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Exactly why the Windmillers were doing the hokey cokey outside Andrew’s front door escapes me; maybe we were showing we had the legs for the 44 miles on hot roads that lay ahead.

We had gathered at Andrew’s house in Wendens Ambo: Ken having pedalled from Ickleton and Brian from Shelford, plus Maurice, Rod, Sandra, Vernon and, of course, Andrew himself.

Maurice had planned a route – via Steeple Bumpstead, Long Melford and Lavenham – to Stowmarket. We set off heading for Saffron Walden and were soon on our way into deepest Suffolk. Stopping in Clare for refreshment we discovered a new – and very good – café in the disused railway station. They do homemade cakes and very good coffee in the delightfully restored Victorian building; it’s a little gem of a place and definitely worth supporting. We shall return.

Refreshed and back on the bikes once more we headed for our next stop, lunch at Lavenham where, an hour or so later we pulled into the garden of The Swan, hot, hungry and thirsty. Most of us devoured platefuls of sandwiches and swilled pints of Adnams, while Maurice – with his more refined palate – sampled the panéed cod cheeks, which looked like a few fishy morsels served with a teaspoon of rice. Lean pickings indeed, though Ken thoughtfully shared a sandwich with him.

Then it was back in the saddle for the final leg to Stowmarket and the train home. As ever, our bikes proved a challenge for the guard who made us re-distribute ourselves and our machines in a way more to his liking. We finally settled down for the ride to Cambridge where, tumbling out on to the platform in the middle of rush hour, we felt glad our commuting days were behind us.

Thanks, Maurice, for planning things – and Andrew for organising things. We are looking forward to the next one!

Brian

It’s polling day every Thursday, or so it seemed as six Windmillers set out from Widdington to exercise their democratic rights yet again. We were off to hold up the traffic in the safe seats of Saffron Walden and Hertfordshire North East.

Keith, Ric, Maurice, Vernon, Chris and Brian clocked up 28 miles – without a coffee stop -and returned to the Fleur de Lys early for a slap up lunch and a well deserved pint.

 

Thanks, Maurice, for planning and organising another great outing.

Brian

PS: What’s the difference between Nick Clegg and a bicycle? A bicycle has a seat.

It was such a lovely day, we hadn’t thought to bring our galoshes. Maurice was leading us on a circuit from Widdington to Puckeridge and back – but he had kept quiet about the river beds and farmers’ fields that lay ahead. We must have crossed at least five fords, maybe six, we lost count.

To be fair, some of the off road sections were more John’s doing – in particular, a very bumpy one which Martin dubbed prostate path – but we followed resolutely and the occasional stretch of tarmac came as blessed relief.

It was another good turnout – twelve riders in all – a Dirty Dozen of Windmillers, namely: Chris, Martin, Maurice, Ken, Sandra, Lawrence, Vernon, Keith, John B, Brian, Andrew and special guest Garry – a pal of Andrew’s who’d come all the way from North Queensferry, Fife.

When it came to fording rivers, each rider had his or her own particular technique, though Andrew’s was particularly notable. Then there was Garry on his electric bike making the rest of us fearful of electrocution.

We pulled into our favourite tea room in Puckeridge, partly to dry out, but mostly for the excellent coffee and cake.

Restored, we set off on the return leg, but alas, just outside Braughing, we heard what sounded like a pistol shot followed by a very rude word from Lawrence; his rear tyre had blown out.

While those ahead carried on to Widdington – they could smell lunch and didn’t even look back – the rest of us did the decent thing and stayed with Lawrence. Maurice got to work and did the best he could with a tyre seemingly composed of perished rubber with a horsehair underlay. Lawrence had had them since he was a boy and they’d never let him down before.

On the road once more, we did our best to catch up with the others and made short work of the final stretch uphill to Widdington and the very welcome sight of the Fleur de Lys.

Birthday Boy Ken bought the beer; good man!

Thanks to Maurice for planning and leading us on another delightful and truly varied route. We are looking forward to the next one, honestly.

Brian

The prospect of a gloriously sunny day had tempted Sandra, Ric, Tom and Brian to leave their cars at home and cycle out to Great Chishill where they met up with gas guzzlers Andrew, Chris, Keith and Vernon for the Windmillers regular Thursday outing.

