Author: Brian Connellan

Happy Birthday, Alan

A fine Thursday morning saw Maurice lead a gang of fourteen Windmillers out of Braughing, heading for the Silver Leys Polo Club, some 17 miles distant. Nigh on two years since our last visit to the club, we were warmly welcomed despite past misdemeanours, notably Charles’ odd sock shocker and Simon spooking the horses.

Glad to say, this time around Charles was impeccably attired, Simon restrained his animal spirits and we had a jolly time enjoying good coffee and some particularly delicious cake.

Simon, our semi-aquatic Windmiller

We took the return leg, some 13 miles via Much Hadham, Barwick and Puckeridge, at a fair old clip, arriving back at The Golden Fleece in good time for lunch. And Alan, this week’s birthday boy, generously bought us all a beer. Many happy returns, Alan!

For the record, the peloton comprised Maurice, Keith, Howard, Graham, Victor, Iain, Simon, Hazel, MartinB, Alan, Roger, Jeremy, Ric and Brian.

Thanks go to Maurice for organising the ride and arranging the polo club visit.

Brian

Tags Braughing, Golden Fleece, Silver Leys Polo Club, Windmill cycling club

Essex Fuller Street

The Only Way is Essex

Windmillers are very familiar with the north west corner of Essex. Some, indeed, call it home, and hardly a month goes by without the peloton visiting Saffron Walden, Thaxted or Finchingfield. So it’s always good to get out and explore the further reaches of the county, in particular, its many inlets and estuaries, courtesy of Martin, who swears he’s from Sussex but who seems to have native knowledge of these parts.

Most years Martin organises a bike ‘n boat trip to Brightlingsea, but it’s been nigh on three years since he took us to Heybridge Basin, a visit of mixed fortunes with Mike, poor chap, ending up in hospital, and Maurice, lucky man, trousering a £20 note he found lying in the road.

So, looking forward to a long overdue and, hopefully hospital-free, return visit, eleven Windmillers gathered at The Square and Compasses in the tiny hamlet of Fuller Street ready for Martin to lead us coastwards. The route took us along quiet roads hedged with early summer flowers and, it seemed in no time, we were pulling in at Heybridge Basin where we sat on the terrace of the Lock Tearoom overlooking the Blackwater Estuary. What a delightful spot.

The return leg commenced with a two mile ride along the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Canal to Maldon and along its bustling High Street.

Not far from our destination we paused to admire the beautiful village of Terling, once famous for its International Trifle Festival, though that, alas, seems to have lapsed in recent years.

Saints and sinners at All Saints, Terling

Back at the pub we cooled off with some excellent beer and enjoyed a very convivial lunch.

For the record the peloton comprised: Andrew, Brian, Graham, Iain, Jeremy, MartinB, MartinW, Paul, Rach, Rod and Simon – and our thanks go to Martin for organising such a splendid trip.

Brian

Tags Windmill cycling club

Café 19 Duxford Old Butchers

Café Society

It isn’t often that we lunch in a café rather than a pub. Indeed, it is almost a year to the day since our outing to Ely when we last ordered lunch from a barista rather than a barman.

So quite understandably, there was some consternation in the peloton when Jeremy announced we would be lunching at Duxford’s Café 19. Would they tolerate our alehouse manners? Might Simon’s eccentric tearoom etiquette raise eyebrows? And, let’s not beat around the bush here, did they serve beer?

We needn’t have worried, not only did Café 19 serve up an excellent lunch, but they made us feel most welcome and we were warmly invited to return. What’s more, there was a decent selection of bottled beers on offer – and Simon was on his best behaviour.

Thanks to Jeremy we had enjoyed an excellent outing, riding once more through the Abington Land Settlements, climbing the stiff hill up to Balsham – where we stopped for coffee at The Old Butchers – before heading back down the hill towards Sawston and returning to Duxford.

