The Windmill Cycle Club

Recent Thursday rides had taken us to Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, London and various other exotic destinations. Indeed, it had been six weeks since we last lunched at The Pheasant. So it was good to be welcomed back with a hug from Ollie and a table by the fireside.

Eight hardy Windmillers – Maurice, Andrew, Sandra, Rod, Vernon, John B, Ken and Brian – had clocked up 30 miles at a fair pace, taking in Barkway, Buntingford, Old Hall Green, Puckeridge and the Pelhams with a halfway stop for coffee and cake at the Something Lovely tea room.

The Pig and Abbot at Abington Pigotts; what a tongue twister! But that was the meeting place for our Thursday morning outing; landlady Pat kindly opening the Pig at 9am, welcoming us with coffee and taking our orders for lunch.

What’s more, it was Vernon’s birthday and rumour had it that he’d be buying the beer, which probably accounted for the good turn out, 10 Windmillers in all: the birthday boy himself plus Maurice, Andrew, John B, Chris, Rick, Sandra, Rod, Ken and Brian.

Maurice had planned – and was going to lead us around – a 30 mile circuit of the lanes north west of Royston. As usual – and just in case any of us went astray – he distributed maps with the route clearly marked. He even left a paper trail of £5 notes*.  What could possibly go wrong?

But leading the Windmillers is a bit like herding cats and, before long, our gang was scattered across the Beds / Herts border country. Most notable was Vernon, who did an unplanned visit to Gamlingay and Rod, who had to be chased down and turned around. “I may have been going the wrong way but I wasn’t lost,” he protested.

Eventually, everyone was rounded up and all 10 made it back to the Pig in time for lunch. We were particularly pleased to be joined by John T and Kell. They’d heard Vernon was buying.

*Maurice did indeed lose a fiver out of his back pocket but, miraculously, this was recovered and returned to its rightful owner by Andrew.

Brian

It was another of those knobbly knee, or not, autumn rides as eight hardy Windmillers gathered at the bridge over the River Lea in Waltham Abbey for a 37 mile ride to Tower Bridge and back. In the event only  Keith braved the slight chill but as the sun broke through he had clearly made the right decision as it warmed up considerably by the time we had wobbled along the towpath all the way to London town. The remaining participants were our leader Maurice, Vernon, Rod, Brian, Sandra, Chris and Moley Martin. This was the route taken: http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4431527.html

The first port of call was the white water centre at Waltham Abbey where thoughts of lifebelts were first had:

Then we set off into quite a strong head wind down 16 or so miles of towpaths alongside the Lea without touching a road until we reached Limehouse Basin via the Hertford Cut – a remarkable journey through some of London’s busiest north eastern suburbs. The path was narrow at times, particularly under bridges where a slight deviation could easily have resulted in the need for a lifebelt – a quick pump up of a spare tube was the only option we had to potentially save the life of a non-swimming Windmiller. The banks were lined with narrow boats and other craft almost the whole way, the occupants of which clearly had a very different lifestyle to landlubber Londoners. The river was not exactly busy but several boats were seen chugging away.

Thirsts could almost be photographed by the time we got to Limehouse Basin and so we dived into The Grapes for a quick pint before continuing our journey to Tower Bridge along cobbled streets.

Limehouse basin looking towards Canary Wharf

Maurice ducked and dived through the narrow streets and alongside the Thames, where the views got better and better as we approached Tower Bridge:

By this time it was gone 1.00pm and so thoughts again turned to gaining nourishment. After a brief stop at The Dickens Inn in St Katherine’s Dock, the consensus was to return to The Grapes where the beer was known to be good and the food proved to be both delicious, plentiful and very good value.

Fortunately, after such a large lunch, the tail wind whizzed us back to Waltham Abbey somewhat faster than the outward leg.

Thanks to Maurice for again organising this London ride. There was also talk of a future ride to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.

An autumnal Thursday morning saw eight hardy Windmillers pedalling off from The Golden Fleece at Braughing to explore the lanes between Puckeridge, Ware and Hertford. Our team roster was: Pete, Maurice, Keith, John B, Sandra, Ric, Chris and Brian. As this was to be Chris’ first ride with the gang we thought it best to keep quiet about the hills ahead.

