The last Thursday ride of 2025 saw twelve Windmillers huffing and puffing their way around a hilly route of Graham’s devising.
After last week’s very wet outing it was good to be riding under glorious blue skies. Here we are somewhere between High Cross and Sacombe Green.
With Christmas in the offing there is a good case for moderating one’s calorie intake ahead of all that feasting on turkey and plum pudding. And what better way to make tummy room than an energetic 30 mile workout around the lanes of north-east Herts.
Sweet temptation at Ermine’s Tea Room
Alas, half way into the ride and confronted with the display of exquisite cakes at Ermine’s Tea Room all good intentions went out the window. Moderation be damned seemed to be the unspoken consensus as we tucked into our sweet treats.
Back on the bikes and labouring up the hill away from Thundridge there were some who regretted the cake, at least until digestion took its course and we settled into a steady pace on the return leg to Brent Pelham and The Black Horse – for yet more food and a very welcome beer.
Plenty of Christmas trees to be seen along the way. This one’s knitted!31 miles clockwise from Brent Pelham
For the record, our turnout of twelve Windmillers featured Alan, Andrew, Brian, Chris, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Keith, Ken, Ric, Robert and Victor.
Our thanks go to Graham for planning the route and leading the way.
Keith’s route – from Steeple Bumpstead to Glemsford and back – provided what was possibly our most traffic-free ride of the year. Coupled with a bumper turnout of sixteen Windmillers* it made for a most enjoyable Thursday morning’s outing.
Pausing for a breather beside the duck pond at Belchamp Walter
Setting off from the Fox & Hounds, the outbound ride took us through many a fine north Essex village, and none finer than Great Yeldham, famed for its Great Oak – which is recorded in The Domesday Book – and its crinkle crankle wall. “What’s that?“, I hear you say.
The crinkle crankle wall at Great Yeldham
These walls mostly date back to the days of the brick tax (1784 to 1850) when the government levied a duty of half a crown – about £24 in today’s money – per 1000 bricks to help fund the American War of Independence. No sooner was the tax introduced than canny builders found ways to minimise its impact. Some just used bigger bricks and some opted to build walls crinkle-crankle style. These curved structures provided stability and required just one layer of bricks rather than the usual two, doing away altogether with the need for buttressing. Not only were the walls economical to build but the curves provided shelter and retained warmth for the growing of fruit trees.
The tax was eventually abolished in 1850 leading to a boom in the brick industry (and a return to the building of straighter walls!)
Some seventeen miles after setting off we crossed the River Stour into Suffolk and pulled in at the excellent Willow Tree Farm Café, just outside Glemsford.
Refreshed and back on the bikes we re-traced our way over the Stour and back into Essex for the return leg via Belchamp St Paul, Ridgewell and Birdbrook – and it was somewhere along here that we encountered that scourge of autumnal outings – the tractor and hedge flail.
There’s many a puncture from thorny hedge flailings
Sure enough, and just a few miles short of the pub, MartinB pulled up with a puncture, a long thorn protruding from his tyre. Seeing it would be the quickest way for us all getting back in time for lunch, Rod dashed the remaining few miles to the pub, got the car and retrieved both Martin and machine. Well done, Rod!
We subsequently learned Martin wasn’t the only one to suffer a puncture; a similar fate had befallen Alan, though his caused by glass and thankfully mended en route.
Returning to the Fox & Hounds we were delighted to find MartinW waiting there for us and together we enjoyed a beer or two and a good lunch.
Al fresco aperitifs at the Fox & Hounds
Our thanks go to Keith for planning and leading an excellent morning’s ride.
33 miles anticlockwise from Steeple Bumpstead
* The turnout was: Alan, Brian, Deborah, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Jenni, Keith, Ken, MartinB, Maurice, Paul, Rach, Rod, Simon and Victor.
Arriving by train, visitors to Cambridge are confronted with Ariadne Wrapped, an artwork commissioned to grace the new station forecourt. According to sculptor Gavin Turk, the mythical Ariadne is,
‘. . . presented as a packaged shape forever in transportation, informed by the sound of the train the parcel lies in limbo. The criss-cross of ropes and string act like compositional or navigation lines, pointers to new perspectives.‘
Chris and Jenni weren’t impressed
The general consensus among Windmillers was that it was a monstrosity, best replaced by a statue honoring a Cambridge worthy, say Stephen Hawking or suchlike.