Jeremy lost us only once – which puts him on a par with Maurice – but otherwise managed to get us all back safely and on time. Top chap!

Completing the 30 mile circuit were: Andrew, Brian, Chris, Deborah, Geoff, Graham, Jenni, Jeremy, Ken, Ric, Rod, Roger, Simon and Victor.

Graham, Victor and Roger cresting the hill at Linton

. . . closely followed by Ken and Andrew, feeling the burn

Jeremy’s wiggly route, some 30 miles in all, taking in Duxford, Whittlesford, Sawston, Pampisford, Linton, Balsham, Great Abington, Babraham, Sawston and Shelford

Brian

Tags Windmill cycling club

The Chestnut Tree West Wratting West Wratting

Wet in West Wratting

Nine Windmillers – Simon, Roger, Rod, Maurice, Graham, Geoff, Charles, Brian and new recruit, Abi – set off from West Wratting on a 31 mile outing, stopping for coffee at Café 33 just outside HMP Highpoint.

Maurice, Geoff and Simon on parole . . .

. . . while Abi, Graham and Roger do time inside

Along the way we had a soaking – three soakings to be precise – so it was good to be back in The Chestnut Tree where we dried out over a well-earned beer.

Thanks go to Maurice for planning the route – one of my personal favourites. Also to Charles for his excellent photographs.

Brian

Tags The Chestnut Tree, West Wratting, Windmill cycling club

Café Como Hartest Suffolk The Crown Hartest

Stoned in Hartest

It seems every other alehouse we frequent is at the top of a bloody great hill, so The Crown at Hartest gets my vote for best pub, if only because it’s at the bottom of a steep hill; which is blissful indeed at the end of a 30 mile ride. The hospitality is pretty good too.

Deep in the Suffolk countryside, the villagers of Hartest claim there is no other town in the world of the same name. Their other claim to fame is the Hartest Stone a large boulder on the edge of the green, thought to have been placed on that spot in the early 18th century. Locals say the boulder turns over at the stroke of midnight and that sitting on it as the clock strikes twelve may bring you a wife or good fortune. I know which I’d prefer.

Jeremy, Andrew and Deb demonstrate some one-handed cycling

So it was that eleven Windmillers set out from The Crown in pursuit of Maurice who led us around some of the prettiest parts of Suffolk, taking in Glemsford, Brent Eleigh and Lavenham.

It was at Brent Eleigh that we made a long overdue return visit to Café Como for some excellent coffee and cake. It was here that Andrew went into recruitment mode and persuaded one of the patrons – Abi – to join us on a future ride. We look forward to seeing her in the near future.

Outside Café Como, Roger looking very relaxed on his birthday, while Simon, Graham, MartinB and Alan look on

Cresting Hartest Hill, we freewheeled back down to The Crown where Roger, top chap, bought us all beer. Happy Birthday, Roger.

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deb, Graham, Jeremy, MartinB, Maurice, Roger and Simon. No punctures, nobody fell off, and we didn’t get wet. Hurrah!

Thanks Maurice; excellent route. Thanks, Andrew, for getting us all organised. And thanks, Roger, for the beer.

Brian

Tags Café Como, The Crown Hartest

Madingley Hall Three Horseshoes, Stapleford

Two down in Stapleford

Ready for the off; Windmillers brightening up a dull morning in Stapleford

We’ve had our fair share of tumbles over the years, and of varying degrees of severity ranging from the mildest (witness: The Alan & Roger Tango and The Simon Roll) to the more serious Full Hazel, which required a visit to A&E. And to my knowledge, there’s only one Windmiller who ever broke bone, our dear departed friend, John Tarrington, though I hasten to say his final departure had nothing to do with his tumble.

So it came as a relief when Chris and Brian were seen to pick themselves up having quite independently come to grief on the same patch of spilt diesel, just 50 yards short of our lunch venue, The Three Horseshoes in Stapleford. Happily, both riders, despite some bruises and torn cyclewear, responded well to treatment, ie a pint in the pub.

