Sunday, 25 March 2018
Greg writes: As 1pm dawned we were nearly complete – except that Sarah had just put in a plea on the phone for us to wait for her and Andy, who were hotfooting it to Brookside to join the afternoon ride after having been to coffee with the morning ride. The 'Two rides club' was started by Simon – people who do the first part of the morning ride and then make it to the afternoon ride. Clearly Sarah and Andy were keen to join this rarefied group...
Well, hanging around at Brookside in the Spring sunshine was no great hardship for us mere mortals – we could take the customary photo.
Brookside
Sarah and Andy duly arrived at 1.04pm, with Bob in tow. This now made a group of some 11 of us (Averil, Anne, Simon, Peter, John, Neil, Dave, Andy, Sarah and Bob) and we promptly set off back the way Sarah and Andy had just come.
We headed out of town via Barrow Rd and through to the guided busway. Guess what? The Biomedical campus has grown some more in the last couple of weeks. I suppose a railway station or some such would be a good idea. I wonder why no-one else has thought of it?
We picked up the DNA path (Deoxyribonucleic acid, as pointed out by Simon) and carried on to Shelford where we had a forced re-group as we waited for the crossing.
Waiting at the crossing
It was then on through Little Shelford to ascend the heights of Newton Hill – well it seemed to slow down Bob but given his seniority in the club we felt it only reasonable to wait for him at the pub car park. We regrouped and set off again. This time a frenetic pace was set by Anne, and she had to be reined back, her youthful enthusiasm clearly getting the better of her.
This then took us on to Thriplow. Last week the daffodil festival had seen coachloads of bemused Londoners exclaiming 'Is this it?' as they looked at some forlorn green shoots poking through the snow and frost. Said tourists were glad to return south in the warmth of their charabancs. No such doubts assailed us as we gloried in fields of yellow (well, some of the bulbs were flowering, at least). Proof, if it were needed that 'Touring by bike is blessed by the gods!'
Thriplow in bloom
Leader's selfie (because I can!)
We pressed on and went through Fowlmere and crossed the A505. Now we were out in the open country – so much so that Andy shouted 'Look! Pigs!'.
There was some confusion as to why he was being so rude to his fellow cyclists but we then realised that he was not coming up with a new collective noun for us but simply identifying what he had seen. His amazement that swine were to be found in Cambridgeshire knew no bounds. Some people are easily pleased!
We then started the rolling hills of Grange Road. The route chosen also assaulted the 'Steepest road in Cambridgeshire' which tops out at a dizzying 13.5% in parts. Once the summit was reached great succour and relief was had by all. Most by merely stopping and catching our breath as we waited for Bob to catch us up though Sarah had a more basic need of relief – and she visited the privacy of the field behind the hedge! Lucky the signage had been provided!
Sarah's sign
Bob duly appeared after some while – now off and pushing but he made it!
Once again we set off and this time we were headed towards Catmere End. This was the high point of the trip (literally) and it was then down hill to Audley End! 'The finest view of a house in England' was enjoyed as we cycled past in the Spring sunshine – accompanied by the toot of the steam whistle from the Audley End train.
Here John Redsocks left us – though in honour of the switch to summertime and the glorious weather he was sporting some rather fetching luminous green hosiery!
John Greensocks!
At the top of the hill that rises before Saffron Walden the group briefly split as Greg sent the masses on to Bicicletta and he waited for Bob to make a delayed appearance.
Eventually all were in the café where, to our great delight, we were joined by Simon's mother June! Is this a first? Not only has Simon started the Two Rides Club – he has now started a Family Greetings club – just when Sarah and Andy thought they were catching him up...
Family photo!
Bob posed for a photo next to one that recalls his first visit to Saffron Walden…
Bob then and now
Averil then decided that insufficient attention had been paid to her thus far so she demanded an assessment be made by Andy and Greg of the 'Facilities'. After an announcement to the entire café of Averill's intentions she retired and re-emerged in due course - see photo.
Averil's return!
The group was then corralled into departing. This is always a highlight of a CTC ride – an example of random motion in action as people always veer off in different directions - Cat herding is easier. After some discussion re route we set off out of Saffron Walden with Sarah and Andy leading us up Gold Hill. At the top we waited for Bob – but he never showed! Greg retraced our steps to the café and no sign of Bob was found. We presumed that he had decided to abandon our route and make his own way home (this was confirmed by him calling me in the evening to check he got home OK).
During the search phase Peter and Mark had gone on as Peter needed to get back. Sarah and Andy had also departed to get back before her softening rear got any worse. Ah, just re-read that sentence – I am missing the word tyre somewhere….
The slightly smaller group now set off to retrace our steps to Catmere End. The pace picked up – so much so that as we approached the rear of Coploe Hill we caught up with Peter and Mark. Averil was much cheered as we bowled along because the sun was now shining fully – it really was turning out to be a very pleasant Spring afternoon.
Greg kept the pace up in order to avoid a crepuscular finish (look it up – I promised Simon I would use the term!) We swept through Shelford and on to the DNA path (can you remember what that stands for?) and thence to Cambridge.
A total trip of some
43 sun filled Spring miles – ah, Oh to be in England now that Spring is here.
Yes, yes, I know the original says 'There' but it is called Poetic Licence!
Greg Tucker
Download
this route (GPX).