On very warm Friday 20th July Pam, Tim, Vic and Terry met for an early lunch at JDW Woking before catching a train to Parkstone. At Sandbanks we met disgruntled Dave (Ward) who had cycled most of the way only to have a saucy seagull steal his piece of carrot cake. A quick trip on the chain ferry and we arrived at Studland. After about a seven mile ride we reached Swanage to have a late 3s at the railway station and watch, smell and hear T9 4-4-0 30120 bring a train into the station. We then headed UP to the Youth Hostel (I'm sure the hill wasn't as steep when I rode it sixty-five years ago on fixed). The Hostel has recently been refurbished, is spotless and the meals, wine and beer most acceptable.
Saturday (again warm) we decided to follow a route suggested to Terry by the local Tourist Office. This took us directly to picturesque Corfe Castle. The Purbecks are a series of reasonable undulations with an occasional larger one thrown in. We soon found one of those - but very often you get a wonderful view, frequently of the sea. We continued, fortunately the Army weren't using the firing ranges so we reached the planned 11s stop at Wool. A slight route change was made to use even less busy roads through Worgret. Wareham was reached in good time for lunch. Streets were closed to non-cyclists for the annual Town Day. The afternoon route took us through Stoborough to Corfe Castle via further undulations, a leisurely ice cream stop then back to Swanage. About forty-five miles - quite enough in that temperature. Most of our ride was on Cycle Routes which are quite well signposted.
Vic chose to 'do his own thing ' whilst Tim led the way on Sunday - to Corfe Castle via Langton Matravers and Kingston then up the big hill from yesterday. Descending we saw Lulworth Castle in the distance before passing Lulworth camp (tanks at the gate) to West Lulworth before turning off for Winfrith Newburgh (glimpses of former nuclear power station). Having got a local's recommendation we had a very nice lunch at East Knighton. After passing through Wool a splendid route via Stoborough to Corfe Castle for 3s then a different route to Swanage - we found a shop selling twenty-four different flavours of ice cream/sorbet. Bliss! Again about forty-five miles, again quite enough.
Dave had to get home promptly on Monday and caught a train. Using a different route to the chain ferry we passed the railway 'works', coaling plant etc, very photogenic. On finding Cycle Route 2 we found it was not available to cyclists during July and August ! While Tim was finding an alternative a couple of local cyclists volunteered to help - to start with they took us home for 11s. They then led us to our original route - so kind and helpful. We were able to keep off main roads and had lunch at Bransgore then after stopping to admire New Forest ponies passed through Burley before joining the A35 to Lyndhurst. Fortunately there is a very good cycle track between Lyndhurst and Ashurst but from there to Totton and northwards we were very adjacent to a busy dual carriageway/motorway. At Hursley we rejoined country lanes to Winchester and soon found our b and b. This was a wonderful old building run by excellent hosts Dotty and Nick. Another very warm day, about fifty-eight miles.
Vic volunteered to lead us from Winchester to Farnham - he knows a very quiet route.11s were at New Alresford railway station, in time to see a train depart and by the time we finished another had arrived. Wonderful. This route was exceedingly quiet, we saw far more livestock than vehicles. Vic incorporated a few diversions, including good views of the River Itchen and Field Marshal Montgomery's home. Lunch was at JDW at Alton, before pressing on to the outskirts of Alton where we again took to the lanes. We had to briefly use the A31, but soon turned off to 3s at The Maltings, Farnham, after which we went our separate ways. Fifty plus miles on another very warm day.
Thanks everyone for your company and efforts in unusually hot conditions.
Terry
PS The couple who helped us out near Bournemouth were Tony and Kathy Lane and they are prepared to help out cyclists in the area, they use: https://www.warmshowers.org/
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