The highlight of the trip lay between those hills, a picturesque five mile stretch along the River Lea between Stanstead Abbotts and Hertford. Mid way, we stopped for coffee in Ware, though John went AWOL; rumour has it to the Saracen’s Head.

All in all, it was a lovely ride, mostly dry, and with just one minor setback when Brian picked up a puncture thanks to a thorn in his front tyre. The hedge flailing season is upon us again.

We clocked up just over 31 miles (though Iron Man Ric did a further 36 miles to and from our starting point; phew!) before returning to the Golden Fleece for lunch. Nobody enjoyed his beer more than Chris who hadn’t wavered when faced with those challenging Hertfordshire hills. Maurice promises a flatter ride next week.

Thanks to landlord Pete for his hospitality at the Fleece and, as ever, thanks to Maurice for organising everything.

Brian

Maurice planned a neat two county ride today of 36 miles – out from Thetford to Bressingham taking the Norfolk route and back via the Suffolk route, which made for a surprising contrast. It wasn’t just the wind, which was forcefully on the nose most of the way out, but the scenery too which included long forested Roman roads on the Norfolk side and lanes / heathlands on the Suffolk side.

So a large puff of nine Windmillers set off from Sainsbury’s in Thetford at 9.30am, comprising our Squadron Leader Maurice, Deputy Dawg Andrew, Shepherd boy John B, Wee Jimny Ken, Captain Keith Pugwash, Tank Engine Tom (previously Marmite Tom but now in short supply in Tesco), Brummie Brian, Sandra Shearer and the Revd Moley Martin. It was a chilly start, 9C, with only Moley showing off his knobbly knees, at least until coffee time in Bressingham when they too were given additional protection. We were hoping to see steam in action, if only to warm up, but there was not a lot going on other than a small locomotive seen and heard puffing away in the distance whilst we had coffee, over which the main topic of conversation was the manufacture of linoleum (a concoction invented by a Scotsman of solidified linseed oil and cork dust it seems). Which led on to cricket bats, putty and 101 other things that can be done with linseed oil without being arrested, so get some today……….

After coffee we inspected the waiting room and heard that Bevan Braithwaite, a long time steam buff and CEO of The Welding Institute for many years, was a trustee of Bressingham Steam Railway before he died and that an engine he built is still used there.

The return journey was faster with the wind behind us, through very picturesque lanes and and heathlands which were different to other, more rolling, parts of Suffolk.

Instead of a pub, we stopped at an American-style diner in Thetford and tucked into massive burgers and other large portions of food before struggling to pedal the final couple of miles back to Sainsbury’s.

Thanks to Maurice for planning the route and not getting us lost, and also to his faithful sheepdawg  Andrew for getting us to the starting pen on time.

“There’s the problem,” said Andrew, using pliers to extract a piece of wire from Maurice’s tyre, a puncture having brought us to a halt on a quiet lane between Little Saxham and Hargrave. Left to his own devices, Maurice could have fixed things and been on the road again within five minutes – but with seven Windmillers helping it took nigh on half an hour.

We had set out earlier that morning from the Packhorse Inn at Moulton – Maurice, Andrew, Sandra, Martin, John B, Ken, Tom and Brian – on a 30 mile circuit of the countryside between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. It was a chilly start but the stiff climb up the hill from Moulton soon warmed us up.

Gazeley, Cavenham and Lackford went by in a whirr and – before we knew it – it was time for a refreshment stop at the West Stow Anglo Saxon Village café. Thankfully, they didn’t expect us to wear loin cloths or apply woad; lycra would do fine.

It was on the next stage that Maurice had his puncture. Why is it always the rear wheel? No worries; between us were carrying more tools than an RAC patrolman, not to mention latex gloves and wet wipes.

Once re-inflated, Maurice led us off again and we completed the ride by lunchtime, returning to the Packhorse hungry, thirsty and with remarkably clean hands.

As ever, the barman queried our order; did we really want one lunch less – and two beers more – than the number of people in our party? We always leave it to John to explain.