Maurice was away in Scotland, so Andrew was in charge and had planned a route – taking in Therwell, Odsey, Steeple Morden and Wendy – to Wimpole Hall.

The air was thick with the smell of sun lotion as we applied generous dollops of the stuff to our exposed parts before heading off, bikes and bodies well oiled.

Along the way, Chris reminded us there was to be a minute’s silence across the country at 11am in support of the people of Manchester. When the time came, we duly stopped on a quiet lane to pay our respects and reflect on the freedoms we all take for granted.

Crossing the Wimpole estate, we found the footpath blocked by a herd of rare breed cattle. Magnificent creatures they were but – with horns as big as our front forks – a pretty intimidating sight. Not wanting to spook them, we hung back while Tom – brave chap – threaded his way through. The rest of us followed timidly through the horns and cowpats. Phew!

Arriving at Wimpole tea room, we enjoyed coffee and cake in the garden before, having applied yet more protective oils and lotions, we set off on the return leg, heading back via Shepreth and Fowlmere before tackling the long, hot hill climb back up to Great Chishill.

We returned to The Pheasant for a very welcome beer and an excellent lunch under a shady tree in the garden. Alas, the Green Team were still several miles from home on a baking hot afternoon; so we decided on another restorative ale before setting off.

Thanks, Andrew, for planning the route and leading the way.

Brian

Rumour had it today was John B’s birthday. So there was a quite natural, if unspoken, assumption that he would be buying the beer, possibly in prodigious quantities. It was on this basis that a goodly number of Windmillers gathered at the Fox & Hounds in Steeple Bumpstead on Thursday morning, anticipating a jolly outing and an even jollier lunch.

Alas, there was no John B to be seen; cue glum faces all around. Crestfallen but determined to make the best of things, we set off across the Suffolk countryside for a 32 mile ride taking in Glemsford, Cavendish and Clare.

Our party comprised Andrew (last week’s birthday boy and very generous with the beers, thank you), Ken, Chris, Keith, Maurice, Martin, Tom, Rick and Brian. Notable was Chris, astride a brand new bicycle; a sleek and gleaming machine in a natty shade of red. So you can imagine his dismay when Maurice led us down some particularly muddy lanes, yesterday’s downpours having washed topsoil off the surrounding fields. Never mind, Chris; it washes off.

We stopped for coffee and cake at The George in Cavendish before setting off on the return leg to Steeple Bumpstead where we were joined by Vernon for lunch.

All in all, another lovely outing and an excellent route; thank you, Maurice.

We look forward to helping John B celebrate his birthday next time.

Another team of 11 Windmillers  gathered at The Golden Fleece in Braughing at 9.15am, earlier than usual in order to place their orders for lunch with landlord Pete (who sometimes rides with us).  Having got our priorities right we then proceeded in an anti-clockwise direction towards Hertford to shed a few calories before piling them back on again a few hours later when celebrating birthday boy Andrew’s big day.

The formidable team comprised centre forward / captain Maurice, wingers Tom and Brian, forwards Keith and Rick, mid-fielders Ken, John B and Lawrence, backs Sandra and Martin, and goalie Andrew. Donning their kit they were soon clocking up the miles on a picturesque ride that Maurice had created through quiet lanes, yet close to large areas of population at times. But, as a Hertfordshire lad, this was familiar territory for Maurice who knew all the back doubles including bridleways, river paths and car parks. Here is the route taken:

After traversing quiet lanes to Hertford the team then cycled down the towpath alongside the River Lea as far as Ware to fill up with excellent coffee and cakes.

 

 

Suitably fortified, we then continued down the Lea to Stanstead Abbotts stopping to admire Amwell Nature Reserve, a former gravel quarry and now one of the RSPB’s foremost sites for watching a mix of inland and marine birds – well worth a longer visit. Amongst the sightings that day was a cuckoo, cormorants and bar-tailed godwits.

Then it was time to turn northwards back to Braughing via Widford and its attractive church

and then crossing the River Rib at Maurice’s old stamping ground, Barwick Ford, where his grandfather once filled up his traction engine trailer with water.