Tumbles aside, it was a good outing; Brian leading the way around a 30 mile circuit via Cambridge to Madingley Hall and back. This was our first visit to the 16th century Hall, though not a propitious one, as we gave up waiting for coffee and cake, pressing on instead to Coton Orchard Garden Centre for some 21st century service.

In all, thirteen Windmillers – Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Chris, Deborah, Iain, Jenni, Martin B, Ric, Rod, Sandra and Victor – completed the ride and eleven of ’em didn’t fall off. And finally, we were delighted to see Maurice joining us for lunch.

Brian

30 miles anticlockwise: Stapleford, Cambridge, Oakington, Bar Hill, Dry Drayton, Madingley, Coton, Grantchester, Trumpington Meadows, Hauxton, Shelford, Stapleford

Tags stapleford

Therfield

Late coffees and birthday beers

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date Feb 2, 2023
No Comments on Late coffees and birthday beers

Thursday morning saw another good turnout; sixteen Windmillers gathering at the Fox & Duck, Therfield, all well-wrapped against the cold – apart from Victor, who was in shorts. Crikey, Victor, it’s 3°C!

Rod’s route took us south from Therfield, with an early coffee stop just nine miles in at Ardeley – or at least that was the plan. Half of us did indeed stop there – but were bemused to see the other half sail by, seemingly oblivious to the prominent sign, ‘Farm Café & Coffee Shop’. You can only lead a horse to water,eh?

Graham, as captured by Charles’ rear facing camera

They did eventually find a café, though it was 10 miles further, on Buntingford High Street.

Buntingford High Street – and a late coffee for some

Back at the pub, we were delighted to hear it was Martin B’s birthday – and he duly bought us all a beer. Happy Birthday, Martin!

For the record, the turnout was – Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Geoff, Graham, Iain, Ken, Martin B, Maurice, Nigel, Rod, Roger, Sandra and Victor – and we clocked up 26 miles

Brian

Tags Fox and Duck, Therfield

Three Horseshoes, Stapleford Wimpole

Happy Birthday, Martin

Gathering in the car park on Thursday morning, there was an outbreak of jollity upon hearing that Martin – sadly in absentia – would be buying the beers at lunchtime. Top chap!

So it was that eleven Windmillers, led by Jeremy, set off from The Three Horseshoes in Stapleford heading for Wimpole. Along the way we pulled in at Barrington where we were joined by Alan.

The highlight of the ride was the 5 mile off-road trail around the Wimpole estate, taking in fine views of the 17th-century mansion, Gothic folly and Capability Brown landscape. The National Trust café was pretty good too and seemingly full of runners and other cyclists enjoying coffee and cake.

Back on the bikes we made short work of the return leg to the Three Horseshoes, where we promptly opened a tab in Martin’s name. Mid way through lunch we were surprised and delighted when the man himself joined us via a video call. There he was lunching with his family and raising a glass to us while we gave him a stirring rendition of Happy Birthday.

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Geoff, Graham, Hazel, Jeremy, Ric, Rod, Roger, Sandra and Victor – and we clocked up 30 miles.

Happy Birthday, old timer. Looking forward to you joining us again soon

30 miles anticlockwise: Stapleford, Shelford, Newton, Fowlmere, Shepreth, Orwell, Wimpole, Orwell, Barrington, Haslingfield, Harston, Shelford, Stapleford

Brian

Tags stapleford, Three Horseshoes, Windmill cycling club

Merry at Maurice’s

Thursday’s glorious blue skies were deceptive. With temperatures hovering around zero, we abandoned plans for a 30 miler, opting instead to meet up at Maurice’s mid-morning for a shorter ride of just 19 miles.

Feeling the cold – but ready for the off at Maurice’s

So it was that Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Chris, Jeremy, Ken, Rod, Roger, Sandra and Victor set out from Heath Farm, heading uphill to Barley and on to the Langleys.