The beer was good – Wherry good – and the conversation wide ranging, though some important questions remained unanswered:

• How many Windmillers does it take to fix a puncture or change a light bulb? It might be as many as eight.
• Have we ever seen a muckier bike chain than Maurice’s?
• Are wet wipes as good as Swarfega?
• Why does Martin carry child size rubber gloves? Sometimes it’s best not to know.

  

Thanks to Maurice for leading us once more on an excellent – and virtually traffic free – ride.

Brian

Although Maurice’s map offered three alternative rides, neither of the two easier rides got much of a look in as seven intrepid Windmiller’s set off at a pace at 4.30pm on yet another fine autumn, if not summer, evening. As well as Maurice, other members of the Puff were Deputy Dawg Andrew, Captain Keith Pugwash, John B the shepherd boy, Sandra Shearer, Moley Martin and Tim Goode. Progress was slowish to Manuden, which now has a pothole free High Street, and light was beginning to fade by the time Lower Langley was reached. Despite this, refreshments were called for by Keith, John and Moley, whilst the others returned to the Pheasant via Little Chishill with the exception of Tim who, having had a narrow brush with a car in Manuden, returned via Duddenhoe End. Here is the route taken by most:

Eventually, all assembled for copious helpings of goujons and chips in the Pheasant, washed down with some fine beer, and we were also joined by Sandra’s husband Steve.

Thanks, Maurice for organising the ride. We all wish his wife Lyn well with the treatment she has been having along with Kell and John (Titanium) Tarrington, all of whom we hope to see again very soon.

Due to rain in the morning (an unusual experience these past few weeks), a late start of 2.30pm from the Pheasant was arranged which successfully dodged any further precipitation. What appeared to be a shortish ride on paper turned out to be a surprising 36 miles, taking in Audley End, Saffron Walden, Sewards End, Debden, Henham, Rickling Green, Arkesden, Duddenhoe End and back to the Pheasant:

The Puff of Windmillers comprised our leader Maurice, his deputy (Dawg) Andrew, Captain Keith Pugwash, Marmite Tom, John B the shepherd boy, Botanist Rick and the cardinal sinner himself, the very right Revd Moley Martin. At Wimbish we called in at a very pleasant garden centre / nursery  café with the somewhat strange name of The Mutton and Kipper, neither of which was consumed, but the staff were friendly and the coffee / tea excellent.

The shepherd’s Bishop’s Finger ale was, however, the cause of much merriment:

There was a very strong tail wind from the west resulting in a possible record average speed of nearly 17mph from Great Chishill, not bad for a group of oldies (with the exception of Cap’n Pugwash). And thanks to Maurice’s devious planning, the route back seemed devoid of headwinds resulting in an overall average of 15 mph for the 36 miles. Almost every village pond was seen to be dried up with the exception of this one in Henham, which the local ducks were clearly relieved about:

And, for those interested in churches, here is one in Rickling Green that we frequently ride past at speed but rarely stop to admire its beauty:

The 2.30pm start meant we timed our arrival back at the Pheasant at a perfect time!

Thanks to Maurice for his superlative planning and to Deputy Dawg, his pet poodle.

The evenings may be drawing in, necessitating a 5.00pm start from The Pheasant, but, thanks to global warming, temperatures remain in the high teens which made for a very pleasant ride around the lanes for six Windmillers on this late September evening. Led by Maurice, his faithful followers included Deputy Dawg Andrew, Captain Keith Pugwash Jr, Lyn the lovely shepherdess, Bridget the shoe discarder and the Revd Moley Martin. The 18 mile run took in Heydon, Elmdon, Duddenhoe End, Langley Upper Green, Clavering, Meesden, Nuthamsted, Shaftenhoe End and back to the Pheasant for well earned drinks and succulent goujons, where we were joined by the shepherd himself, John B, and the other lady in his life Darcey, their slim-as-a-ballerina black labrador.

