It was a tale of two 'bike adventures' for my latest 'A' group offering from New Haw. I proposed lunch at Greywell, followed by a a trundle through Hampshire lanes to Winchester for return by train, while Frances very kindly injected some welcome common sense and stability into proceedings by offering a more reasonable option - a ride back to Ripley after lunch at Greywell.
Given the blustery and unseasonably strong south-westerly wind which dogged us all the way to Winchester (it turned out to be a struggle through the lanes, rather than the promised trundle), I rather wished I had joined the group returning to Ripley. You make your bed of nails, and you must lie on it! Numbers were about evenly balanced between stalwarts and pragmatists on departure from our very efficiently organised, and reasonably-priced lunch stop at the Fox and Goose. Christina B, Dave E, Brian G, Neil W, Sue C and Clive joined me for the long haul into the wind and Dave V very kindly back-marked all the way. Meanwhile, Frances led her group off towards home with a helpful tailwind.
I am grateful to report that we had an incident-free ride. The only drawback with that is that it doesn't give you much to put in the ride report! Fortunately, Neil W and Dave E have provided some excellent photos to fill the gaps which would otherwise be blank!
We were too late for the cathedral tearooms, but still arrived at the station before 4.30 pm. Item for the risk register should I ever be tempted to offer this little jaunt again - Risk of being lynched at the station when those who did not buy advance tickets discover the cost of a walk-on fare! Likelihood medium. Consequences dire. Mitigate risk by practising sprinting and always carrying an open, single air-ticket to South America!
Many thanks to all for you company, and for putting up with it all, and special thanks to Frances and Dave V
Author: David W
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