After 32 miles we were back at The Golden Fleece where we received a warm welcome and tucked into an excellent lunch, washed down with a large round of birthday drinks supplied courtesy of the birthday boy himself. Thanks Andrew!!

Thanks also to Maurice for organising the ride and to Deputy Dawg Andrew for getting us to the starting line on time.

Revd Holy Moley Martin

 

Monday evening and, despite the chill, it was another good turnout for the Windmillers. Our team roster was: Maurice, Martin, Ken, Anne, Andrew R, Andrew G, Steve, Chris, Keith, Sandra and Brian; enough for a football team.

Keen to get us warmed up, Maurice led us out of the Pheasant car park at a fair old clip; we were off on a 20 mile jaunt taking in Elmdon, Littlebury Green, Arkesden and Langley Lower Green. And indeed it was at Langley, while passing The Bull, some innocent was heard to say, “Never been in there; what’s it like?” That was it; quick as a flash and in unison we had dismounted, abandoned the bikes and trooped inside to order pints all round. Even better, Martin declared this was to be his round; a belated birthday celebration. Good man!

Then it was back on the bikes for the short return ride to The Pheasant. We like to keep well refreshed!

Thanks Maurice for leading the way.

Brian

It was unseasonally chilly for May, and yet another polling day – they’re coming thick and fast now – that saw the Windmillers gathering in the Fleur de Lys car park in Widdington. There were ten of us – Maurice, John T, John B, Sandra, Martin, Chris, Rod, Keith, Andrew and Brian – saddled up and ready to head out on a 34 mile circuit of north Essex.

Maurice led the way from Widdington through Wimbish, Ashdon, Helions Bumpstead and Little Sampford, to Thaxted where we answered the perennial question; how many bikes can you chain securely to a lamp-post? After several attempts we came up with the answer; four!

We stopped for refreshment at Parrishes – a quirkily timbered tea room, cum bar, cum restaurant right in the middle of Thaxted. But despite the limited bike parking facilities, Parrishes got the Windmiller Seal of Approval; the coffee and cakes were excellent.

Then it was back on the bikes for the return leg via Debden, with Chris setting the pace on the bike he’d borrowed from Tom. We really must check that machine for a hidden electric drive.

As ever, Fleur de Lys landlord Chris served us an excellent two course lunch at our favourite fireside table. A few pints of Wherry later and the conversation was flowing freely; everything from how to fish an errant cyclist out of a river (ask Martin), through to how to remove port and brandy stains from a carpet (ask Andrew).

Thanks, Maurice, for organising another great outing.

Brian

 

Beatrix Potter would have been proud of Sandra’s ducklings as they gathered at The Fox and Duck in Therfield on a blustery late spring day, in the absence of any risk from the wily foxes, Maurice, Andrew and Keith, who were seeking other game whilst drinking red wine with their pasties and clotted cream scones in distant Cornwall. Not only had Sandra arranged a ride in the shape of Mrs Puddle-Duck herself but she also arranged for real life ducklings to appear at just the right time as we cycled through Sandon.

And so it was that 8 Windmillers set off on a ride ranging from 24 – 28 miles, depending on who got lost. This was no ride of well behaved ducklings.

Mrs Puddle-Duck was followed initially by her little offspring including Johns B, T and M, Rod, Vernon, Chris and Martin. The lanes were unfamiliar to some and so it was easy for Vernon, powering ahead of the raft into a head wind, not to hear the U-turn squawk from Chris at a remote junction near Cromer. John M went searching for him, others went on ahead and some just waited patiently which proved to be the best tactic as the lost little duckling appeared having clocked up a few extra miles. Those who went on ahead were naughty and failed to wait at John B’s suggested junction and so found their way to Baldock a shorter way than planned, and then chose a different coffee shop too. When Mrs Puddle-Duck found out she threatened to scold them soundly but, as she’s such a nice Mummy duck, she let them off with a warning.