Following last week’s hilly ride in North Herts, Brian – this week’s leader – had opted for a flatter ride around South Cambs and, having set off earlier from Little Shelford our first port of call was Cambridge Station.
From there we wound our way along quiet backstreets to the riverside and thence some five miles along the towpath to Waterbeach. This idyllic stretch of the River Cam is particularly peaceful just now as the section between Cambridge and Milton has been shut to boat traffic for the past year. Inspection of the locks at each end has shown the lock islands to be unstable and vulnerable to collapse. Both carry public footpaths over the river and they too have been closed.
Jesus Green lock in Cambridge – closed until further notice
We witnessed some of the short term stabilisation currently underway – see Simon’s pictures below – but the locks are likely to remain closed until the lock islands are rebuilt at a cost of £25M and, as yet, no-one seems prepared to stump up the money. Meanwhile, visitors are unable to reach Cambridge by boat, indeed many boats are stranded on the river and some owners have taken to craning their vessels out in order to leave. The situation seems to be stalemate.
Simon snapped these divers engaged in remedial work on the Baits Bite Lock
Arriving in Waterbeach Brian had arranged for us to visit the Military Heritage Museum on the site of the wartime RAF airfield and subsequently barracks for the Royal Engineers. The base was decommissioned in 2013 and is now a development site for the planned Waterbeach Newtown and it’s 11,000 new homes.
Simon loves museums and, as you can see below, he got very hands-on with the exhibits. We won’t be taking him to glassware museums or maternity wards anytime soon.
Mind what you do with that, Simon
Leaving the museum we headed half a mile further down the road and pulled in for refreshments at the Evolve Coffee Shop & Bar. Refreshed and back on the bikes, we headed for Landbeach where we picked up the Mere Way, a new and very wide cycleway, taking us back to Cambridge. Come the new year this will be extended all the way to Waterbeach where the new cycle bridge spanning the A10 has recently been lifted into position. We must plan a ride in the spring to try it out.
The A10 cyclebridge at Waterbridge being lifted into position on 21 September
Returning to Little Shelford, we piled back into the Side Quest for a well deserved lunch.
For the record, 14 riders completed a 26 mile circuit: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Chris, Deborah, Geoff, Jenni, Keith, MartinB, Nigel, Rach, Ric, Rod, Simon.
Essex boasts many a fine market town – and Maldon is up there with the best of them
Ten miles into Thursday’s outing, we pitched up on Maldon High Street seeking refreshment and, in particular, a guided tour of the Moot Hall. The six hundred year old brick tower has at various times been a mansion house, town hall, courthouse, police station and town jail, and boasts a fine view over Maldon and beyond to the Blackwater Estuary.
Maldon Moot Hall: in bygone times a prison where inmates left their mark on the wallsWhile today visitors climb the tower and take in the view
An hour or so earlier, ten Windmillers1 had set off from The Rayleigh Arms, Terling, following Martin’s route through some of the prettiest lanes in Essex. And it was on the approach to Maldon that we chanced upon the intriguingly named Cut A Thwart Lane.
In old English athwart meant crosswise, as in “Cutting athwart the bow,” meaning one vessel was passing directly in front of another. So Cut A Thwart Lane could well refer to the lane being a shortcut between Maldon and Woodham Walter. Interestingly, Cambridge, Bedford, Chelmsford and many other English towns can all boast a Cut Throat Lane, a likely corruption of Cut Athwart Lane.
Heybridge Basin
Leaving Maldon, we followed the Chelmer & Blackwater Canal to Heybridge Basin before turning inland and returning to Terling via Great Totham, Wickham Bishops and Hatfield Peverel.
Back at the pub, Deborah bought us all a beer and endured a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.
Happy birthday, Deb. Seen here at Arisaig27 miles anticlockwise from Terling
Thank you, Martin, for planning the route and thanks again, Deborah, for the beers.
