9 Feb: Afternoon ride to Foxton

John writes: Five of us left Brookside at 1:30 p.m. and headed towards Barton and Haslingfileld into a gale force wind. We had to pedal down (!) Chapel Hill into Barrington. There we decided to omit the planned circuit through Wimpole Park and Croydon and go straight from Orwell along the main road through Wimpole village. We took the slip road after the Lazy Dayz café onto Ermine Street for 200 metres before turning right onto the long straight road through Wendy and Shingay.

Here the head wind was at its strongest; we were thankful to turn left at Manor Farm. We now had an adverse cross-wind on a quiet road with flooded meadows either side. Tina had telephoned Sue to warn her that we would be late.

At Bassingbourn we now had a following wind and sped towards Shepreth. Having recrossed Ermine Street a scud of rain produced a magnificent double rain bow with the main bow being a complete arc. The new cycle track beside the A10 enabled us to enter Foxton from the South.

At Sue’s house there was a fantastic and plentiful tea which enabled us to replace the Kcals consumed on the ride. The day-riders were there well before us.

After tea those returning to Cambridge did so via Fowlmere, Newton and the Shelfords. Cycling alone through Granchester I went through flood water. At home the GPS recorded a modest 30 miles, nevertheless one of the hardest CTC rides I can recall. Many thanks to Sue and family for a magnificent spread. John Ferguson