En route conversation varied as always around many assorted topics including a new luxury shepherd’s hut for John B that his shepherdess Lyn had arranged to be delivered, and which we are all looking forward to seeing, and Bridget’s dislike of John’s cleated bike shoes that she has consigned to the bin following his recent accident, from which he is making a remarkably quick recovery. We hope to see Titanium John back with us very soon.

Thanks once again to Maurice and Deputy Dawg Andrew for organising a very enjoyable ride. We have raised over £700 for charity so far this year and so let’s have some big turnouts between now and Christmas and exceed £1000 once again!

It was a fine, warm day when seven Windmillers met at the Carriers Inn in East Bergholt, Suffolk,  for a memorable ride around Constable Country, some taking the A14 to reach the start, some taking the A120 and Vernon taking the scenic route via a Colchester industrial estate. The other participants were Squadron Leader Maurice, Deputy Dawg Andrew, Captain Keith Pugwash, our resident botanist Rick, Marmite Tom and the Revd Moley Martin. Once assembled, we set off on this very scenic tour of 34 miles:

The precise route can be found here: http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4411318

The first stop was for coffee / beer at the idyllic Butt and Oyster Inn on the banks of the River Orwell at Pin Mill, a place well known to Maurice, Moley and other sailors / smugglers, and hardly surprising given its remote location. It has not changed over the years and is now home to around 25 house boats and an anchorage for visiting boats:

Then it was down to the marina at Shotley, a convenient point for sailors for quick access to the North Sea or the Stour Estuary, which brought back happy memories of good sailing days:

 Looking towards Harwich from Shotley

Then it was along the picturesque Stour, crossing the bottom end of Alton water (which has a cycle track around it, perhaps for next time) and past this strange multi-phallic gatehouse to a desres in the large grounds

before heading to Flatford Mill to see Constable Country in all its glory.

It was a surprisingly hilly ride at times and the final one back to the Carriers Inn produced thirsts that were soon quenched with some fine Adnams Southwold bitter followed by an excellent 2 course lunch for £7.95 except for the young Captain Pugwash who had to pay £8.95. The pub had some fine advice for its customers on display:

Thanks to Maurice for planning a superb ride. We look forward to doing it again in the future.

PS. For all those motivated by the special scenes at Flatford to take up a brush, paint, canvas and easel, go no further than Hinxton Mill where cows still linger in the cool water of the millpond:

A misty autumnal morning saw five Windmillers gathering in the car park of the Fox & Duck at Therfield; Andrew, John B, Keith and Brian giving a warm welcome to Sandra on this, her first Thursday outing with the gang.

Andrew had mapped out our general direction, a 30 mile circuit of North Hertfordshire and, this being his home turf, we left it to John B to pick out the choicest route through Dane End, Sandon, Rushden, Luffenhall and Weston to Baldock where we stopped for refreshment at the Delizia Café. The coffee was very good though John, finding the beer selection (Peroni or nothing) somewhat limited, opted instead for strawberry infused cider, a pink concoction which, we all agreed, looked a bit girly on him.

Refreshed, and now in glorious sunshine, we made short work of the return leg through Bygrave, Ashwell and Kelshall, returning to the Fox & Duck where we were joined by Vernon for a hearty lunch of steak sandwiches. As ever, the conversation ranged widely, everything from plastic fivers to the best way of shearing an alapaca (ask Sandra). In particular, we lamented the absence of our pal John T who we all hope to see out riding again soon.

This was a day we had all been looking forward to, a ride around God’s own County – Norfolk – but it had a sad end when John Tarrington unfortunately fell off his bike and broke his wrist, which required a speedy transfer by a paramedic to a hospital in Kings Lynn. We all wish John a speedy recovery and hope it won’t be too long before he can join us again. Accidents are few and far between, luckily, but this just shows that our rides are not devoid of risk, even on a warm sunny afternoon on a quiet country lane, and so we should all take greater care particularly as the days get shorter and the nights draw in.

