Six members met at the Cross for the 7 am start of the 100 mile ride to north Hampshire: Linda, Ann, Gill, Colin and Mary and Phil. We took a direct route to Funtington, then over the hill and up the valley to Compton. We turned left after Compton and crossed over into the Finchdean Valley, then climbed the steep hill and descended to Chalton. We continued past Butser farm to the A3, then passed the Hoggs Lodge to descend to Clanfield where we met Christine at the Rising Sun. From Clanfield, we continued to the Bat and Ball, then climbed to the Meon Ridge, passed the Sustainability Centre, then descended to the Meon Fly Fishery.

Christine had suggested the Fly Fishery for breakfast as it is open from 8:30 am and provides bacon baps and home baked muffins on Sunday mornings in a delightful setting by the pools. We met Adrian and Bill (another Portsmouth rider) at the Fly Fishery and dug into the bacon and egg baps and muffins, washed down with tea and coffee.

Fortified, we continued past East and West Meon to Warnford and then took the road by the Watercress beds to climb Wheely Down and then turn right through Kilmeston and Cheriton. We turned left through Tichbourne to skirt New Alresford to the south, then headed north to East Stratton, crossed the M3 to West Stratton, then continued to Micheldeaver station. From there, we went north towards Whitchurch, but missed the left turn and came out on the B3400 at Laverstoke. Since this was on our route to Overton, we then turned right and continued to Overton where we stoppped for lunch in the town square. There is a convenience store where you can buy sandwiches and two or three pubs though the only one tried did not serve food on Sundays. Gill was feeling a bit under the weather at his point and headed back to Micheldeaver station to catch a train home.

From Overton we headed south east through North Waltham to Axford with the wind now against us, then turned right through Preston Candover, crossed Bugmore Hill and dropped through Old Alresford to New Alresford where we stopped for tea at the tea rooms at the back of the Swan Inn.

From New Alresford we continued east towards Ropley Dean and the dropped south to West Meon, then East Meon. Christine, Bill and Adrian left at this point to continue south, whilst the remaining five riders, followed the road past Ramsdean to cross the A3 south of Petersfied and drop into Buriton. Up the steep hill from Buriton we climbed, and then descended through the forrest to Finchdean and Rowlands Castle where we stopped outside the convenience store to fortify ourselves for the last 10 miles.

From Rowlands Castle, we took the road to Westbourne then the usual route back to Chichester except for a minor diversion at the end to ensure Linda's milometer stopped at the right number - 100.5 miles!

Phil Turner

(+ thanks to Colin for the pictures)