Two More Castles and Some Exciting Cycling.

Tuesday 4th August 2015. Basingstoke to Chapel Row.

Three of the Alresford Groupetta joined 5 other riders to explore North Hampshire and Berkshire. We met at West Ham leisure centre car park, Basingstoke. Unfortunately the car park is very large, about half a mile long so whilst four of us were waiting at one end the other four were at the other. Eventually we linked up and left about ten minutes later than our planned time of ten o'clock.

We wended our way through a series of cycle paths and small roads and over a footbridge to avoid the worst of the traffic.

Simon and I were paying strict attention to the route as we were using one we ought to have used last Saturday to avoid the centre of the town.

As you will see from the map, our route was roughly due North passing through Baughurst where David, one of my friends, lives. We didn't see him.

We crossed the the Avon and Kennet Canal, the railway and the A4 in Woolhampton and then climbed to upper Woolhampton. We passed a very interesting complex of buildings. They are part of 

Douai Abbey which is home to a community of monks of the English Benedictine Congregation. The monastery is under the patronage of St Edmund, King & Martyr, and was founded in Paris in 1615. Uprooted by the French Revolution it settled at Douai in Flanders. After more political turmoil the monastic community finally returned to England in 1903, settling at Woolhampton in Berkshire, at the invitation of the Bishop of Portsmouth. More information can be found here: http://www.douaiabbey.org.uk/

A short while after we arrived at our coffee stop in Chapel Row where we were well looked after by a rather earnest young lady. 

Our return route was a little longer than our morning one taking a route to the East of Tadley, not far from where Richard, another of my pals, lives in Pamber Heath. We were soon on the roads that Simon and I ought to have taken last week on our return trip from Odiham.

It was another very enjoyable day out.

Thursday 6th August 2015. A Visit to Farnham Castle.

The Groupetta planned another castle visit but in the end only Simon  & I were able to make it. Our destination this time was Farnham Castle. Both of us had been past it before but neither had visited it.

Here is our map from which you will be able to see we chose a hilly route to test our legs.

On the top of the ridge soon after we had passed the Golden Pot we met our friend David Moseley again. Of course we stopped for a chat. We descended to Long Sutton and then climbed to Well hamlet where this well is situated. (No longer in use).

We were soon in Farnham and having climbed the hill to the Castle were exploring its ramparts. It appears to be very well looked after by English Heritage and there is a very well prepared information room with a animated display of the history of the castle.

Our return route was a little easier though we manage the steep climb of 1 in 7 in East Worldham and later Brightstone Lane.
We stopped for a coffee and strudel at  the Country market, Kingsley; never had such large cups, they must have held nearly a pint!

Friday 7th August 2015. Day 1 in Abergavenny.

I must confess my little legs were a little tired the following morning as I prepared to go cycling in Wales. However by the time Simon's wife had driven us to Abergavenny and had lunch in the Lamb & Flag I was ready for a gentle evening ride with Simon to Llangynidr.

 

We made good time along the A40 to Crickhowell where we did a circuit of the town because the way we had thought to go was an unfavourable  one way. We crossed the narrow bridge over the River Usk before continuing to follow the river valley to the west. We intended to do a loop round some small lanes towards Talybont reservoir. We crossed a hump back bridge over the canal.

Then found the road surface was poor and the hill was much longer & steeper than we had imagined. I was beaten by it. After I had walked about a quarter of a mile Simon who had ridden ahead came back with the bad news that he had not even seen the top and suggested we should abandon our plan and return to the valley. (The ceremonial stripping me of my Polka Dot cycling jersey will take place at some future date to be arranged!)

The return journey was much more fun being fast, especially when we found ourselves by mistake on a dual carriageway. Luckily the traffic was light in our direction with the Westward carriageway being much busier, feeding the Heads of The Valleys Road.

A good ride despite my shortcomings!

Later that evening we were able to enjoy watching the Criterium around the town centre. Fast and furious riding. After watching from various parts of the course we ended up beside the Start/Finish line where Hugh Porter was providing an informative & entertaining commentary. 

The race was won by Graham Briggs.