Around the half way mark we pulled in at Poppy’s Barn and met up with Hazel, Graham and Ken for coffee and mince pies all round, except for Jeremy who had to feed his porridge addiction.

Charles’ pics may be wonky, but they capture the moment

Back on the bikes, we rode the return leg via Meesden and Nuthampstead, returning to Maurice’s for mulled wine and yet more mince pies. And it was good to catch up with Geoff and Martin there too.

Thanks to Maurice and Lyn for their very generous hospitality; after such a cold ride, the mulled wine and mince pies went down a treat.

Thanks also to Andrew, Charles and Graham for the many photographs.

Brian

Tags Maurice Warner, Poppys Barn

Henham

There’s really not much to report. 13 Windmillers cycled 31 miles – though Graham, as ever, did a lot more. Nobody fell off – and it wasn’t anybody’s birthday so, sadly, we all had to buy our own beer.

The only drama, albeit a mild one, was Roger’s puncture – but even that coincided with pulling in for a coffee break at Finchingfield, so no time was lost.

Hurry up, Roger, our coffee’s going cold

For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Iain, Ken, Rach, Roger, Sandra, Simon.

Thanks go to Andrew for getting everyone organised, and to Charles for the many photographs; there’s lots more here in the club album.

Brian

Tags The Cock at Henham, Windmill cycling club

Newmarket Pig & Abbot The Chestnut Tree West Wratting West Wratting

At last! A dry Thursday

Graham’s plan to meet everyone over coffee in The Chestnut Tree took a knock when he sustained a puncture just outside West Wratting. So instead of warming himself with a hot drink in the pub, he was seen wrestling with tyre levers out in the garden.

How many Windmillers does it take to mend a puncture?

Pesky puncture repaired, we set off towards Dullingham and Newmarket, thirteen Windmillers looking forward to Graham’s new route and enjoying our first dry ride in a month.

Victor, feeling particularly welcome in Newmarket

It was in Newmarket that Graham introduced us to a new (to us) café in the town centre, albeit one hidden away up a side street, called Victor Victoria. The coffee, cake and, according to Jeremy, the porridge too, were all top notch. We must make a return visit soon.

Before resuming our ride, we paused to look at the Memorial to Bill Tutte, 1917 – 2002. A Newmarket man, Tutte is commemorated for cracking the code used to communicate with the German navy during WW2.

Back on the bikes, we headed for Moulton and thence Cheveley, Saxon Street and Kirtling – where we encountered the surprise of the day, a pair of emus peering at us through a wire fence.

Suffolk is full of surprises; a pair of emus photographed near Kirtling

Returning to the The Chestnut Tree having clocked up 32 miles and looking forward to a well deserved beer, we were warmly received by Landlords Peter and Rachel – and delighted to be joined by Maurice, Martin and Ken for lunch.

Victor leading the way, snapped by Charles

For the record our peloton comprised: Alan, Brian, Charles, Chris, Geoff, Graham, Hazel, Jeremy, Rod, Roger, Sandra, Simon and Victor

Thanks go to Graham for organising things, devising an excellent route and finding a really good venue for future coffee stops.

Earlier in the week we were saddened to hear of the sudden death of Mick Thompson who, alongside his wife Pat, ran the Pig & Abbot, one of our favourite lunch spots. Our thoughts are with Pat at this difficult time.

On behalf of the Windmillers, Maurice will be making a donation to Cancer Research UK, Pat’s chosen charity.

Brian

Tags The Chestnut Tree, Windmill cycling club

Cambridgeshire

Wet at Wimpole

Into each life some rain must fall, so goes the song. But we’ve had more than our fair share of the stuff this past month and it’s becoming difficult to write a blog without tedious repetition of ‘stair rods’, ‘cats & dogs’, ‘drowned rats’, etc.