Rod, Chris and JohnT, the naughty little ducklings, eventually arrived and we all set off back to Therfield via John B’s favourite off-road route via a stony track either side of a bridge over the A505, resulting in wheel spin and pushing of bikes for some plus attempts at riding through shoulder height crush stiles without stopping. Only Rod managed to do this easily and was duly awarded the stylish stile prize:

This proved to be a ride along the back of Mrs Puddle-Duck, past George Orwell’s cottage in Wallington, until we reached Sandon and witnessed some real life ducklings swimming with Mum on the village pond, probably not more than a few days old:

Then it was back to a nice welcome and an excellent lunch at The Fox and Duck for most except Rod who peeled off in the direction of home in Royston and John M who did likewise. It was good to be joined by Brian who was well on the mend and hoping to be out again next week.

Thanks to Mrs Puddle-Duck for organising a great ride but she is just too nice. Naughty ducklings take note!

Martin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With our intrepid leader Maurice and Deputy Dawg (Andrew) away in the west country with Two Scones (Keith), hopefully finding some fantastic Devon/Cornish Cream Teas to fuel their cycling exploits. I was tasked with organising this weeks ride and in true Storm Sandra fashion, Mother Nature took over and the weather changed for the worse to the potential of showers throughout the day, easing in the evening or so they said!!!

Determined even with no takers to get out and ride, I loaded up and headed for the Pheasant just in case anyone else had turned out. Surprised to find Husky Andrew was waiting, great I’m not Noddy No Mates after all!! Not expecting any others and the rain starting to fall, we donned the wet weather gear and set off in the direction for Elmdon, Andrew initially leading the Pack (not sure if Two creates a Pack), he’s used to being in charge of more when out with his dogs and they are probably better behaved than me too! Taking in Ickleton, Strethall, Littelbury Green, Arkesden, Duddenhoe End, Chrishall, it rained on and off pretty much all the way around but we were almost dry by the time we arrived back at The Pheasant, thankful for a warming fire and some well-earned refreshments, great beer and the fantastic Goujons and chips provided by Ollie and Simon, thank you so much.

20 miles clockwise.

Thanks Andrew for being brave enough to join me, Sandra.

A large gang of 12 Windmillers gathered at The Pheasant at 9.30am for a 6th Anniversary ride which was meant to be around 30 miles in total. But thanks to the offer of coffee and beer at our leader Maurice’s house, an advance posse of riders cut the corner at Meesden and missed out about 5 villages and headed straight for Barkway. Maurice and the others followed, offering map reading classes to the first group. This is the route that should have been taken:The effect of the short cut was a delightful lengthy coffee stop at Maurice’s and a tour of his workshops and vehicles which never cease to amaze the non-mechanically minded Windmillers amongst us. It was good to see Linda looking so well and we are very grateful to her and Maurice for their kind hospitality. Maurice also showed us his archive file of almost every ride since the club was formed, who the riders were and the cash collected, not to mention his evil guillotine used for chopping our analogue maps into shape.

With an anniversary to celebrate, it was important to have suitable photographic evidence. This is the group outside Maurice’s house:

A stop was then made at THE windmill at Great Chishill on the return journey uphill to record the largest number of members ever recorded in front of our club symbol:

So, after just 24 miles, back at the Pheasant we were warmly welcomed by Ollie and joined by Vernon, Lynn B and Bridget whilst Simon slaved away in the kitchen preparing yet another splendid lunch. This was to be our last lunch at the Pheasant to be attended by so many Windmillers before Ollie and Simon hang up their aprons in early May, as Maurice, Andrew and Keith were planning a Cornish trip the following week. It was therefore an opportunity to thank them for their wonderful hospitality, food and drink since the club was founded 6 years ago. We all wish them a very happy retirement and hope to see Simon in his lycra on our future rides. Maurice has since presented them with a cheque for £250 from the club for their chosen charity The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

A huge thank you also to Maurice for founding the club in the first place and organising the majority of the rides, and to Deputy Dawg Andrew for his assistance in getting us to the various starting lines on time and also planning rides. In the absence of both of them next week, Sandra is in charge but might have an interesting time keeping us warm and dry given the weather forecast.

Martin

 

 

We started the Windmill Cycling Club on April 21 2011, it was a 25 mile ride round and back to the Pheasant.  I think those participating were Ken Worthing, John Tarrington, Simon and myself.

