An outing to Winchester – 'A' ride 18 April

I planned this trip during the March heatwave. Imagine us all cycling through beautiful Hampshire countryside – dappled sunlight playing on our faces as we cycled down bosky lanes; vistas of sun-drenched fields; sunshine glinting off the watercress beds as we cycled between gurgling streams. Well, we could only imagine it yesterday, since the sun was replaced by a lot of rain and a severe weather warning of rain, hail, thunder, and inundated roads. Strangely, Weybridge day centre was much quieter than usual. The North Cheam contingent numbered only Les! As and Bs only mustered about 8 riders each, and a large number of sausage rolls remained uneaten.

Despite this, Rob, Peter Betts, Dave, Ged, John B, Mark and myself set off on our longer-than-usual ride, accompanied for the first few miles by Pete Barnard who later went off to recce another route. The idea was seeded by Vic's recent encouragement to visit different places, further afield; catching the train back so we could avoid crowds(!) of people trying to catch the same train out to 11's. In the event, crowds were not a problem. We went via Foxhills to Chobam, Knaphill and Pirbright, then over Tunnel Hill and Mytchett to Ash, where Greyhound had a special offer on a curry and a drink, and we narrowly missed a heavy downpour.

Emerging to sunshine, we paid a short cultural visit to the Hog's Back brewery, then from Tongham to Runfold and more or less south to Tilford. John's cape was acting as a sail in the strong southerly wind so this was quite a challenge for him. Thence across to Millbridge and Frensham: beautiful countryside on a nice day and not bad in the rain; through the Alice Holt forest and due west to Binsted and Alton, where we had tea and impressive cakes in Poppins cafe with 40 miles on the clock, after which John left us for home. The route to seemed to be blocked by a large hill, but this was overcome by cake-power, then it was plain sailing through Alresford and along a tiny lane between two streams, taking us almost to Winchester. Just as the end was in sight, Mark punctured: it appeared that a large flint (perhaps a neolithic arrow-head?) had got into his tyre.

We arrived around 6pm, wet, tired, thirsty and happy, for another cultural visit to The Eclipse Inn, which dates from about 1540 and was originally used by pilgrims to the nearby shrine of St Swithun, and is haunted by the ghost of Lady Alicia Lisle.

Many thanks to Dave for acting as back marker, and to all who came, for your company.