Yet here we were again; another wet Thursday and a tricky go / no go decision for Simon, this week’s ride leader. On the one hand he wanted to avoid getting everyone soaked and – it goes without saying – to keep us all safe. On the other hand he’d booked 18 people in for lunch at The Chequers. It was quite a dilemma.

Being a ballsy sort of guy, Simon confirmed he would be waiting patiently at the start – where he was delighted to be joined by a foolhardy foursome, namely Sandra, Graham, Jeremy and Brian.

Rather than meet in a rain-lashed pub car park, we got together a little further down the road at the excellent El Cafecito – where Graham was already enjoying a hearty breakfast – before steeling ourselves for the ride.

Of course, once we got going there developed a sort of all-in-this together camaderie – resilience in adversity and all that – and before we knew it, sixteen miles had gone and we were pulling in at National Trust Wimpole for coffee.

Refreshed (and quietly leaving behind us five sodden NT chairs), we took to the bikes once more for the return leg. It was only 11 miles but the rain was heavier and the puddles bigger. Indeed, Jeremy endured a complete soaking when a passing truck sent a tidal wave of water his way.

So it was with much relief that we tumbled back into the warm embrace of The Chequers where we were greeted with a cheer by our drier, more sensible friends. Sitting down with Andrew, Chris, Howard, Maurice, Rod and Roger, we enjoyed a well deserved lunch.

Our thanks go to Simon for instilling in us his gung-ho spirit of adventure.

The very next day, many of us were back at The Chequers raising a glass to our dear friend, Lawrence, having earlier attended his funeral at St Mary Magdelene’s Church, Ickleton. The service was memorable both for Windmiller Ken Worthing’s excellent eulogy and for the wonderful voices of the Cambridge University Musical Society Choir.

Very fittingly Maurice donated £1000 of our charity collection to the Arthur Rank Hospice where Lawrence spent his final weeks.

There’s a very good account of Lawrence’s life here in the Cambridge Independent.

Lawrence Wragg, 26th November 1943 – 29th October 2022

Brian

Tags The Chequers Fowlmere, Wimpole, Windmill cycling club

Pig & Abbot

Another wet one

It was more of a steady drizzle than the stair rods of a couple of weeks ago, though the result was much the same; eleven soggy Windmillers drying out over a pint.

Ken had planned a 30-mile outing but, given the forecast, very wisely decided to put the start back an hour, knock ten miles off the thirty and, much to Deborah’s chagrin, ditch the coffee stop too.

So it was that an all-weather team comprising Brian, Charles, Deborah, Geoff, Graham, Jeremy, Ken, Rod, Roger, SimonT and Tom, having fuelled up on Landlady Pat’s coffee and biscuits, set off from the Pig & Abbot for a soggy Thursday outing.

It was one of those we’ve started so we’re jolly well going to finish it sort of rides, heads down into the rain, only interrupted by Brian sustaining an early puncture. But that was soon fixed and we were underway once more, completing the course at quite a lick.

Back at the pub we were delighted to be joined by Andrew, SimonO and Maurice who, two weeks on from his knee op, was looking very chipper, hobbling around with the help of a stick.

Just before sitting down to lunch we received news that Martin would be going into Addenbrookes for major surgery the very next day. Good Lord, Martin! We duly raised a glass and wished him well.

As ever, Pat served up her splendid pies in all their many varieties (steak & kidney being my personal favourite, Ed) and we looked on aghast as our legendary trencherman Charles went the whole hog, following up his pie with sticky toffee pudding and custard. He is such a skinny whippet, where does he put it all?

Thanks go to Ken for organising everything and for his doggedness in getting us all to turn out in such character building weather.

Brian

PS: We are glad to hear that Martin’s op went well and we look forward to seeing him back in the peloton soon. As Rod quipped, he is now a semi-colon publisher.

