A bridge too far

Dark mutterings were heard amongst the e-bikers as we gathered for the ride on Thursday. They were unimpressed with Brian’s route, given it would involve hauling their heavy machines up and over the A11 footbridge. Brian put their minds at rest; there would be two groups, one taking the bridge, the other taking a slightly longer diversion around it.

Setting out from the Square & Compasses, Great Shelford, Jeremy led the bridge grapplers – Alan, Andrew, Gareth, Howard and Roger – while Brian led the bridge-phobics, namely Rod, Paul and two Martins. It would be a 31 mile circuit; 32 with the diversion.

Despite the extra mile, Brian’s group proved the quicker, arriving first at Balsham’s Old Butchers for coffee. Being only 10 miles into the outing, not to mention that it was only a few degrees above freezing, we stoked up on caffeine and cake before heading on, via Streetly End, to Horseheath, Cardinal’s Green, Shudy Camps, Bartlow and Hadstock. Somewhere thereabouts, Roger pulled up with a puncture. Normally, a fairly straightforward problem to fix but, with Alan and Andrew keen to help, it took two attempts and the best part of an hour before Roger was back on the road. Windmill Club puncture repairs are best regarded as team building exercises.

The return leg, via Linton, Hildersham, Pampisford and Sawston passed uneventfully as we headed back to Shelford and the Square & Compasses. We last lunched there four years ago (as you can read here) when we celebrated Lawrence’s birthday; he is sadly missed.

Sharing a long table, we were delighted to be joined by Ken and Maurice, and even more delighted that Martin – this week’s birthday boy, was buying the beer.

Maurice showed us the list of charity donations he had made on the club’s behalf. We raised just under £5000 during 2023, monies being distributed to Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia, Addenbrookes Charitable Trust, East Anglia Children’s Hospice, Macmillan Nurses, Samaritans, Pets as Therapy, Arthur Rank Hospice, Marie Curie, Breast Cancer and Bowel Cancer. Well done all.