Saturday 8th August 2015. Day 2 in Abergavenny.

Simon and I decided to ride the course of the Grand Prix of Wales to be run on Sunday. There was a little confusion over the exact route as the road signs did not agree with the sketch map we had been given. Simon, wisely, decided to follow the arrows. This took us through the town of Usk where we discovered another castle to visit. The entrance was guarded by a horrible cattle grid with very widely spaced bars. I had a major problem in walking across it. (There was no question of riding over). 

However the visit was well worth while. This castle seems to be in private ownership but we were given a very friendly welcome and afterwards Simon put a donation in the honesty box.  Preparations were being made for a wedding the following day. What a romantic place for a wedding.

Once out of Usk we had our first serious climb of the day, not hard, but quite long, some of it climbed at over 10 mph!

Our reward was a very long stretch of downhill to Raglan. The views were lovely with hills all around, the fields mainly green pasture but also some arable crops of wheat, barley and maize.

A good display of wild flowers too, Th MCC seem to have sown a lot of wild flower seed on the roundabouts and in other shared spaces. Well done!

We paused for lunch at the Somerset Inn. I have noticed a number of such named pubs in Monmouth. I wonder if there is a connection with the Monmouth Rebellion which had is heart in Somerset?

Refreshed we continued into Monmouth, bypassing the town. As we headed out of the town we were passed by five riders.  They were from the PolyPipe team with a team car escorting them. No doubt they were checking the route for Sunday. 

Alresford Groupetta, Welsh Branch.

They remarked as they rode past England beats Wales. I wonder what they would have thought if they had realised that those two guys in the Alresford Groupetta, Welsh Branch, strip were actually from England. They were all probably at least 35 years younger too!

I found the return route to Abergavenny quite hard, no doubt because I had already ridden over 100 miles in the week. It was hilly but none of the hills were any higher than those we encounter in Hampshire. Simon pointed out various points of interest as we rode. It was a lovely afternoon with sunshine but not too hot. 

You can see from the data and map that we managed a decent average of 12.2 mph.

Sunday 9th August 2015. Third day in Abergavenny.

No cycling for us today. But we did get to see the last nine laps of the short loop of the Grand Prix of Wales, after they had ridden our route of yesterday, twice.

It was a good race won by Chris Lawless with Graham Briggs who won the Criterium on Friday coming a close third behind Yanto Barker.

The Victory Podium of The GP of Wales.
Left to right Yanto Barker, Chris Lawless & Graham Briggs.

It had been a fabulous week of cycling for me. 153 miles ridden in four rides with the added excitement of watching two excellent races.

Thanks very much to my friend Simon his wife Sarah  and her mother Gwen for putting me up and entertaining me so royally.

Gridironman.

First of my holiday rides & a visit to Odiham Castle.

Tuesday 28th July 2015.

The first day of a short trip to Bognor Regis to stay with my friend Eric. I was awake at six and realised there was no chance of going back to sleep again so I got up and by seven I was on my bike and en route to North Bersted, a suburb of Bognor Regis. I had planned a route using Garmin taking care to ensure it did not use any bridle ways or footpaths. Apart from two early climbs through Kilmeston and up Old Winchester Hill the route ,was fairly flat. I was a little concerned that I might struggle as I had about 25 lbs of clothes etc. in my panniers and rack bag, but I managed both hills quite well. At the top of the main ascent I pressed the wrong button on my Garmin 200 and had to restart it. Luckily it did save my map & data.

As I descended into Clanfield I was irritated by a rattle, I soon discovered it was caused by a loose bolt on one of my bottle carriers. Unfortunately I could not tighten it up, maybe the thread has gone? I popped the bottle into one of my panniers and carried on. My second problem of the day occurred as I tried to exit Clanfield. Mr. Garmin had planned to cross the A3 dual carriage way. I could not find a way over as there were several Armco barriers and a hedge blocking my way. I took a diversion through Horndean and was soon back on course.

My Diversion through Horndean.

Apart from a brief refreshment break I kept up a steady pace and was soon into Chichester.  Here I discovered some sensible and well marked cycle lanes making it easy to navigate the city centre.

