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

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