Today was a welcome respite from the current freezing spell. It was still quite cold, only a few degrees above freezing, but the sun was out and the roads and paths were clear of ice. This was enough to bring out nine riders for this afternoon's ride to Waresley. However with another freezing night forecast I suggested that we had a shorter-than usual ride today to allow us to get home before it got too cold. We would ride directly to the planned tea stop, have tea, and then ride straight back.I led the group west out of Cambridge along the Coton cycleway and then up Madingley Hill to Hardwick.
Just beyond Hardwick we joined the former A428 which we followed all the way to Caxton Gibbet. A short section along the A1198 took us to Caxton.
Just after we entered Caxton we turned into St Peter's Street which is a pleasant lane around the back of a village with a ford half-way along it.
From Caxton we continued to Great Gransden where we took the lovely lane to Waresley. We arrived at the Garden Centre at 3pm. This is always a nice place to visit, with a good selection of cakes in the cafe, and the atmosphere today was enhanced by the sound of carol singers. We ordered hot drinks and cakes and had a pleasant chat for half an hour before setting off back to Cambridge.
We departed from Waresley in the daylight but the sun soon set and the temperature began to fall. Gareth went off for a more roundabout route back whilst the rest of us took the direct route back through Caxton and Bourn (where Daniel and I splashed through the ford at Caxton End) and then along the B1046. We were back in central Cambridge by 5pm, after having cycled a respectable 36 miles.
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I must have nearly caught you, then: I was back in the centre of Cambridge at about 17:05, having gone Lily Hill—Gamlingay—Longstowe. There was a fine view from the ridge of the sun setting over Bedfordshire.
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