Until John’s accident the other seven Puffs (the communal name for Windmill Club members) had completed about 90% of Maurice’s planned circuit from Fakenham, taking in sleepy Great Snoring, Wells next-the-Sea, Holkham, Burnham Market, Burnham Thorpe and Great / Little Walsingham en route, the Puffs comprising Maurice, Andrew, John B, Keith, Ken, Brian and Martin. We kept more or less to Maurice’s route but at times split up into a daredevil off-road group of two, John B and Ken, and a narrow gauge railway appreciation group (the others) but we all met up on the quayside at Wells for large helpings of shrimps, whelks and seafood as a mid-morning snack.

The planned route:

…………and the actual:

…..the main difference being a wonderful off-road stretch behind the beach at Wells as far as Holkham and a different route back after lunch.

After Holkham there was a busy stretch of the main coast road for a couple of miles (impatient drivers in God’s own County!) before turning off to peaceful and picturesque Burnham Market (also known as Chelsea-on-Sea), where John B showed us a cottage he was once tempted to acquire.

Next was actually Station Street, Burnham Market where Martin stopped off to say hello to a former colleague who he knew would be opening a can of Speckled Hen on the dot of noon………….. The others rode on to the lunchtime stop at the historic Lord Nelson pub in nearby Burnham Thorpe where Martin caught them up for a delicious lunch in the garden.

John T told us how Nelson had his last meal on English soil with his midshipman upstairs in the pub before setting off to fight at Trafalgar. Sadly, the table where they sat which had his initials carved in it appears to have gone missing since the room was converted to accommodation for kitchen staff just a few years ago……………. Nelson learnt to sail at nearby Burnham Overy Staite – it’s said that if you can sail there you can sail anywhere.

So, after a good lunch it was then back via Little and Great Walsingham but there was no sign of Our Lady of Walsingham – she probably knew we were coming and had gone shopping for the day in Norwich. And soon after that, John’s accident happened which took the edge off what had been a wonderful day up to that point. But the team worked well in organising an ambulance and looking after John until the paramedic arrived.Meanwhile Maurice and Andrew collected John’s car and loaded his bike for Andrew to drive home whilst John was swept off to hospital in Kings Lynn by the paramedic.

Thanks once again to Maurice and his Deputy Dawg Andrew for planning the ride and organising the lunch stop.

…………or in skiing jargon, should it have been green, blue, red or black? Those were the choices provided by our leader Maurice on a delightful sunny evening to five other Windmillers who accompanied him on the ride – Deputy Dawg Andrew, John B, Half scone Keith, Tiny Tim and the old blogger Moley Martin who was back in the saddle after being off games for a few weeks. Here were the choices:

All chose to do a combination of the red, blue and black of 19 miles which took in almost every hill possible and created quite a thirst and appetite for cod goujons by the time we returned to The Pheasant, and excellent goujons they were too.

Thanks, Maurice, for planning the route. The evenings are drawing in and so it was good to make the most of this one.

A gloriously sunny Thursday morning saw just five riders: Maurice, Andrew, John T, Keith and Brian, set out from Widdington on a circular route taking in Berdon, Furneux Pelham, Standon, Little Hadham, Farnham and Elsenham.

Puckeridge being our mid-way point, it seemed only reasonable to stop off at the Something Lovely tea room on the High Street for a caffeine & cake fix. We like this place for the quirky decor (there’s an upside down table & chairs nailed to the ceiling) and excellent home baking, not to mention their tolerance of Keith throwing the crockery about.

Sugar levels restored, we leapt on our saddles and blazed the 17 miles back to the Fleur de Lys at Widdington – just in time to catch the two course over-60s meal deal. We Windmillers like to keep well-provisioned.

Fresh air, exercise, hearty fare and good company: what more could a man want?

The thunderstorms had passed but a combination of overcast skies, holidays, sick notes (Maurice and Martin) and dodgy excuses (Keith was having a haircut) meant that just four Windmillers turned out for our regular Thursday morning ride.

So it was that Andrew, Rick, Alan and Brian set off on a 33 mile tour of the villages to the south of Great Chishill. Andrew led the way and, this being his home patch, guided us around some of the hidden charms of the Essex / Herts border country . . .