Some of the charities we have supported are Macmillan Cancer Support,  East Anglian Children’s Hospice, Cystic Fibrosis, Khandel light, MSUK and Cancer Research UK.   The total money raised has been £5481.

I’d like to thank the whole club for all their efforts and the new blogs that have built the club up to where it is today.  Big thanks to Andrew and Martin, Brian, Sandra (the three bloggers) and also to Simon and Ollie at the Pheasant.

I hope we have many more years of cycling friendship.

Best wishes
Maurice

In the initial absence of Maurice, who had an appointment with his dentist, eight Windmillers set forth from the Fleur de Lys in Widdington at 9.30am on a slightly chilly morning for a tour of Essex lanes, including what was soon to become known as the Dunmow walnut. Under the guidance of Andrew, ably assisted by John B who brought an Ordnance Survey map with him, the others comprised Keith, Vernon, Ken, Lawrence, Alan and Martin. Here is the route taken:

Zooming down to Elsenham we soon came to a halt down a dead end but retraced our steps and carried on zig zagging our way around Stansted Airport before trying out new lanes taking in  Molehill Green, Brick End and Little Easton before embarking on a scenic circuit of Dunmow to create the now famous walnut as shown on the above painful looking map, but better than a grapefruit any day. Then we experienced Dunmow at its most draughty as most of us sat outside Flitch Coffee and shivered whilst John B sensibly sat inside the pub next door.

Having completed the walnut by continuing down the High Street, we left John still warming up and started our return journey back the way we came via Little Easton and then Tilty, under the Stansted flightpath and through Broxted to Henham, except that by the time we got there we had lost Lawrence and Vernon. A few phone calls established that they wanted to see Elsenham again but eventually we all met up and proceeded on a detour via Little Henham to clock up another mile or so (and another walnut). But we could only manage 29.5 miles in total and so the landlord of the Fleur de Lys was surprised to see us arrive back before 12.30pm. However we soon settled down at our round table whilst the fire was lit and were joined firstly by Glenis Ryan, then John B and finally Maurice who had cycled from his home to be with us. Having been to the dentist, we expected him to have a wonky smile but he looked his usual smiling and happy self:

We were soon tucking into an excellent lunch washed down with excellent ales, and tea.

Thanks, Andrew, for reminding us of the importance of walnuts.

Martin

Another lovely Spring evening saw six cowboys and a solitary cowgirl congregate at The Pheasant at 5.30pm.  We split into two groups – Maurice, Andrew, Keith and Martin (cowboys in every sense of the word) in the first and John B, JohnT and Bridget T in the second (the respectable cowhands). The first group clocked up 22 miles and the second group 16 miles, with all arriving back at the Pheasant to devour succulent cod goujons and chips (well, all except Andrew who is on a diet) where we were also joined by Lynn B.

This is the route taken by Maurice, Andrew, Keith and Martin:

The U turn after Rickling was caused partly by Keith and Martin not stopping for Maurice and Andrew at Rickling Church, who had different ideas for the way home. So having eventually met up we U-turned and proceeded back via Clavering, Upper Langley, Duddenhoe End, Chrishall and Heydon. The setting sun was spectacular and eventually a stop was made on the descent from Duddenhoe End for the statutory blog pics:

Thanks once again to Maurice and Andrew for organising the ride.

Martin

With Maurice away, Andrew was to be our Routemeister for the day, starting us off from his place in Wendens Ambo. At least that was the plan, until Martin and John B phoned to say they’d join us down the road at The Fighting Cocks. It’s a bit like herding cats.

It was a fine, if chilly, Spring morning and bare knees were in the majority; 5 pairs exposed versus 4 pairs still under wraps, evidently abiding by the old ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out‘ rule.

Notable was Chris on a fancy new bike; although on closer inspection, we realised it was, in fact, Tom’s bike, Tom being on holiday and having generously lent his machine to Chris.

Then we were off, picking up Martin and John along the way, and heading out through Saffron Walden, Hadstock, Bartlow and the Camps – before stopping for a breather at Helions Bumpstead. Usually, when we say “stopping for a breather” we mean “Where’s Chris?” But Chris was there in our midst looking cool and unhurried, Tom’s bike having propelled him to the front of the peloton. We were impressed.