Thursday’s team roster was: Brian, Deborah, Graham, Howard, Jeremy, Keith, Ken, Martin, Ric and Simon ↩︎
Our first Thursday outing of the year and, alas, Graham, the poor chap who’d planned the ride, tendered a sick note. Undeterred, we wished him well and set off from The Black Horse, Brent Pelham, following the GPX route Graham had kindly supplied.
The ride featured a new – to us – coffee stop, Crumbs Bakery & Café in Watton-at-Stone. “Muddy boot walkers are welcome, cyclists can have the perfect refuel, and we love a good dog!” says the website. All bread and pastries are baked on site and I can personally vouch for the excellence of the Eccles cakes. That said, it is a small establishment and while the six of us were comfortably accommodated I fear they would struggle to fit in more than ten of us given a larger turnout.
Crumbs Bakery & Café, Watton-in-Stone
Notable along the way was the old garage at Dane End. Now converted into a home, the petrol pumps have been retained and the frontage has featured in several TV period dramas such as Grantchester and Foyle’s War.
Old grumps, old pumps
Don’t tell Graham but at Roger’s behest we cut a corner towards the end, allegedly to save a mile and get to the pub more quickly. But, don’t tell Roger, there were mutterings in the peloton about it being muddy and, in Brian’s case, puncture inducing. That said, Roger did the decent thing and drove back to pick him up, so all was forgiven and Brian, this week’s birthday boy, was decent enough to buy everyone a beer.
Graham’s route in blue – with Roger’s shortcut shown in red
For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Howard, Gareth and Roger – and Geoff joined us for lunch in the pub. Get well soon, Graham.
Lovely ride today on another of Maurice’s scenic, traffic-free routes along the border between north Herts and north Essex. Setting off from The Catherine Wheel, Albury, we headed for Hazel End where we turned north for Manuden, Rickling and Arkesden, clocking up some sixteen miles before pulling in for refreshments at Compass Courtyard.
30 miles anticlockwise from Albury
Back on the bikes and turning south, we headed for Langley Upper Green and the Pelhams – where Brian pulled up to fix a puncture – before returning to Albury for lunch at the pub.
Thanks go to Maurice for another fine route.
For the record the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Deborah, Howard, Jenni, Keith, Maurice, Nigel, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger and Simon.
A fine autumn morning saw Keith leading the Windmillers once more around the route he pioneered several weeks ago, only this time we were doing it t’other way round. Setting off, we’d also noticed Keith sporting new footwear. Gone was the shower caps ‘n trainers combo – a look he had made all his own – here he was resplendent in shiny new gardening clogs. When it comes to combining function with cutting edge style, the man is a visionary.
Keith’s group, with Keith behind the camera
So it was that we followed Keith through many a quaintly-named Suffolk village – Belchamp St Paul, Belchamp Otten, Belchamp Walter, Puttock End – along quiet lanes, many of which qualified for one of Maurice’s Nice Road Awards having little or no traffic and lots of grass growing down the middle.
Brian’s group, with him behind the camera
It was certainly a hilly route. At the outset Tom’s satnav was forecasting 12 hill climbs totalling some 1500 feet, information some of us really didn’t want or need to know. In pre-satnav days, you never knew what was around the next corner and in many ways you were psychologically better prepared for the hard yards ahead; you just got on with it.
That said, whenever the going got tough, some of the pedallers were glad of the helpful push-alongs from kindly e-bikers. Step up Charles, top chap!
Once again, we pulled in for coffee at Willow Tree Farm Café, just outside Glemsford where, having slogged up seven of the twelve hills we were warmed up enough to sit outside and enjoy the pale autumn sunshine.
Arriving back at the Swan Inn, birthday boy Keith kindly bought us all a beer as we complimented him on his excellent route. Nobody mentioned his eccentric taste in footwear. Happy Birthday, Keith!
Twenty one for the 3rd time
For the record, the twelve Windmillers turning out for the ride were: Brian, Charles, Deborah, Geoff, Keith, Maurice, Nigel, Rod, Roger, Tom and Victor. Well done, team!
News travels fast in the licensed trade. So when the landlord of the Hare & Hounds suggested we lunch in the garden we guessed he’d been warned about Simon’s inability to hold a drink. Fortunately, it was a sunny autumn day and an al fresco lunch made for the perfect end to a delightful morning’s ride.
