Wednesday, 01 May 2013
Nigel writes: May has started very promisingly, with a clear sunny day followed by a clear sunny evening. I expected a good turnout for this evening's ride, and when I arrived at Brookside I found Conrad, Klaas, John E and Paul waiting. We set off along Grange Road, Storey's Way and Huntingdon Road to Girton, joining the busway at Park Street on the western edge of Histon. We arrived at the junction to find Steve (as expected) waiting for us.
The busway itself was quite busy with cyclists, as might be expected on a warm and sunny evening, and as always was a delight to ride along.
About half an hour later we arrived at St Ives. We cycled through the town centre and turned onto the Thicket Path to St Ives. This now has an excellent new surface for most of the way to Houghton, though a few sections remain potholed and rough.
At Houghton we wheeled our bikes along the footpath through the mill before cycling across the Ouse meadows to Hemingford Abbots. Here we stopped for drinks and bowls of cheesy chips at The Axe and Compasses. Already at the pub we found Eva and Jim, who had made their own way there, and the eight of had a pleasant half hour relaxing, chatting and nibbling our chips.
When we emerged from the pub at 8.45pm it was beginning to get dark, so we turned on our lights for the journey home. The temperature was also dropping rapidly, so we put on an extra layer. The ride through Hemingford Grey to St Ives, and the return trip along the busway to Cambridge, were pleasant and uneventful. I arrived back home at 10.15pm, having cycled
35 miles.
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