So it was that we spent the rest of the outing trying to keep up with Chris, chasing after him to Finchingfield for coffee, and then on to Thaxted and Debden, returing at last to the The Fighting Cocks for a slap up lunch and a couple of well earned beers.

Thanks, Andrew, for planning everything and guiding us around a lovely 37 mile route.

Brian

Taking advantage of the light evenings now upon us, four Windmillers – Maurice, Andrew, Sandra and Martin – set off from The Pheasant on yet another thirst creating cruise around the lanes, with cod goujons and chips also to look forward to at the end. The evening was fine and warm, almost knobbly knee weather all round. It was a nice surprise to have Maurice join us as he was expected to be boating in Cornwall instead. Here is the route we took:

Don’t believe the figures above – it was not dead flat the whole way!

En route we waved hello to John T and Andrew G in Nuthamsted but caught sight of neither, otherwise The Woodman might have beckoned. So on we cruised, stopping for a rest about half way in Brent Pelham where there is a very fine tree trunk carved to commemorate our Monarch’s Diamond Jubilee in the form of love seats which our Windmillers had to test out of course:

The return route via familiar roads to Langley Upper Green, Duddenhoe End, Chrishall, the sunset boulevard to Heydon and back to The Pheasant completed a very pleasant evening ride – may there be many more to come over the next 6 months. Thanks to Andrew for organising it.

Moley Martin

Daffodils, birdsong and Windmillers’ knees; it must be spring!

There were nine of us – Ken, Keith, Ric, John, Chris, Andrew, Maurice, Sandra and Brian – setting out from Steeple Bumpstead for a trip into Gainsborough Country. The early morning chill meant there were only four brave souls showing a leg but we took it as a sign of better times ahead.

Pausing for a photo at Toppesfield, we carried on to Castle Hedingham, where we stopped for coffee and cake at the excellent Buckley’s Tea Rooms. Back in the saddle, we passed through Maplestead, Pebmarsh and Lamarsh, arriving at the River Stour where we stopped for a quick one at the Henny Swan.

 

Then it was back in the saddle for the return leg, via Bulmer and the Yeldhams, to the Fox & Hounds, Steeple Bumpstead, where we lunched in the garden in glorious sunshine. Spring had sprung!

37 miles in all. Thanks, Maurice, for another wonderful outing.

Brian

A fine spring day, but quite nippy to start with, saw ten Windmillers assemble at Newmarket Station to catch the 10.05 to Stowmarket, or so they thought. With such a large gathering, would the driver allow ten bikes on the train? So five members went to one end of the platform with their bikes, hoping the driver would not see them, whilst the others went to the other end and showed themselves. Would it be a one coach train and might we get turfed off anyway for not having tickets, the machine on the platform being out of order? Might we have to abandon the ride as planned? The stress levels built ever higher but there was much relief when an almost empty two coach train pulled in on time, the driver smiled and we all piled on board. It also had a conductor, Southern Region-style, and he was happy to dispense tickets to Maurice at a special group price, except that Brian had bought his online the day before at the same price and proudly showed his e-ticket to the conductor.

The journey through the Suffolk countryside was uneventful until we reached Elmswell, the last stop before Stowmarket, when the driver announced that the train was going no further due to a points failure further up the line. Smugly, the Windmillers said farewell to the other passengers, the driver and conductor, alighted the train with their bikes and set off on a revised route that Maurice had quickly devised to meet up with the planned route at Rattlesden.

As well as our leader Maurice and blogger Brian, the others were Andrew, Vernon, Ken, Keith, Sandra, Tom, Lawrence and Moley Martin. Once we had discovered which exit to take at the nearby A14 roundabout junction, we were soon in Rattlesden and then headed due West through delightful lanes and villages, passing imposing Suffolk churches and timbered buildings too numerous to photograph.

After crossing the busy A134 at Sicklesmere, Maurice went one way to the coffee stop in Hawkstead whilst the others went a different way, witnessing a near pile up en route when a large lorry tried to overtake us, forcing oncoming traffic to mount the kerb. Thankfully we all survived.

Maglia Rosso is an amazing bike shop /  cafe, seemingly in a very remote spot but only 2-3 miles outside Bury St Edmunds. A former pub, it has been transformed into a state of the art bike depot, serves very good coffee and retains a beer licence – what more could a cyclist wish for?

