreaties), and we set off rather later than planned towards the advertised destination of the Winterton Arms at Crockerhill.

We went out by way of Middleton village, Yapton, Maypole Lane, and then round the back of Barnham via Woodside and Orchard Way to end up in the old part of Eastergate. As we passed Eastergate church the welcoming sight of the Wilkes Head pub proved too tempting, and as we were running late anyway, a decision was made to terminate the ride there. We noted that the Wilkes is a regular destination for evening rides, but has not appeared at all in this years programme. Thus we felt we were correcting that oversight.

For the return trip, John decided to leave the group in favour of a longer and faster circuit via Oving and Colworth, whilst the rest of us took to the tracks behind Westergate school to emerge on the main road at Woodgate. From there some lively running ensued as we headed straight down a strangely quiet A29 all the way to Bognor. Returning to Felpham via the cricket pitch we had completed a modest circuit of only 13 miles, although somehow it seemed much longer.


Graham