There was also a decent though not perfect shared cycle path for about 3.5 miles from Chichester to North Bersted. I welcomed the use of this as the A259 is an extremely busy road with many large commercial vehicles zooming past.

I arrived at my friend's home just before 10.30 a.m. having covered the thirty five miles in a shade under 3.5 hours. Eric was very surprised to see me so early but I had soon unloaded my panniers and we were settled over a pot of coffee catching up with one another's news.

I had a most enjoyable time with Eric who did his best to make me feel at home. We went to Slindon for a walk after lunch and that evening we went to his son's home for dinner. David is a good cook and had prepared a delicious Guiness and Steak Pie.

On Wednesday we had a pub lunch at Duncton before visiting Petworth House for a walk in the park and tea in the Audit Room! 

Thursday 30th July 2015.

All too soon my visit was over and I started to wend my way home.

I had planned a slightly shorter but much hillier way home via South Harting and Petersfield. I went back along the cycle path to Chichester where I crossed the A27 by a purpose built cycle/pedestrian bridge. I was pleased with Mr. Garmin's route through the city which avoided the town centre and took me through some very quiet and shady residential streets.

For the first ten miles of the journey I was climbing, but very gently, rising only 240 feet, however there was still a ten mph breeze in my face which kept my speed down. Then I had to climb over the Downs to South Harting. At the top of the first steep climb I took this picture looking to the East, while I recovered and enjoyed a snack. A lovely sweep down to the valley floor from which  I'd just climbed.

My trusty well laden Sporty takes a rest before descending to South Harting.

Another tough climb to nearly 700 feet before that scintillating 

500 foot drop into South Harting and the undulating run into Petersfield.There is an abundance of ragwort this year and no action seems to being take action to control it in accordance with the Ragwort Control Act 2003. This field just outside Petersfield field almost looks like a planted crop!

I decided to stop for lunch here at The Cloisters Cafe. Very good baked spud with a mixed salad and a tasty chilli beef topping.

Parked next to Sporty was this unusual bike. A home built model with an electric motor. I chatted briefly with the owner who said it was very powerful. I forgot to ask what range it has. 

My next challenge was to climb Stoner Hill, much to my surprise I climbed it without having to resort to my very lowest gear. It certainly is a lot less steep than the South Harting one as it winds its way up to the top at almost 800 feet.

I was home by two o'clock having enjoyed the familiar road to Ropley and Alresford.

Comparison between my outward and homeward rides shows that the feet climbed per mile to Bognor was only 28.8 whereas the return was 48.8, (the second highest this year). The average ride is around 35.

Saturday 1st August 2015.

Simon and I decided to search out some roads we'd not ridden before and to visit Odiham Castle. We left Alresford at around 10 a.m. and headed over White Hill to Ropley. It was a lovely day with all manner of varied clouds on display from cirrus, mackerel sky to alto cumulus. Later in the day they had all gone and were replaced with cumulus with a touch of nimbus.
After our climb to Medstead I suggested that an early coffee stop at Lasham might be good but Simon vetoed that idea and we pressed on to Odiham. Here after a little indecision as to where to take our break we found a suitable coffee shop/bar and enjoyed good coffee with delicious warm Danish pastries. 
Simon found out where the castle was located and I managed to find it on a map on my phone! A first for me! As we set off to visit it we were spotted by Dave Moseley and stopped for a chat. 

We soon found the castle, famous its link with King John and the Magna Carta, along a canal-side path. We were amazed that the structure which has endured for over 800 years is made largely of flints. 

Simon with his Claude Butler cycle and Odiham Castle.

Time was marching on and Simon had a plan of passing to the north of Basingstoke and taking tea at Oakley. We found our way by trial and error as neither of us is familiar with this area. We did very well at first finding our way successfully around  to the |North of Hook to Turgis Green and Sherfield on Loddon. Then we headed through Bramley to Sherborne St. John. We could not seem to find a suitable road to take us further south west and we seemed to be drawn as if by a magnet towards Basingstoke. We eventually managed to get ourselves totally disorientated in the streets of the town and Simon being about 30 yards ahead of me managed to get through two sets of lights on green whereas I had to stop. I had no idea where he had gone so took the easy option, but not the nicest way, to the A339 Alton/Alresford road at Viables. Here miraculously Simon came up from behind me having come a totally different way through the town.

