B Group Ride to Hurley

Light drizzle when I left home and it continued to 11‘s at Nibbles cafe Datchet. Pam, Terry, Dave W, Gill and Liz were already there soon to be joined be Peter T, John Scott, John D, Tony H and Steph, some had arrived by train and others had cycled.

Ready for the off from 11's

Coffee, tea, bacon rolls etc consumed and we were ready to set off. Liz, recovering from her broken wrist, headed home. About 400 metres later the rain increased and John Scott called it a day, waterproofs donned on we went through Eton, Dorney and Bray just after which we had our first visit from the puncture fairy, Peter T was soon had it sorted and on to White Walthan and onto NCN 4 where we had our second visit from the Horrid little nymph, this time she picked me. At this point I shortened the ride to lunch by a few miles as time was rapidly passing. Across the the Bath road to Burchett’s Green and into Honey lane passing close to the Drew Drop Inn and the decent to Henley Road and lunch at the Rising sun, not rising today!

 Mending a puncture in the rain

Settled in and dripping all over the pub floor we eagerly consumed our lunch, some not knowing the difference between a Baguette and a Ciabatta when it came to ordering or consuming!

Soaking wet and still smiling after lunch

Soon it was time again to don the wet waterproofs and head out again into the rain, no heavy hearts here, off we set and were soon amongst the puddles and onto back roads that were flooded. A nice un-metaled  road lead us to Switchback road North and the outskirts of Maidenhead. I decided to keep off the Bath road as much as I could and headed up to Taplow station hoping to cross back and into Marsh lane but the underpass was flooded so we continued to Lake end road and past the Pineapple pub, Eaton and back to Datchet almost dead on 4.00pm so we could still take tea at Nibbles cafe, again dripping wet. Drinks consumed everybody headed there own ways home.

Tea back at Nibbles cafe

A very wet but nice day out on the bike. I must thank all those who joined me and thank them for actually turning up on such a dismal day, B’s are obviously hardier than other groups, no turning back for us.

Tony..