Category: The Chestnut Tree West Wratting

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The Chestnut Tree West Wratting The Star Lidgate West Wratting

Rude health

Being a fairly senior bunch, many’s the Windmiller toting a longish medical record. Some indeed have more than a passing acquaintance with hospital wards, having had worn out parts replaced or unwanted parts removed. It is to this elite group of scarred and stitched Windmillers that we now admit Simon.

Just weeks on from having surgeons rifling through his innards, Simon was back in the peloton looking chipper and regaling us with the gory details. Guts, lots of ’em, plus a stout constitution had seen him through a challenging time – and here he was back in the peloton as it set off from West Wratting bound for Lidgate.

So it was that Alan, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Ken, Martin B, Martin W, Maurice, Ric, Rod, Roger, Simon, Tom and Victor – some 15 Windmillers in all – rolled up 12 miles later in the bar of The Star in Lidgate. Mid-morning being a little early for ale, we tucked into coffee and some excellent cake the chef had made specially for us.

Feeling the heat, Ken . . .
. . . and Victor

Back on the bikes, Maurice’s scenic route returned us – via Moulton, Cheveley and Dullingham – to West Wratting where we slaked our, by then considerable, thirst at The Chestnut Tree. Considering it was September, it had been a hot and humid ride, touching 30°C towards the end, but there were no complaints as we supped our beer and tucked into a hearty lunch in the garden. As ever, the conversation was wide ranging; everything from re-inforced, autoclaved, aerated concrete to Martin mooting a French trip next year.

Thanks go to Maurice for planning a superb route and getting everyone organised. And Simon, welcome back!

30 miles clockwise from West Wratting

Brian

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The Chestnut Tree West Wratting The Star Lidgate West Wratting

A new grandma

Boasting an abundance of grandfathers, the club has hitherto suffered a shortfall in grandmothers. But that all changed on Thursday when Deb announced she had become the proud grandma of Fraser, the latest addition to the Goodman clan. Congratulations, Deb.

Ready for the off, proud Grannie Deb to the fore

There was good news too from Simon who is out of hospital and on the mend following his successful surgery in London. We look forward to seeing him again soon.

So it was in high spirits that the Windmillers set out from The Chestnut Tree, West Wratting, on a 30-mile jaunt to the The Star at Lidgate and back. A pub-to-pub-to-pub outing; what larks!

Maurice led the way, followed by Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deb, Graham, Howard, Iain, Jenni, Jeremy, Ken, MartinB, Victor and Rod; fifteen Windmillers in all.

Doing our bit to support the 500 year-old bridge at Moulton

We were very impressed with The Star, Maurice having arranged for the landlady to open up specially for us. Not only was the coffee good but she laid on sausage rolls and cake too. We really should plan a ride from there soon and try the place for lunch.

Andrew full of praise for the excellent cake at The Star
Too early for a pint?, ponders Jenni

Thanks go to Maurice for planning the route, Andrew for getting everyone organised and Charles for the many photographs.

30-ish miles clockwise from West Wratting

Brian

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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.

Abi and Simon . . .
. . . do a rain dance
Morning coffee at The Chestnut Tree
31 miles clockwise from West Wratting

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

Brian

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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.

Newmarket, by Bill Tutte’s memorial

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.

32 miles clockwise from West Wratting

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