I would like to say that the rest of the way was a doddle, but of course it wasn't as we had that steep climb from Chiddesdon to the top of the downs at over 700 feet. We paused to refuel at the top having managed (just) to make it without walking. 

It was good to get home and have time for a cuppa and a shower before heading out for supper with my daughter and her family.

A very great day out with lots of exploring done of the area north of Basingstoke.

Alresford Groupetta News.

PinkPal regains the TUK medal after a sterling effort on Monday doing two hard climbs in the Mendip Hills in Somerset.Well done! Seems like our members are being drawn  outside our normal range with PinkPal and Andrew going to Somerset, Gridironman to Sussex and Cycmon & Gridironman exploring roads not ridden before in Hampshire.

Rank	Name	Miles.
1	PinkPal	144
2	Gridironman	132
3	Andrew	125
4	Cycmon	95
5	Mark	68
6	Paddy	0
	Total	564

N.B. Paddy is on holiday so may have been cycling in Ireland.

Gridironman.

A Busy Week.

Groupetta News.

It has been another busy week for the Groupetta with some  of us getting in multiple rides. It's hardly fair on those who have to work!

Here is the Leader Board.

I have been exceedingly lucky to manage four rides which has enabled me to top the Winchester Strava Leader Board. Fame at last:

Of course there might still someone riding today who has not uploaded their route yet, so my lead might be short lived.

Tuesday 21st July 
I joined eight friends, including PinkPal and Cycmon for a long ride to the Hawk Conservancy for coffee. Knowing it was likely to be a fairly fast ride I set out from home in plenty of time to get to our meeting point at Crawley Pond and was there with over ten minutes to spare. 

After some discussion about the route it was decided to go to the Hawk Conservancy where PinkPal had been on her record breaking route last Sunday. It turned out to be a good choice for when we arrived we found the tea room to be almost empty and we got served quite quickly. 

Here is the map of my ride from which you will be able to see that we went via Kings Somborne and through the Wallops.

Add caption

The weather was cool at first but soon became sunny with the temperature in the mid sixties F. We bowled along at a good pace and I was pleased that I was able to keep up much better than when we had last ridden alongside the Wallop Brook.

From Over Wallop we climbed over the ridge to Grateley past the Plough Inn which holds our record for the slowest lunch ever, 2.5 hours! When we arrived in Monxton we were not quite sure which way to turn to find the Conservancy but PinkPal remembered the way and we were soon tucking into a variety of snacks.

Afterwards we retraced our route to Monxton and then headed to Fullerton via Abbots Ann and Red Rice. 

Here the group split to go in a variety of ways home. I suggested to my two Groupetta Pals that we should go via Newton Stacey and Barton Stacey and then to Stoke Charity. Afterwards they complained that that route was too rough and hilly and told me there was a better way through Forton and Middleton. That would have been two miles further and almost as hilly so I am quite happy with my choice!

When we got to Kings Worthy I left the others to go to my daughter's for a cuppa and a chat before taking the scenic route home on the South side of the Itchen.

Wenesday 22nd July 2015.

A very special ride. I rode from home to join about 70 other cyclists at the Wheat Sheaf on the A30 near Dummer. We were the escort for Arthur Ramsey's funeral cortege from there to the Crematorium about a mile away. We must have been quite a sight in our colourful cycling clothes.

Arthur was just 84 years old, born 23 June 1931 died 25 June 2015. Coincidentally both my birthday and my last meeting with Arthur at the HCMF meet at East Stratton only hours before he died.

The small chapel was packed with many having to stand and there was a very emotional but interesting service where we learned more about Arthur and his exploits.

Afterwards we met to celebrate his life and meet his family. I believe there were four generations present. 

Arthur was a keen cyclist all his life and had won many prizes and accolades for his long distance time trialling coming, I believe,  a very worthy sixth in the national 24 hour competition covering 465 miles! Wow!

