A Trio from The Alresford Groupetta Go Forth.

February 7th 2016. "Three Must Get Beers" Enjoy a Day Out.

With bad weather yesterday and two international rugby matches to watch we decided to postpone our ride until Sunday. (Sorry Steve, who was leading the Winchester CTC ride on Saturday).

We left Alresford just after 10.30 a.m. in lovely sunshine. there was a strong SW breeze which we had to work against for the first 10 miles, for even when it was not in our faces it was making us weave around as we rode past gaps in the sheltering hedges.

It was too early to stop for coffee in Bishops Waltham, so we continued to Wickham. Arriving at Lilly's Tea & Coffee shop at the same time as another group of six cyclists. We managed to bag a couple of chairs outside in the sun and another cyclist from Fareham who had been enjoying a pot of tea when we arrived left so we all had a seat.

Afterwards I led the lads towards Boarhunt and then turned up Hundred Acres Road, through The Forest of Bere to head back towards The Izaak Walton, East Meon, which was our chosen lunch venue. We had a steady climb of over 550 feet, past Wallops Wood Brewery, to the top of the ridge near Old Winchester Hill. This did mean we then could enjoy the descent into East Meon from the site of the once HMS Mercury.

We had excellent beer and lunch at the pub. Mine was Sunday Roast, Lamb with roast spuds, Yorkshire pud and very good vegetables. Good value for £7.95.

A|fterwards as Cycmon and I rode away we heard a shout of dismay from Andrew. He had a flat front tyre. The weather had turned colder now as the sun had been hidden behind dark clouds and so I cowered in the porch while the other two brave lads replaced the tube. (Cause: A Hampshire flint. An almost new tyre too! What bad luck.)

It was nearly 3 o'clock by now so we we were glad to make good time and get home around 4 o'clock just as the rain began exactly as forecast.

Our route home was the easiest (?) way over the ridge past Brockwood park and across the A272 to Woodlands and then via Bramdean Common and Old Park Lane. The other two chose to go over White Hill whilst I entered the town along the main road.

Here are my Data and Map for the day:-

Don't forget if you click on the map you can see it fullscreen.

Today the map and details have been taken from "Ride with GPS" as although I have uploaded my route to Garmin I can't get into their site as it is "under maintenance|". Don't Garmin know that everyone rides on a Sunday and want to record their rides during Sunday evening.

A late photograph of one unusual bike seen on the Audax last weekend.

Enjoy!

Gridironman.