Footbridge across the River Varenne south of Dieppe

Saturday 6 May. Dieppe to Neufchatel

Today the forecast was heavy rain for later in the day. However we were very lucky with a lot of cloud but only a few spots midday.

We left the Tourist Hotel and took a look round the big street market. Then on to a sports shop where Andrew bought a new badminton racket at a much cheaper price than back home. Due to lack of luggage space he carried this over his shoulder for the rest of the trip.

Then on south and a stop at the big bikeshop we visited yesterday. Lynn purchased a Gillet like the one I purchased yesterday. I purchased some mitts and a long sleeved top. Then outside we found the piece de la resistance, a real genuine Bicycle Wash!! See picture below.

Soon after the group split. Arthur led Lynn, Andrew and Mervyn down the Avenue Verde Cycleway. I led Mike, Avryl and Peter along a minor road alongside the Varenne river. We stopped for elevenses at Torcy. Then on to St. Saens for lunch.

In the afternoon we took a very minor road up a steep climb through the Foret de Bully to 700ft. Then a ride through the lush forest on a plateau before a long descent to Neufchatel.

We met up with the others and as the Hotel was closed until 5.00 we enjoyed a long tea stop with scrumptious cakes in a patisserie as an appetiser for the evenings Anniversary Dinner

33 miles for the day.

Edwin

Arthur demonstrates the Bike Shop Bike Wash

Mike, Avryl and Peter riding in the Foret de Bully

Dieppe, leaving the ferry

Friday 5 May. French Trip.
We met up at Newhaven for the 8.00 am sailing to Dieppe. Myself, Mike who gave me a lift over, Arthur, Lynn and Andrew, Mervyn Cook a friend of Arthur's and Peter Wilson.

Checkin was very slow and a long queue developed. We compared the widely different prices paid for the tickets from 13 pounds bought direct to 50 pounds through one agent.

The 4 hour crossing passed slowly but we eventually arrived at 1.30 French time. We then had a 10 mile bike ride during which we managed 3 stops.

The first cafe was found on the seafront after 2 miles where we had coffee and hot chocolate in the warm sunshine. Then Peter invited us to visit his French home on the southern edge of Dieppe. This has a great location with a quiet garden where Peter served a choice of wine or Apple juice. On the way back from Peters towards Dieppe we stopped to browse a very good bike shop.

Back in Dieppe centre our final cafe stop was adjoining the harbour with bowls of chips to keep us going until dinner.

Edwin

Dieppe. Seafront Caf? Stop

French Trip. Peters House

Wednesday 3 May. Evening Ride. Bognor start to the Maypole Yapton.

Weather this evening was warm and sunny. 4 of us met at the Fox, myself, Graham, Julian and Bruno.

Alan was due to lead this ride but he was away so after a very short discussion Graham was nominated on the basis that he was the only one to know the proposed route.

The ride was very interesting taking tracks and paths across the fields on the route of the proposed but unbuilt cycletrack from Felpham to Barnham.Apart from a few puddles the route was dry and hardpacked with most of it on farm tracks and easily rideable on my touring bike.

More interest was provided as we crossed the path of the mainly infilled Portsmouth Arundel Canal and viewed the remains of 2 swivel bridges and were treated to an onsite history lesson from Graham.

We continued via Lake Lane to the Maypole where we met up with the Chichester contingent comprising Arthur, Andrew, Phil and Mary and John.

We returned on the direct route via Yapton.

Edwin

Monday 1 May. Isle of Wight Weekend
Overnight there was a spell of heavy rain which gradually cleared by breakfast. The rest of the day was bright and sunny.

We headed back home from our base at the Hillside Hotel, Ventnor taking lanes fairly directly north to stop for elevenses at the Amazon World Garden Centre Cafe near Newchurch.

We took more lanes to a steep climb to the top of Arreton Down the East West Ridge going along the centre of the Island with some great views. Then a good long descent to the North Coast and a stop for lunch at Wootton Common.

We caught the 1.00 pm ferry to Portsmouth and had some great views of the Spinnaker Tower in the sunshine as we came in to dock. Then on the cycle route out of the City to Cosham and across to Havant and then Emsworth for tea. For the second time in 2 weeks some of the faster members engaged in a sprint for the Tea Rooms with aim of getting an order in first for the last few slices of Caramelized Apple Pie with Ice Cream!!(I clocked 28.1 mph at one stage!)

I gained another puncture on the ride into Chichester soon sorted with assistance from Phil and Sam making a total of 2 punctures in the weekend for the group, both mine!

Edwin

Monday 1 May. Isle of Wight Trip. Climbing Arreton Down

Monday 1 May. Isle of Wight Trip. Docking at Portsmouth

Sunday 30 April. Round the Island Ride

Weather for today started bright and sunny but soon clouded over and was fairly chilly at 14C.

8 of us started off from our Hotel in Ventnor and we rode west along the clifftop road to the control point at Whitwell where we started the Round the Island Randonee.

The group fragmented a little as we followed the well signposted route each at our own pace. John was off the front chased by Sam. We regrouped at Yarmouth for elevenses with substantial amounts of food piled high for an expected 1000 plus horde of hungry cyclists over the day. We started at the nearest control point to Yarmouth so got to the food first.

We stopped at a cafe in Cowes for lunch where we again all regrouped. Then on over the chain ferry filled with cyclists and lanes across to Bembridge for tea at the control point.

I took it easy for the last section back to Whitwell staying with the 2 Richards. Sam was still trying to keep up with John and sorely regretting it.

The round the Island route was 66 miles with 3800ft of climbing. Our total distance for the day was 72.4 miles.

Edwin

Lunch stop ar Cowes

Phil and Mary climbing a hill near Brading