Here this the record of my somewhat puny efforts for the day.

Thursday 23rd July 2015.

Joined Cycmon at the Alresford Cricketers at the lunch meet of the HCMF. Only half a mile from home.

Here is Cycmon's report of the day along with a snap of him at Beauworth:

Simon with His Hetchins Track Bike
 at Beauworth.

Today's Cycling Fellowship meeting was only a few 100 yards from my house today so I rode down on my 1946 Hetchins Super Special track bike - single speed fixed wheel thinking I'd just be riding round the block. 

However I did get just over 30 miles in post the meet and coped very well getting up all the hills. Bryce Mansfield and I had a Cream Tea in West Meon where we chatted to a couple who were also cycling, the guy had been in France watching the Tour and had covered 170 in one day! The thought of this must have made forget my Hetchins 'Bonk Bag' which I realised about a mile after leaving the cafe, thankfully all was present and correct on my return.

Thanks Cycmon for a good ride and for the delicious cream tea in West Meon.

Saturday 25th July 2015.

This ride contained a couple of challenges for me. The first was that I was helping with Save the Children Summer Sale so I was unable to get out on Posh until 1.20 p.m. My aim was to catch up with the Winchester CTC easy ride to Houghton for tea. They left Winchester at 1.30 p.m. so I had a ten minute start but also an extra 5 or so miles to cover. I eventually managed to catch them at Upper Somborne in exactly one hour, having covered 13.4 miles. Phew! Thank goodness it was largely flat or downhill.

We paused at Little Somborne Church. In the churchyard is the grave of Thomas Sopwith, the pioneer aviator who gave his name to the famous World War I fighter plane, the Sopwith Camel.

The first climb of any significance from here to go over the ridge to Stockbridge. The downhill on the reverse slope being great fun taken at over 30 mph.

We paused to view the Drovers' Inn, now a private home.

Dating from the C17, its timber frame is encased with an C18 exterior, and is Grade II Listed. It has a restored inscription outside on the front wall which reads in English 'DROVERS HOUSE' and above in Welsh 'GWAIR- TYMHERUS-PORFA-FLASUS-CWRW-DA-A-GWAL-CYCURUS' which translates as 'Seasons Hay, Rich Grass, Good Ale, Sound Sleep'.

Drovers' Inn

We were soon at Daisy’s of Houghton, set in the grounds of  Houghton Lodge. A wedding party was taking place in the gardens with a steel band livening up the proceedings.

After tea and cakes came my second challenge of the day, a roundabout route back to Alresford with Simon. We left the group at the southern edge of Houghton and looped westwards to Lockerley before turning towards home.

Here is my Map for the day. See how we avoided going back through Winchester, by taking taking a wriggly route through Romsey, Hiltingbury and across the Itchen Valley  through Bambridge. Then we climbed over the hills via the Alpe d' Owslebury (14%), but thankfully quite short. The fun of this route is on the hill down the A272 to Cheriton. I almost managed 40 m.p.h. 

As we entered Cheriton I suggested that half a pint at The Flower Pots would seal a great day. Here we were lucky to have a 1927 Raleigh Motor Bike to admire. I learnt to ride on a very similar model from 1929 which was owned by my brother John.

After all that excitement I was home in time to enjoy  the deciding stage of the T de F, won by Thibaut Pinot with Froome managing to minimise his losses and retain the yellow jersey.

Many thanks to all who took part in my rides making them so much fun!

GRIDIRONMAN

New Alresford Groupetta ride to National Trust property at Uppark.

Stop Press

The Groupetta are going from strength to strength with fantastic distances covered  this past week.

Here is the leader Board:

1	Cycmon	213
2	PinkPal	202
3	Andrew	146
4	Bryce	112
5	Mark	85
	Total	758

The longest single ride was 93 miles by PinkPal.

Thursday 16th July 2015
Since I received my birthday present of membership of the National Trust Simon and I had been planning visits to the National Trust properties. Simon organised our first one, a very exciting and demanding route to Uppark and return via Bepton, near Midhurst, Stedham and Milland to Liss, Selborne and Lower Farringdon where we planned to join the HCMF's luncheon meet. 