21 miles clockwise from Abington Pigotts

Tags Abington Pigotts, Pig & Abbot, Windmill cycling club

Henham

Wet, wet, wet

The weather forecast was a tad deceptive. Occasional showers? Humph, it was raining stair rods! Having waited in vain for a “Let’s call the whole thing off,” message from Andrew, ten Windmillers arrived in Henham hoping for a lull in the downpour.

Andrew had, quite understandably, been loath to cancel yet another outing from The Cock Inn, having already cancelled three in the past due to bad weather.

So there we were at 9.30, sipping coffee in the pub while the rain hammered down outside. Graham, having arrived on two wheels, was looking like a drowned rat and leaving puddles wherever he stood, while our remarkably understanding landlady trailed around after him with a mop.

Alan does his bit mopping up Graham’s puddles

Mulling over our options – it was still tipping it down outside – opinion was divided. The wimps – Andrew, Brian, Jeremy, Rod, Roger and Victor – formed a majority and just wanted to go home. But there was a gung-ho gang – Alan, Deborah, Graham and Sandra – gagging for a ride come hell or high water.

So it was that the wimps headed home while the gang of four stalwart, nay foolhardy, Windmillers headed out. And by all accounts they had a jolly time. The rain did eventually stop and they clocked up a respectable 19 miles on some very flooded roads.

The all-weather gung-ho gang drying out in the Chameleon Café, Great Dunmow. Well done Deborah, Sandra, Alan and – behind the camera – Graham.

Well done you guys. Respect!

Brian

Tags The Cock at Henham, Windmill cycling club

Uncategorized

Who ya gonna call?

With her capacious van, the Windmillers equivalent of Thunderbird 2, Sandra can pick up and transport pretty much anything, anywhere. No job is too big – and we hear an HGV is available for exceptional loads.

This time it was Iain and his monster of an e-bike requiring salvage. It was only a puncture but, for want of a big spanner, we were unable to remove the rear wheel and effect a repair. More to the point, it was nearly pub-time and we were late for lunch!

So there was Sandra, already at the pub and enjoying some well earned refreshment, when she took the distress call from Brian, “Sorry, but please could you rescue Iain?”

“OK but where are you?” was her very reasonable response.

“Er, dunno. Suffolk somewhere.”

This was the first time we had cause to use what3words in anger – and it worked a treat – referencing our location (to the very square meter!) as prep.somewhere.extend and texting that to Sandra, lo and behold, some 20 minutes later there she was, scooping up Iain and his machine for safe delivery to the pub.

Ken, Iain, Deborah and Geoff enjoying the Suffolk sunshine

That aside, it was a very successful and enjoyable outing: Alan, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Geoff, Howard, Iain, Ken, Roger and Sandra completing a 28 mile circuit, the highlight of which was a meander through the gardens of Clare Priory before stopping for coffee and cake at the nearby Platform One café.

Another good find was The Bell Inn at Castle Hedingham, a lovely old coaching inn full of wonky, period fittings and a perfect lunch venue for wonky, period Windmillers.

Thanks go to Maurice for researching a delightful route, Howard and Brian for leading the two groups, and Charles, Sandra and Alan for the photographs.

Spare a thought for Maurice next Thursday as he will be in hospital having some worn out parts replaced; our thoughts will be with him.

Finally, Windmillers, we recommend you install what3words on your phone – and maybe put Sandra on speed dial.

28 miles clockwise from Castle Hedingham

Brian

Tags Bell Inn, Castle Hedingham, Windmill cycling club

Heath Café and Bar Royston

“Good God, Rod . . . ”

. . . that wasn’t arf a hilly ride” was the general consensus as we supped our pints at the end of Thursday’s ride. The day had kicked off with a stiff ascent to Therfield on top of Royston Heath – and from there on it seemed we were always either climbing or freewheeling back down.

Thirty two miles and umpteen hills later, we slaked our thirst while the pedallers amongst us mentally added ‘e-bike’ to our Christmas wishlist.