Windmillers gathering at The Hare & Hounds, Harlton, with Charles behind the camera
Led by Brian, we had set off in two groups from Harlton on a 30 mile circuit taking in the pretty villages of Knapwell, Elsworth and Boxworth, places we last visited some five years ago, and it was in Elsworth that we pulled in at Frank’s Farm, for us a new venue serving good coffee and home made cakes in a very pleasant garden overlooking a meadow.
Refreshments at Frank’s Farm, Elsworth
Back on the bikes we notched up another first for the club, crossing not just one but two suspension bridges dedicated to cyclists, walkers and horseriders. (Bridge nerds will know these are really cable-stayed bridges rather than suspension bridges and, if you really want to know the difference, it’s all here.)
The bridge at Swavesey . . .. . . and the one at Bar Hill
Between the bridges there was a two-mile purpose built cycleway running beside the eight lanes of traffic that form the new A14 plus the adjacent old road it replaced; all a bit noisy but otherwise safe, easy riding back to the more rural lanes leading to Dry Drayton and Madingley.
Group 1, as photographed by BrianGroup 2, as photographed by Jeremy
For the record, the turnout was 12 Windmillers: Alan, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Howard, Jeremy, Keith, Neil, Ric, Simon and Tom – plus Ken and Rod who turned up for lunch.
Windmillers are nothing if not eccentric. Indeed, some might say downright batty. Where else would you find a cyclist who, shunning conventional wet weather apparel, improvises using shower caps – yes, shower caps – for both headwear and footwear. And then we have another member who, having already experienced a wet weather soaking proceeds to spill not just one, but two pints of beer in his lap. Windmillers, eh? Outwardly normal, but kinda weird.
So it was on Thursday morning that some thirteen singular, strange and unique cyclists were seen gathering at The Red Lion in Preston – that’s the pretty little village in Herts rather than the dour mill town in Lancs – where Sandra had summoned the club for a 30-mile tour of the countryside around Stevenage. And it was here while sipping our pre-ride coffees that Keith, hearing rain was forecast, removed his shoes and pulled on some natty floral shower caps over his socks before putting his shoes back on. Nobody batted an eyelid.
Sandra leads the way
Come 9.30 we were off, Sandra leading one group and Brian the other. The first half of the outing, which took us as far as the delightful Brewery Tearooms in Walkern, was uneventful, other than Alan having to pull over and fix a puncture.
Sandra helps with Alan’s puncture repair
Until the refreshment stop we had stayed dry, but it was as we exited the tearooms that the weather closed in and, sensing rain, Keith proceeded to remove his helmet, then one shoe and one shower cap which, for the remainder of the ride, he wore under his helmet. Stone the crows, Keith!
One blue shower cap, one pink one
Sandra had warned us about the stiff climb on the final half mile of the ride – and there’s no doubt it was the steepest hill we’ve experienced this year; easy for the e-bikers but a real slog for the pedallers. But to my knowledge, no one got off and pushed. Well done, team.
It was in the pub that Simon, already wet from the ride, did his party piece of spilling a pint in his lap, replacing it with another, only to spill that one in exactly the same manner. Now that’s what you call a drink problem.
As if Simon wasn’t wet enough . . .. . . soon he was even wetter
For the record the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Keith, Neil, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger, Sandra, Simon, Victor.
All smiles over lunch in The Red Lion
Thanks go to Sandra for organising a super ride (we will overlook the killer hill). Also to Deb, Simon and Charles for the many photographs.
30 miles anticlockwise from PrestonJust £2.99 on Amazon for a pack of four – while stocks last
It had been just over a year since our last visit to Ely when we lunched at Peacocks Tea Room on the way back from Kings Lynn. So it was high time for another visit, this time taking in a new lunch venue, The Prince Albert, a lovely old boozer hidden away on Silver Street.
Setting out from Trumpington Park & Ride, Brian had led the way via Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn to Anglesey Abbey where we met up with Martin, Simon and Neil, and enjoyed coffee and cake at the National Trust café.