• Shortgrove Hall, where we stopped off inside the gates to admire the Capability Brown landscape, the beautiful bridge over the Cam and, er, Andrew’s paddocks.
• Kell’s house in Newport, where we knocked and asked his missus could Kell come out to play? Indeed he could – so then we were five.
• The Cricketer’s Arms, Rickling Green, where we stopped for coffee.
• St George’s Church, Anstey, where we viewed the beautiful stained glass window commemorating the US airmen based who were based there in WW2.
• Anstey being Keith’s village we also took the opportunity to check out the haircut story. He did indeed appear freshly shorn so we gave him the benefit of the doubt. He even promised to join us at The Pheasant.
• Brent Pelham, where Kell tried to convince us that there was a giant buried in St Mary’s churchyard. Another of his tall tales, we thought. But sure enough there is such a legend.

  

• The Royal Observer Corps bunker near Brent Pelham, a relic from the Cold War.
• Nuthampstead, where we pulled up outside John Tarrington’s place. We tried all the doors and windows but, sadly, failed to gain entry; neither was there any sign of John.

Returning to The Pheasant for lunch we were joined by Maurice, Martin, Keith and Ken.

Many thanks to Andrew for the guided cultural tour.

Another sunny Thursday morning saw seven Windmillers setting out from The Black Bull at Balsham for a tour of the lanes around the Cambs / Suffolk border. This was a reprise of the route we did back in April, only this time in a clockwise direction. We were dizzy with anticipation.

The Magnificent Seven – Maurice, Andrew, Vernon, Rick, Ken, Keith and Brian – stopped for an early coffee at The Packhorse Inn, Moulton. Imagine our disappointment, however, when having dismounted, parked up and settled ourselves comfortably in the garden, we were told, “Sorry, but we don’t do cake.” The coffee was fine but there wasn’t even a biscuit to dunk. Slim pickings indeed.

Resuming our ride, Andrew, caffeine-high but sugar-low, pulled up at a nearby Costcutter to procure a Mars Bar. Alas, with no means of deep frying the confection, our resident Scot was forced to eat it raw. Desperate times, desperate measures.

Otherwise, it was another glorious ride with Maurice once again leading us through some delightful countryside (though he did stop once to ask a postman the way) and we clocked up a very respectable 39 miles.

Arriving back in Balsham, Keith discovered his car alarm had been going off at regular intervals in the pub car park. Despite the racket, the manager of the Black Bull welcomed us back with an excellent Portuguese themed lunch and deep draughts from a new barrel of Woodford Wherry.

More hills this week, but good to keep the calorie output input in balance. This week’s 30+ mile ride started from The Pheasant and took the puff of Windmillers comprising Maurice, Dawg, Brummie Brian, Marmite Tom, Two scones Keith, Vernon, John T, John B, Ken, Moley and Guest Andrew from Edinburgh anti-clockwise via Barley before stopping firstly outside Maurice’s house to get revved up for the 2 mile hill climb up to Reed. Maurice got particularly revved up having to firstly see off a dodgy looking jogger on his property.

The next stop was outside John B’s house in Sandon and a comfort break in his stable yard:

Then it was through to Wyddial for a splendid coffee / cake stop at Something Lovely (highly recommended) before returning via Brent Pelham, Meesden, Lower Langley and and Chrishall.

Without stopping at The Bull for refreshment, it was then full speed back to The Pheasant for a well earned pint and a good lunch.

Thanks once again to Maurice and his deputy Dawg for organising the ride.

What goes down must come up is the nature of cycling from The Pheasant, one of the highest points in South Cambridgeshire at 139 metres / 458 feet above sea level. Who said Cambridgeshire was flat? Today’s ride highlighted this feature when Maurice, Dawg, Vernon, Rick, Ken, John B, John T and Moley started with a long descent to the A505 followed by lane meandering through Melbourn, Whaddon, Wendy and Guilden Morden before a coffee stop in Ashwell where we squashed into a tiny back garden together with local mums and their tiny tots. We were joined there by Pete Tatlow of The Golden Fleece in Braughing who had also started from The Pheasant about 10 minutes behind us.

Fortified by caffeine and cakes the long 2 mile climb back up to Kelshall was completed at varying speeds, depending on cake consumption.

