13 February 2025. Blame the anticyclone . 32 miles.

‘An “anticyclonic gloom” which has brought dreary grey weather to the UK is set to finally subside, with sunshine making a welcome return.’ This is what Holly Bishop of GB News said on 11th November 2024, which just goes to show that you can’t believe everything you hear on GB News.

The endless grey skies and cold weather indeed continue, resulting in some Windmill rides having to be cancelled, but we were fortunate to have a dry day on this albeit cold ride organised by Jeremy, and there was even sight of some blue sky at one stage, and so we can’t complain too much. It’s just English weather and it will improve, according to Holly Bishop.

Starting from the Duxford Community Centre, ten hardy Windmillers took part. Besides Jeremy, the others were Rod, Howard, Nigel, Ric, Alan, Andrew, Roger, Deborah and Martin W.

The mathematics of group numbers once again proved a bit of a challenge for Windmillers not knowing their 5x table resulting in Group 1 setting off with initially four in tow until a fifth caught up. Whilst waiting with Group 2 this reminded Martin of a Robert Maxwell story who once asked the senior partners of three top accounting firms bidding for his business what 3+2 came to. Two of them said 5 but the guy who won the business asked ‘What figure did you have in mind, sir?’.

Jeremy’s route took us through Whittlesford, Little Shelford, Hauxton and then towards Trumpington Meadows where some fine hedge laying was taking place before the M11 bridge. In Grantchester, there was a loud shout from Andrew at the rear of Group 2 as everyone ahead had missed the turning down a bridle lane and back over the M11 towards Barton. Then it was pretty straightforward through Comberton and Toft, passing over the Greenwich Meridian Line and soon arriving at the very warm and cosy café, The Stove, in Bourn for coffee.

The return leg took us back via Harlton past one of Ken Worthing’s famous off road Friday evening 40mpg rides (beer not petrol) taking the bridle way to Barrington with Lawrence Wragg, John Bagrie and others. This resulted on one occasion with someone falling into some blackberry bushes and yours truly doing the same through laughing so much and breaking a rib in the process.

The only event in Harlton on this ride for Group 2 was another loud shout from Andrew, this time with a detached chain. Fortuitously, this happened outside a house with this notice in the window, which got the onlookers talking whilst Andrew attended to his bike with some help from Rod:

Harston was next, followed by Newton and then back to Whittlesford where it was good to see a fine display of snowdrops, and if you fancy seeing a lot more just head for Chippenham Park near Newmarket.

Back at Café 19 in Duxford Community Centre, well ahead of schedule, a good lunch was enjoyed by those staying.

Thanks go to Jeremy for organising an excellent ride. Let’s hope this marks the end of the gloomy weather but if it continues maybe this will cheer you up: It was a dark and gloomy day and to make it worse I ate all the cheese in the house. Ain’t no sunshine when cheese gone.

Martin