Then it was on to Bottisham, where we picked up the Lodes Way, some 17 miles of roads, tracks and bridges crossing the six waterways (lodes) that connect the fen-edge villages to the River Cam. Dating back to Saxon times, the Lodes provided flood protection for the rich grazing land owned by the monasteries of Ely and Ramsey.
Cambridge Lodes, a Saxon water management scheme
It was at Wicken Fen that we pulled up to admire the large herd of Konik ponies grazing on the National Trust reserve. Along with Highland cattle, these help manage the vegetation growth across newly restored fen habitat.
Konik ponies . . .. . . and pony watchers
Fenland cyclists will be all too familiar with the challenging footbridge at Burwell Lode. Known as the Cock Up Bridge, its steep steps provide quite a workout for e-bikers hauling their heavy machines up and over the waterway.
The notorious Cock Up Bridge . . . . . . it’s not very cycle-friendly
The last leg, some three miles along the Great Ouse, offered lovely views of Ely Cathedral and soon we were pulling in at The Prince Albert for a welcome pint with lunch in the garden.
Jenni admiring the hanging baskets at The Prince AlbertKeith on hearing there’s a train and he doesn’t have to cycle home
As for the return from Ely: Martin and Simon cycled via Wicken Fen back to their car at Anglesey Abbey; Brian led another half dozen to Ely Station where they caught the train to Cambridge; and Graham led the others on a cycle ride home via Cottenham. Well done, team!
Brian’s roundabout route from Trumpington to Ely, some 30 miles
For the record, the turnout was 14 Windmillers: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Geoff, Graham, Jenni, Jeremy, Keith, Martin, Neil, Ric, Rod, Simon and Tom.
Thanks go to Simon, Graham and Martin for the many photographs.
A quick glance at the Ride Log confirmed it was ages since our last Suffolk-based outing and high time we paid a return visit to Castle Hedingham and its splendid old coaching inn, The Bell.
Whether it was the distance getting there, the forecast of wind and rain, or just the prospect of Brian leading the outing, turnout was low with just six Windmillers gathering at The Bell. And with Brian setting us off clockwise on a route he himself had labelled anticlockwise, it wasn’t the most auspicious of starts.
Roger – always wanted to be a postman
So it was that Simon, Maurice, Roger, Paul and Jeremy followed Brian, still heading clockwise, off towards Clare, some 15 miles distant. The outbound leg was delightful with quiet lanes and fine views across the Colne and Stour valleys.
Arriving in Clare, we took the scenic route via the Priory into the Country Park. A community and retreat centre run by Augustinian Friars, the Priory is, according to its website, “a tranquil place of prayer, natural beauty, and silence.” Or it was until Jeremy shattered the monastic silence with a yell of “Stopping!!!” as we pulled up alongside the graves of recently departed clergy. Talk about waking the dead.
Pulling up at Clare Country Park, we enjoyed some good coffee and cake at Platform One Café before setting off on the return leg to Castle Hedingham. Mid-way back, the wind and rain finally caught up and from here on it was heads down, every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost, all the way back to The Bell.
32 miles – and we eventually agreed to do it clockwise
Drying out over a good lunch, our conversation was wide-ranging, everything from Simon’s eye-wateringly expensive taste in white goods through to Maurice’s plans for stable clearance; we only hope he’s told Lyn.
Thursday saw a lowish turnout – just eight Windmillers – but it meant we could all cycle together as one group. Starting once again from The Pheasant, Andrew led the team out of Great Chishill heading for Elmdon, Arkesdon and Rickling Green, where we pulled in at The Cricketer’s Arms for coffee.
How do you know your horse has a drug problem? When you find a needle in a haystack
The return leg took us through The Pelhams, the picturesque Hertfordshire villages that feature in real life murder mysteries; notably the 2004 shooting in Furneux Pelham and the 1970 kidnapping-cum-murder in Stocking Pelham. Not so much The Pelhams as The Felons then, though Brent Pelham seems the exception, having avoided any gruesome national headlines, at least for now.
Back at the pub, we were pleased to see Ken and Paul joining us for lunch. Maurice would have come too, but for the fulsome attention he is getting at Addenbrookes. We wish him well and look forward to seeing him back in the peloton soon.
For the record our riders were: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Deborah, Howard, MartinB, Rod and Roger. Keep safe in the Pelhams, Roger.