The weather was grey and a tad chilly to start but we soon warmed up and wearing my gilet I found I was fine despite having short sleeves. For a while we rode on wet roads as there was a fine drizzle, but it was not enough to spoil the ride.

We made good time until we got to South Harting, here we encountered the "Hill of the Day" according to the sign 16%. The total climb about 350 feet over 1.2 miles, so not quite as tough as those climbs in the TdF. I had to walk for about two hundred yards. PinkPal also had problems when she stopped and could not get going again, but the other two managed to climb it. 

When we got to Uppark we discovered that we were given free coffee or tea  because we had come by bike. They also had a good selection of tasty cakes. We did not have time to visit the house, saving that pleasure for another visit.

Going back down that hill was not much more fun than riding up it as it is very rough in places and has a number of corners. However we were soon out of South Harting and heading East. (East!? Simon surely we should be going North West?). The roads here were a little familiar to me, PinkPal and I having ridden the Tour de Dibling a few years ago.

The road sides here were beautiful, with masses of wild flowers, Meadow Sweet and  Rose bay Willow herb being particularly prevalent. The other three were setting a good pace so I had no time to take any pictures!

Gridironman emerges from a leafy lane.

We headed through a lovely forest are with sandy soil growing pines and heather. We came out onto a main road which had a reasonable cycle path taking us to Stedham Village. We took a wrong turn here and had to retrace our way for about half a mile.

The next section was one of steady climbing a number of deep hilly lanes, with green sandy sides, to get to Milland & Liss.. 

We were now on the north side of another ridge and paused to remove some layers as it was now very warm and the sun was beginning to come through.

My Three Pals with a lovely downland background.

A couple more hills to climb and then a fast ride down into Liss where we decided it was time for lunch. We sat in a tiny courtyard garden surrounded by clematis, tomatoes and other plants. It was warm in the sun and just as we started to eat I had a funny five minutes, feeling hot and bothered and slightly sick. However five minutes inside and a wash in cold water and I felt fine again and was able to eat most of my lunch. I also had a large glass of cold water before we set off again.

More climbing to get out of the valley and into Selborne. Although I was slow on the hill I was able to take the lead through Selborne and down into Lower Farringdon. It was now 3 o'clock and far to late to expect anyone from the HCMF to be still at the pub, so we continued up Brightstone Lane. Of course I was the last up the hill and my pals waited for me at the top.. I suggested to them that they might like to amuse themselves by running a small sweepstake guessing how long it would be before I caught up, but Simon dismissed this idea as he said he hadn't even had time to get his camera out.

Gridironman arrives at the top of Brightstone Lane.

We were now of course almost home with mainly downhills to come and we zoomed down through Ropley Village and along the valley into Alresford. I was home just before 4 o'clock. 

A really great day out there.Thanks Simon, Sarah and Andrew for your company.

For the record here is my map and data for the day. When I compared our moving speeds I discovered that I had averaged 12.3 mph whilst the others were of course a little faster. Not bad for a fairly hilly ride.

Saturday 18th July 2015.

Simon, Mark and I decided to join the Winchester CTC intermediate  ride to Clanfield. We met at the end of my road at 8.45 on the dot and rode into Winchester to join Sheelagh and five others. Daren led us out of the City by an unusual route beside the river and past the college to get to the Cycle Path to Hockley.

We went through Twyford and up Hazeley Road  and then over the ridge to Hensting Lane. We climbed the steep hill to Owslebury which defeated me and for the second time this week I had to walk a couple of hundred yards.

On through Beybridge and Upham we went and then took a Cross Lane through a gravelly patch and past a combine harvesting oil seed rape. We went over Ashton lane and up a small hill before descending Vernon Hill and into Bishops Waltham for our coffee break. We were well looked after in the Coffee Shop and enjoyed our break.

The untarmaced road,
Jervis Court Lane to Upper Swanmore.

Afterwards three riders returned to Winchester. Then there was a discussion about the route  and we decided to vary Sheelagh's original plan as it used some unsurfaced lanes (unsuitable for road bikes, but OK for mountain bikes.) and head eastwards through Swanmore. to Soberton. 