Then it was the usual ups and downs back to Great Chishill via Reed and Barkway followed by an excellent lunch in The Pheasant, after which Ken, Keith and Moley departed for unlimited beer and balti at a 20/20 match in Chelmsford.

Thanks to Maurice and Deputy Dawg Andrew for organising the ride.

10 hot-to-trot riders left Trumpington Park and Ride at 18.00 on the hottest day of the summer so far with temperatures of around 30 degrees.

The posse consisted of Squadron Leader Maurice, Lyn, Dayglow Laura, Deputy Hot Dawg Andrew, Lindsey, Low Cost Ryan, Rev Moley Martin, Two Scones Keith, Wee Jimny Ken and Wee Jimnys wife Anne.

Our route took us through Grantchester along Grantchester Meadows into Fen Causeway down the Cam and into punting capital of the world Cambridge. At one point we had to dodge a beached punt which was being used as a photo prop.

Onward then past Kings College into the centre of town and around Market Square to rejoin the Cam near Magdalene College.

One of Deputy Dawgs responsibilities is to check the posse is still intact which involves looking backwards, which is not recommended on a busy hot summer night in Cambridge however, I survived with only a few near misses. Of course no need to turn and check if Lyn and Dayglow Laura are keeping up cause they’re always talking. Additionally, I knew when Low Cost Ryan was behind by the sound of his squeaky brakes.(those cheap electric bikes)

The route took us under a couple of railway bridges to the delight of the trainspotters in our company who will remain nameless – through some pleasant meadows with many contented cows (of the four legged variety) and to our outbound destination the riverside pub called The Plough at Fen Ditton.

Due to the lack of choice of beers and horrendous que’s at the bar our livers survived another day (just as well Herr Bargie wasn’t in our company )

After only one refreshing drink at 20.00 we started our return journey from Fen Ditton along the Cam and through the centre of Cambridge, this time taking a more scenic route than the guided bus which has become somewhat of a hazard which buses recently jumping the rails (concrete)

One final photo at Garret Hostel Lane Bridge where we were photo bombed by a foreign tourist who appears to be also taking a selfie which included Two Scones in the background.

Our route finally took us along Granchester Road returning to Trumpington Park and Ride via The Blue Ball pub which Rev Moley and Two Scones couldn’t resist stopping for a cool refreshment .

I think the rest of us would like to have done similarly however, as Deputy’s Deputy Lindsey would say it was a School Night.

Many thanks to Squadron Leader Maurice for arranging another memorable ride and thanks to the beautiful Girlies for joining us.

Deputy Dawg Andrew

Starting and finishing at the Fleur de Lys in Widdington, eight Windmillers set off at 9.30am on a 38 mile clockwise circuit through very peaceful Essex and Hertfordshire Lanes:

Those pedalling were Squadron Leader Maurice, Deputy Dawg Andrew, John B, Wee Jimny Ken, Hot Rod, Half scone Keith, Vernon and the Right Reverend Holy Moley Martin. The first stop was at The Three Horseshoes in Farnham but only to admire the landlord’s handsome 1928 Ford Model A truck on the forecourt in the livery of a Stockton-on-Tees haulier, F & F Robinson, with whom Vernon was very familiar. Such is the knowledge of your average Windmiller!

Then it was through the Hadhams and westwards to Barwick Ford where Maurice’s grandfather used to fill up the tender of his traction engine from the River Rib, near to which there also used to be several gunpowder factories, one of which was owned by a German family before the first world war. (Faulty explosives and shells were commonplace during the war which makes us wonder why?) By this time caffeine was needed and a warm welcome was received in Puckeridge by the owner of the Something Lovely Tea Room:

The homeward stretch was a speedy downwind route through Braughing, Furneaux Pelham, Berden and Rickling Green before the final ascent to the Fleur de Lys where the knights enjoyed an excellent lunch at their round table:

Brexit having been thoroughly discussed at Something Lovely, the conversation turned to the more agreeable topic of beer.

Thanks once again to Maurice for planning the ride and to his Deputy Dawg Andrew.