Our thanks go to Andrew for planning the outing (we were impressed this week’s GPX actually matched the route).
Dark mutterings were heard amongst the e-bikers as we gathered for the ride on Thursday. They were unimpressed with Brian’s route, given it would involve hauling their heavy machines up and over the A11 footbridge. Brian put their minds at rest; there would be two groups, one taking the bridge, the other taking a slightly longer diversion around it.
Setting out from the Square & Compasses, Great Shelford, Jeremy led the bridge grapplers – Alan, Andrew, Gareth, Howard and Roger – while Brian led the bridge-phobics, namely Rod, Paul and two Martins. It would be a 31 mile circuit; 32 with the diversion.
All hands aloft at Streetly End Mill. Built in 1802, it ceased milling after the sails blew off in 1895. The timber-framed house on the left dates from c1600 and is Grade II listed.Also at Streetly End, Howard came across this colony of gnomes
Despite the extra mile, Brian’s group proved the quicker, arriving first at Balsham’s Old Butchers for coffee. Being only 10 miles into the outing, not to mention that it was only a few degrees above freezing, we stoked up on caffeine and cake before heading on, via Streetly End, to Horseheath, Cardinal’s Green, Shudy Camps, Bartlow and Hadstock. Somewhere thereabouts, Roger pulled up with a puncture. Normally, a fairly straightforward problem to fix but, with Alan and Andrew keen to help, it took two attempts and the best part of an hour before Roger was back on the road. Windmill Club puncture repairs are best regarded as team building exercises.
Team building: Alan and Roger, with Andrew behind the camera.
The return leg, via Linton, Hildersham, Pampisford and Sawston passed uneventfully as we headed back to Shelford and the Square & Compasses. We last lunched there four years ago (as you can read here) when we celebrated Lawrence’s birthday; he is sadly missed.
Sharing a long table, we were delighted to be joined by Ken and Maurice, and even more delighted that Martin – this week’s birthday boy, was buying the beer.
Lunch at The Square & CompassesHappy Birthday, Martin
Maurice showed us the list of charity donations he had made on the club’s behalf. We raised just under £5000 during 2023, monies being distributed to Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia, Addenbrookes Charitable Trust, East Anglia Children’s Hospice, Macmillan Nurses, Samaritans, Pets as Therapy, Arthur Rank Hospice, Marie Curie, Breast Cancer and Bowel Cancer. Well done all.
31 miles (or 32 miles avoiding the bridge) : Shelford – Stapleford – Sawston – Babraham – The Abingtons – Balsham – Streetly End – Horseheath – Cardinal’s Green – Mill Green – Barton – Hadstock – Linton – Hildersham – Pampisford – Sawston – Stapleford – Great Shelford
Mystery tour: An organized pleasure trip whose destination is kept secret. Oxford English Dictionary
With the first Thursday of the year fast approaching, Andrew was keeping us guessing as to whether or not there would be a ride. No doubt recovering from Hogmanay, it was Wednesday before he finally WhatsApped, “I’ll work out our mystery ride later today”, shortly followed by “See you at The Pheasant 10am”, followed by “Make that 09:30” and with a GPX route attached.
Morning coffee at The Pheasant
It was the GPX that, upon further inspection, caused some consternation as it included Violets Lane, officially the longest ford in England, where the River Ash runs along the roadway for half a mile or so. Not to mention the several off-road sections, some of which didn’t even follow footpaths; and all this after the wettest December on record. It looked more like a route for the Hertfordshire Hunt.
Violets Lane, on a good day
Undeterred, some fifteen Windmillers turned up at The Pheasant on Thursday morning, eager to work off their Christmas excess and curious to know what Andrew had in store.
Assuring us there was a drier alternative to Violets Lane, and that the off-road excursions were mere mapping errors, Andrew led the way out of Great Chishill heading for Anstey and the Pelhams.
Not as wet as Violets Lane but still pedal-deep
There was indeed a lot of water about and at one point we chanced our way along a hundred yards or more of flooded road. Thankfully, no more than pedal deep, we got through ok, though Keith was miffed that his socks got wet.