Lots of purple and blue flowers along the roadsides, as well as my favourite, rosebay willow herb, knapweed, marjoram and mallow were some I recognized.
There were more butterflies about, a lot of cabbage white, but also meadow brown and brimstone.

After climbing towards Old Winchester Hill we decided to turn East through the hamlet of Chidden and past the Bat & Ball pub on Broad-Halfpenny Down to Clanfield.  

Here we found Simon Davies waiting for us. He had arrived at the meeting place in Winchester after we had left and had found his own way to the pub.

We enjoyed some good reasonably priced fare and of course a lot of craic before we decided to head for home. This time following Sheelagh's Garmin route.

Gridironman resting his "after lunch legs"
Laterne Rouge John in the bistance

The initial climb after lunch caused the usual "after lunch legs" problems but then we had a super fast dash down hill to East Meon. I was in the lead and clocked nearly 35 m.p.h., others must have been going faster as they caught up with me.

I used my 50 chain ring for about 5 miles from the top of the hill all the way to Warnford, but then I was glad to drop down not once but twice to my 30 as we climbed Wheeley Down admiring two very large vivid blue fields full of Borage which is grown for its oil. 

Borage

It has culinary and medical uses.

Soon afterwards I left the group at the Milbury's to return home whilst the others carried on to Owslebury and Winchester.

Here is my map and data for the day.

Thanks, Sheelagh, for a very interesting and imaginative ride. It was good to ride some less familiar roads.

Thanks also to all who took part for their company on the ride and in the coffee and lunch stops.

Gridironman.

Back on my Posh Bike.

Saturday 11th July 2015. A gentle ride with Winchester CTC.

I was glad to be able to ride again after an enforced break of 12 days following my cataract operation. This went well and I now have much better sight in my left eye. So much so that I was able to ride without prescription spectacles. To protect my eyes I sported a new pair of cycling glasses which I got from Tesco for the princely sum of £13. The guy in their opticians recommended them from their cycling section. They have interchangeable lenses, clear, yellow and dark. I was very pleased with them.

 I left home just before quarter to one to ride into the City to join the Winchester CTC easy ride, led by Debs. Fifteen of us in all. 

We split into two groups to reduce the impact on traffic. David leading the first group and Debs the second. I was at the back of group 2 for a while but when it stopped near the Sarum Road Hospital I decided to press on to see if I could test myself and catch up with the front group. When I did, just as they reached Farley Mount, Simon was concerned that I might be overdoing it. I reassured him that I was not. I waited here for Debs and her group while the others went on. There were great views from the ridge and there were lots of flowers along the roadside to admire.

Yellow Bedstraw.

Dominant were the tall umbellifers, mainly common hogweed, but I also spotted honeysuckle,

yellow bedstraw and both white and pink convolvulus which were very prominent along the road between Kings Somborne and Crawley.

 At the bottom of the hill through Ashley we paused to regroup and I suggested to Debs that she and Lynne might like to carry on while Alan and I waited for the other 3 of our group. After 10 mins wait Alan set off back up the hill to see if he could find out why they had not appeared. Unfortunately Ninya had suffered a dropped chain which had got jammed below the chain catcher. Fortunately with Ken's help she had manged to free it.

Whilst I was waiting I took these pictures:

A Curious Tree.

Red & White Poppies.

Footpath through a field of White Poppy Seed Heads

Ninya and Ken took a shortcut to Up Somborne whilst Joanne, Alan and I followed Debs's route in case others were waiting on the road. Eventually we caught up with all of the others near and in Crawley. Now it was a quick ride to the newly found Little Kitchen, at the golf driving range beside the A34 near Three Maids Hill. 

I managed to be first in the queue and Simon and i were soon tucking into delicious chocolate cake whilst the others waited to be served. As usual this was a good time to exchange news and views and gossip. Eventually we got back on our bikes and split up to find our various ways home.

Simon led Mark and I back to Alresford by the scenic route via Easton, Avington and Ovington.

A great way to get back into my favourite pastime of cycling, here is my Map and Data for the day.

Gridironman.