Sunday 29 April - Chichester Cross to Arundel
Since most members where in the process of travelling back from Spain, the
peleton at the cross today consisted of Harvey (leading), Jo, Linda &
myself.

It was a clear and sunny day with a cool breeze keeping the temperature down
to the mid teens. We set of down East Street and headed into the parched
landscape of the famous 'tearoom desert' east of Chichester. We rode
through Westhampnett, past the Rolls Royce factory and then along the A27
cycle path before heading to Walberton Pond via Norton.
We stopped for a quick breather at Walberton Pond before pressing on east
through Binsted and Binsted wood.

We arrived in Arundel around midday. I had the full English breakfast with
a pot of tea in the Tudor Rose Cafe whilst the others had sandwiches by the
river. After my lunch in the cafe I wondered down to the river and finished
off my meal with an ice cream. After chatting for a while outside we
saddled up and set off.

As we headed south the cool breeze had been replaced with a warm one and we
enjoyed June like temperatures in the mid twenties, and were accompanied by
a soundtrack of singing skylarks as we bowled along. We pushed on through
Ford, Barnham & Eastergate before skirting Oving and approaching the
Tangmere airfield museum cafe via the path across the old airfield.

Upon arriving at the cafe we discovered it was packed, as the West Kent
chapter of the Matchless Motorcycle Owner's club had ridden over from Kent
there that morning. Just to add to the numbers Lynne & Arthur then turned
up with a 20 strong continguent of the Moulton club and the cafe grounds
became a sea of two wheeled vehicles. Soon after this the tiny cafe kitchen
which was already under strain with the great numbers went into complete
meltdown and we decided this was as good a time as any to leave and head
home.

My mileage for the day was 102km.

Adrian