We had hoped to stop for a coffee at Rickling Green but, alas, the Cricketer’s Arms was closed. The bench on the village green provided an ideal spot for Keith to remove his sodden socks and replace them with dry gloves.
Keith, replacing sodden socks with dry gloves.
Despite our caffeine deficit we made short work of the return leg to The Pheasant where we were delighted to be joined by Chris for lunch.
Andrew’s route in red – and our actual route, 26 miles, in blue.Road block at Rickling Green
For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Gareth, Geoff, Graham, Howard, Jenni, Jeremy, Keith, Maurice, Paul, Ric and Rod.
Our thanks go to Andrew, we never doubted you really and it was a lovely route. Also to Charles and Graham for the photographs.
Thursday morning was cold. Some indeed, likened the weather to wintry. Not so Simon, our hardy annual, who turned out resolute in Empire shorts. Joining him were a dozen or so more delicate, some might say effete, types kitted out in an assortment of cold weather apparel, not to mention the odd item of ski wear.
Setting off from The Three Horseshoes, Stapleford, Jeremy led the peloton via Haslingfield, Barrington and Melbourn to Shepreth, where we pulled in at Hot Numbers for coffee, cake and the usual lively conversation.
Overhead at Hot Numbers, we think it’s a c.1929 Raleigh 350cc Sports
Back on the bikes, we were pleasantly surprised, nay bemused, by a white van driver slowing down, hailing us with compliments and, in particular, commenting favourably on Tom’s shiny new helmet.
Heading back via Fowlmere and Duxford, Martin suggested pulling in at Whittlesford’s Church of St Mary and St Andrew to see the new stained glass window. Villagers raised the princely sum of £20,000 for this striking artwork depicting scenes from the Covid-19 pandemic and celebrating 1000 years since the church’s founding. It is indeed a magnificent addition to this fine old building. There’s more here as reported by the BBC.
The new window at St Mary and St Andrew’s Church, Whittlesford
Back in Stapleford, we enjoyed a Greek-themed lunch, not to mention a beer or two, at The Three Horseshoes.
For the record, the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Jeremy, Martin, Nigel, Paul, Ric, Simon, Sandra, Tom and Victor.
Our thanks go to Jeremy for organising and leading another splendid outing.
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!
It was Graham’s turn to lead the outing and, given the large turnout of 15 riders, he very reasonably asked that we form two equal-sized groups. How hard can that be? A seemingly impossible task for Windmillers, we ended up with one group of five and another of ten. Nice try, Graham.
Ken, Ric, Gareth, Howard and Roger
Setting off from The Three Horseshoes at Hinxworth, Graham led us over the border into Bedfordshire for a 30-odd mile loop around Biggleswade. Fine weather, beautiful countryside and quiet roads made for a very enjoyable outing, the only hairy bit being the hundred yard stretch along the pavement bordering the busy A1 at Sandy.
Alan leads MartinB, Maurice and Rod up and over the A1
Mid-way we pulled in at The Cowshed Café in Northill for coffee and cake. Our first visit and certainly not our last, it’s a lovely place that works really hard to attract passing cyclists.
Gareth, Charles, Deb and Roger tucking into sticky bunsMaurice, MartinB and RodRic, Andrew, Graham, Howard Keith and Ken
For the record the turnout was: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Gareth, Graham, Howard, Ken, Keith, MartinB, Maurice, Ric, Rod and Roger.
Rod visits Ireland, a little-known hamlet in Bedfordshire
Our thanks go to Graham for planning and leading an excellent outing.
Many’s the time we have cycled across Trumpington Meadows oblivious to the dinosaur dung. Yes, really. Coprolite is the fossilised faeces of animals that lived millions of years ago and it was mined here in Cambridgeshire for use as fertiliser right up to the First World War. Admittedly, the Trumpington deposits are now thought to comprise mostly other organic material, but there’s plenty of real dinosaur poo elsewhere in the county.
Trumpington Meadows’ coprolite mine in 1914 . . .. . . and how it looks nowPlenty more fossils to be seen on Trumpington Meadows
But enough of pre-history, how about something more recent, like Madingley Hall, the picturesque 16th century pile where we pulled up for coffee on Thursday’s ride.