Time was getting on and with thoughts of missing lunch at The Packhorse in Moulton we sped on westwards assisted by a strong tailwind passing through yet more attractive villages such as Chevington and Dalham. Tom, however, had a puncture just outside Moulton but pre-ordered his favourite buffalo wings and proceeded to break the club record for mending a rear wheel puncture in a claimed 5 minutes, witnessed by Brian.

We skidded into The Packhorse car park just before 2.00pm, thirsty and hungry, only to be told that last orders was not until 2.30pm. Phew! So, relaxation took hold as we enjoyed an excellent lunch and sampled some excellent beers around a large table:

A short hill out of Moulton to the top of the gallops at Newmarket and a fast downhill cruise into the town centre ended an eventful but extremely enjoyable day out in Suffolk.

Thanks again to Maurice for planning and adjusting the ride as dictated by Abellio Greater Anglia, and to Andrew for getting us to the start line on time.

Moley Martin

With the weather looking set for rain all day, some of us resigned ourselves to NO cycling this day and headed for drier places, for me this would be the office and dreaded paperwork!

Well this was not the case, as early afternoon came and an email dropped in my inbox – potential of the weather improving at 16.00, let’s meet at The Pheasant, Gt Chishill at 16.00 and see what happens. Could this be true, as the rain teemed down outside (even Storm Sandra couldn’t produce this kind of weather)!! OK, I’ll pop along to see if anyone else turns up. Much to my astonishment, 15.45 got in the van and headed to Gt Chishill, it was as if someone had flicked a switch and turned the wind and rain off just at that point, the sky cleared to make way for the sun and almost clear blue skies. Someone must have contact with higher powers!!

Maurice, Andrew, Chris and Sandra prepared for the off, (others were due to join in but didn’t see the weather relenting, you don’t know what you missed!!!). Where shall we go then? Maybe because it was such short notice that the ride was on, nothing was planned! There was an element of make it up as we go along and could we trust the weather to hold. So we headed towards Barkway and on to Anstey (so far so good), Brent Pelham, Sheepcote Green, Arkesden, Duddenhoe End, Chrishall, Heydon and back to a warm welcome and toasty fire at The Pheasant, the clear skies given way for the chilly evening to come.

Thanks Maurice and Andrew for organising another great ride, glad we made the effort!!

22 miles anti clockwise.

A large gathering of 10 Windmillers assembled at the Fleur de Lys in Widdington on a fine Spring morning to tour the lanes of Essex. Those present were our leader Maurice, whose back was a lot better than it has been of late, Andrew (Dawg), John T (fully recovered from his wrist injury), Vernon and his grandson Fergus, Keith, Ken, Sandra, Rod and Moley Martin. Here is the route taken, clockwise via Sewards End, Ashdon, Hempstead, Thaxted and Henham:

There was a fair breeze but as usual Maurice had allowed for this resulting in a fast downwind start to the ride and a good choice of hedgerow bordered lanes to minimize the headwind on the way back. Substantial portions of cake, for some, during coffee in Thaxted no doubt also helped on the return leg.

Spring flowers were in evidence everywhere with a particularly attractive churchyard in Hempstead full of daffodils, and yellow and pink primroses:

There was rather a long wait for Maurice in Thaxted whilst he stopped to take phone calls (not wishing to get 6 points) which provided an opportunity to assemble in front of the magnificent Guildhall in Thaxted, built by the Guild of Cutlers in the 1390s:

Then our leader arrived which ensured that the Pillars of Society were all present:

Was it the cake, the need for a pee or the thought of lunch and a pint at the Fleur de Lys but a veritable race took place on the return leg, including a charge up the final hill to Widdington won by Keith, hotly pursued by Ken. The Pillars of Society then transformed into Knights and Knightesses of the Round Table as they squeezed around the table for lunch, where it was lovely to be joined by Glenys Ryan:

Finally, although this was a fine warm day, only one Windmiller had the courage to display his knobbly knees throughout the ride:

Thanks, Maurice and Andrew for organising a very enjoyable ride.

Moley Martin