Compass Courtyard

A somewhat shorter than usual blog due to the author missing the second half of this week’s ride and lunch due to lingering coughs and sneezles. The rapidly diminishing start list bore testament to the fact that I’m not the only sufferer. (that, and the potential for some heavy showers, which never materialised). What we really need are some blue skies and sunshine to top up our vitamin D levels.

As it was, eight riders took to the road as a single group from Cafe 19 in Duxford. Ken apparently misread the ‘took to the road’ memo and literally ‘took to the road’ via an involuntary dismount on the loose gravel and boards around the cafe car park on his way into the cafe, having ridden in from Ickleton. The mud will almost certainly wash off.

Jeremy’s cunning plan this week was to visit a new local cafe at the Compass Courtyard, near Wendens Lofts. With this in mind, we headed off North, in completely the opposite direction, through Whittlesford, Newton, Thriplow and Fowlmere before heading South towards the cafe.

At Chrishall, Geoff timed his home departure to perfection, joining the peleton as it wended through the village.

For those familiar with the old Bicicletta in Saffron Walden, the Compass Courtyard is run by the people who used to run that cafe with the same coffee, menu and in-situ ‘home workers’ nursing their take away coffees and occupying the tables. Luckily the weather was clement enough to make sitting outside with the view a very viable option.

At the cafe, it was apparent that the combination of mucky roads and nagging winds were taking their toll and a slight short cut was adopted, eliminating a re-ascent of the hill to Duddenhoe End and the very wet and pot holed descent from Arkesden.

At the foot of the hill affectionately known as “Bastardo”, I left the group for a flatter run home. I can only assume that the remainder of the ride passed without incident and lunch was enjoyed by the partakers.

Thanks to the ever diligent Charles for the photographic record. The starters were Jenni, Jeremy, Andrew, Charles, Ric, (muddy) Ken, Roger and Graham.