Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Nigel writes: I had originally intended to end the evening rides at the end of August, but they proved so popular this year that people didn't want them to end, so Gareth organised a few more with an earlier 6pm start. Tonight was our final ride. It was cloudy and dull, with a touch of moisture in the air, but there was no wind and it was quite warm. Five riders turned up at Brookside for this evening's ride, not bad given the time of year, and we picked two more up along the way.
Gareth was our leader this evening, and took us south out of Cambridge across Grantchester Meadows to Grantchester before turning back north towards Coton. From here we continued north to Madingley. With sunset at 6.15pm, by the time we reached Dry Drayton it was quite dark.
From Dry Drayton we turned south to Hardwick. We then turned west for a loop via Caldecote, Kingston, the Eversdens and Harlton to Haslingfield, where we stopped to inspect the new
Joan Wooldridge Memorial Seat on the village green.
By now it was 8.40pm, so we then made a quick ascent and descent of Chapel Hill before continuing to Barton where we stopped at the White Horse. This is a pleasant pub with excellent cycle parking and a good range of hearty pub snacks. It was still quite warm so we sat outside with our drinks, eating cheesy chips, and having half an hour's pleasant conversation, before returning to Cambridge.
I was home just before 9pm, having cycled
28 miles.
View this GPS track on a larger map