Idling away the time at Madingley Hall
It’s a lovely place but, boy, is the service slow. We must have spent an hour there, though that did include a brief foray into the magnificent walled garden where Gareth took this splendid picture.
Gareth’s botanical study
Back at Café 19 in Duxford, Ric, top chap, announced it was his birthday and bought us all a beer. We didn’t ask his age but there’s a clue in that 1970s hairstyle.
Lunch at Duxford’s Café 19Happy birthday, Ric
For the record our peloton comprised: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Gareth, Geoff, Howard, Iain, Jenni, Jeremy, MartinB, Paul, Ric. Rod, Roger and Simon; Victor joining us for lunch.
Thanks again to Ric; that was a big round!
Thanks, also, to Jeremy for planning and leading another splendid outing.
Jeremy’s route; a 33 mile circuit clockwise from Duxford
Brian
PS: If fossilised poo is your thing you’ll love this, but maybe not before dinner.
Café 19, so named after the no. 19 Spitfire Squadron* based at Duxford during the war, was once again the starting point for Thursday’s ride. This time however, not only were we booked in for lunch afterwards, but Martin had also hired a meeting room and arranged a talk on local geography and history; more of which later.
Roger, Ric, Alan, MartinB and Charles at Cherry Hinton Hall
Jeremy’s plan had been for a largely off-road jaunt but, given the overnight rain, he wisely opted for a mud-free, tarmacked circuit instead. So it was that twelve** Windmillers set out from Duxford heading for Hinxton and thence Ickleton, Fowlmere, Shelford, Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn.
Cresting the Gog Magog Hills south of Cambridge
Pulling in for refreshments at Stapleford Granary, we were warmly welcomed and treated to free coffee; this as recompense for our last visit a month ago when it took nearly an hour for everyone to get served. Andrew’s subsequent complaint to the management seemed to work wonders. It probably helped that Lindsey, his better half, has a business elsewhere on the premises.
Coffee on the terrace at Stapleford Granary
Sipping coffee and munching cake on the terrace, we reminisced about our first visit five years ago which was notable for Andrew touring the arts centre and concert hall – and playing some thundering chords on the Steinway grand. This got the management’s attention (Lindsey again) and he was firmly asked to vacate the piano stool and shoo.
Refreshed, our 12-strong** peloton set off on the return leg via Great Shelford and Whittlesford, back to Duxford where we were delighted to be joined by Maurice, Ken and Victor – the latter having taken an unfortunate tumble from his bike and needing a little attention to his abrasions. Glad to say, nothing was broken.
A 33 mile figure of eight route from Duxford
After an excellent lunch, we listened to a very interesting presentation given by Ken McDonald, Secretary of the Hundred Parishes Society. The society celebrates and promotes our home patch, a region of some 450 square miles ranging across northwest Essex, northeast Hertfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire. Largely unspoilt and richly endowed with some of England’s finest villages and rural heritage, few people, indeed not that many of its inhabitants, know much about the area, maybe because it has never been accorded a name – until now. Coined by the Society, the new name reflects the fact that the area comprises some one hundred administrative parishes.
Ken, assisted by his Janice, his wife, gave an excellent talk, all the more enjoyable as it referenced many of the places we visit on Windmill Club outings.
Our thanks go to Jeremy for planning and leading the ride, Martin for arranging the talk and, of course, Ken and Janice McDonald for a very enlightening and enjoyable presentation.
Brian
*No. 19 Squadron was stationed at RAF Duxford from September 1939.Notable among its pilots was Douglas Bader who was posted to the squadron in February 1940. Later that year the squadron provided air cover over the Dunkirk beaches and subsequently fought in the Battle of Britain.
**The twelve Windmillers were: Alan, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Howard, Jeremy, MartinB, Nigel, Ric, Rod and Roger.
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 WindmillerAlan sensibly takes the bridge . . .. . . as does Roger
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!
Hazel at Hazel End
For the record, the peloton comprised Maurice, Keith, Howard, Graham, Victor, Iain, Simon, Hazel, MartinB, Alan, Roger, Jeremy, Ric and Brian.
28 miles clockwise from Braughing
Thanks go to Maurice for organising the ride and arranging the polo club visit.
The Windmill Cycle Club 