Nevertheless, we thanked Rod for devising a lovely route; traffic free and with some fine views across the Hertfordshire countryside.

Another revelation had been the Heath Café and Bar. Relatively local but little visited by the Windmillers – probably because it’s not a proper pub – we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and beer, not to mention the attentive service. Not only did they do a good breakfast but, come lunchtime, their venison ragu and Timothy Taylor’s bitter went down a treat.

It was another good turnout: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Jeremy, Keith, Ken, Nigel, Rod and Roger – with Maurice joining us for lunch. There would have been more riders but for yet another outbreak of covid and various other autumnal lurgies.

Thanks to Jeremy and Charles for the many photos, more of which can be seen here in the club album.

Brian

Tags Windmill cycling club

Cambridge

Flying high with the Windmillers

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date Sep 8, 2022
1 Comment on Flying high with the Windmillers

A sunny Thursday morning saw Jeremy leading twelve Windmillers away from the Three Horseshoes, Stapleford bound for Grantchester, Cambridge and Anglesey Abbey. Following Jeremy were Alan, Andrew, Brian, Chris, Geoff, Graham, Hazel, Howard, Ken, Ric and Simon.

The outing soon developed an aeronautic theme; firstly when we paused at the end of Cambridge Airport runway and a Cessna flew low overhead as it came in to land.

Then on the return leg from Anglesey Abbey we pulled in at Bottisham Airfield Museum to admire the P-51 Mustang parked outside. Jason Webb, Chair of the Trustees, happened to be there and sensing our interest, gave us a quick tour. He explained how the airfield was taken over by the US Air Force during WW2 and saw P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs provide escorts for the allied bombing offensive as well as ground attack missions.

Stuffed full of WW2 history and interesting artefacts, the museum is well worth a visit. It’s open every Sunday, 10.30 to 4pm, is dog-friendly and we hear the coffee and cakes are good too.

We thought this was Ric’s bike; similar vintage

Thanks go to Jeremy for planning the route and leading the the way. The off road section from Fulbourn along the Roman Road towards Cambridge was particularly pleasant and a novelty for most of us.

Later that same day, we were saddened to hear of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Windmillers would like to express their deepest condolences to the Royal Family.

Maurice recalls the time in 2005 when he and Lyn attended Windsor Castle for an Aston Martin drive-by. His DB6 was one of nearly 300 Aston Martins and Lagondas taking part in a St George’s Day parade, where they were met by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

24 April 2005: Maurice driving his DB6 past the Queen at Windsor Castle. On her right stands Prince Philip with the Chairman of the Aston Martin Owners Club

A young Elizabeth with her sister, Margaret

Brian

Tags Bottisham Airfield Museum, Three Horseshoes

Cambridge Cambridgeshire

A Space Odyssey

The club website says we’re all about exploring the quieter lanes of East Anglia – to which we can now add . . . and the solar system.

A blue planet on a very brown Midsummer Common

Curiosity about Thursday’s ride had been piqued by Brian’s invitation saying we would be . . . visiting every planet in the solar system before stopping for refreshments at a pharmacy beyond Pluto. We thought he’d just had too much sun.

Come Thursday and there was indeed lots of sun – not only the usual one overhead but another one in the middle of Midsummer Common, Cambridge; as if we weren’t hot enough already, having cycled into town from Stapleford in the middle of a heatwave.

We were at the start of the Our Place in Space trail featuring scale models of the sun and planets recreated as contemporary art sculptures strung out along the River Cam and extending some five miles to Waterbeach (aka Pluto). Confused? Have a look at the pictures and you’ll get the general idea.

As for the pharmacy beyond Pluto, that turned out to be a café in Waterbeach called, well, Pharmacie.

Some Windmillers got quite carried away with their adventures in space. Rod and Victor experienced weightlessness, albeit fleetingly, as each was seen to fly from the saddle only to crash land somewhat painfully on planet earth.

Victor experiences weightlessness in the confined space of the Carter Bridge, Cambridge

Despite the immense distances covered, we got back to the Three Horseshoes in time for lunch and a few beers – and we were delighted to find Maurice waiting for us at the bar.

And for the record the space travellers were Alan, Brian, Charles, Chris, Deborah, Graham, Ken, Martin, Rod, Roger, Sandra, Simon, Tom and Victor. Back on planet earth we clocked up 28 miles.

28 miles: Stapleford – Hauxton – Trumpington Meadow – Grantchester Meadow – Newnham – The Backs – Midsummer Common – all the planets – Waterbeach – Landbeach – Milton – Cambridge North – Chisholm Bridge – Stourbridge Common – Cambridge Station – Shelford – Stapleford

Rest assured, next Thursday’s ride will be restricted to East Anglia.

Brian

Tags Cambridge, our place in space, stapleford, waterbeach, Windmill cycling club

Braughing

Happy birthday, Ric!

Thursday morning saw the Windmillers gathering at one of their favourite watering holes, The Golden Fleece in Braughing. With some arriving on two wheels, others on four, soon there were a dozen cyclists milling around the car park, perusing menus, ordering lunches, applying suntan lotion and generally getting ready for the ride ahead.

Pausing for a breather near Much Hadham – on the bridge over the long disused Buntingford Branch Line

And then we were off – Maurice leading the first group, Martin the second – heading for Puckeridge and thence Standon where, ignoring the Road Closed signs and taking the security guards by surprise, we skirted the Standon Calling festival venue. With the music kicking off tomorrow the organisers were busy putting the finishing touches to the site ahead of an expected 15,000 visitors and a line-up including Madness and the Sugar Babes.

Jenni, Jeremy, Simon, Martin, Tom and Nigel on the bridge by Amwell Nature Reserve

The other highlight of our outing was the delightful 5 mile riverside ride along the towpath between Stanstead Abbotts and Hertford – which included our midway stop for coffee and cake at the excellent Ware Café.

Refreshed, we made short work of the return leg to Braughing, looking forward to a beer – courtesy of Ric, this week’s birthday boy – and a fine lunch at the Fleece.

For the record the turnout was: Brian, Howard, Jenni, Jeremy, Martin, Maurice, Nigel, Ric, Rod, Roger, Simon and Tom – and we clocked up just over 33 miles.

Howard, Maurice, Roger, Ric, Rod and Simon – deep in their cups

33 miles clockwise: Braughing – Barwick – Hadham Cross – Perry Green – Widford – Hunsdon – Stanstead Abbotts – Amwell – Ware – Hartham Common Park – Bengeo – Sacombe Green – Great Munden – Braughing

Thanks as ever to Maurice for planning the outing, to Martin for the many photographs, more of which you will find here in the club album, and to Ric for the beers. Happy birthday, old timer!

Brian

Tags Braughing, Golden Fleece, Windmill cycling club

Uncategorized

Henny Swan to Kersey Mill

Post author By Brian Connellan
Post date Jun 30, 2022
No Comments on Henny Swan to Kersey Mill

With so many of our pals away on holiday, Thursday’s peloton was a relatively small affair of just six Windmillers: Brian, Geoff, Howard, Ken, Maurice and Sandra.

Setting off from The Henny Swan – that’s in Henny Street, near Sudbury – it was only a few miles before we left the road to follow the old Stour Valley Line. Originally connecting the London to Cambridge and London to Colchester lines, the railway ran from Brian’s village of Shelford, South Cambs, to Marks Tey in Essex. Alas it closed in 1967, but its legacy is an excellent off road cycleway.

Leaving the trackway at Melford Country Park, we took to the roads again and headed east via Great Waldingfield to Kersey where, rather than visit the village, we carried on half a mile and pulled in at Kersey Mill for refreshment.