The weather today started with drizzle which cleared soon after 10.00. There was sun in the afternoon with temperatures up to 23C. Wind was NW in the morning and NE in the afternoon, note that, a headwind on the way out and a headwind on the way back!!

There were 2 rides today meeting up at Southsea. Harvey led the short flat ride via Hayling accompanied by newcomer David Sinclair. I led the longer hillier ride and I was joined by Colin and Gill.

We took a fairly standard route out via Westbourne, Rowlands Castle and Chalton to stop for elevenses at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park Cafe. Then it was on via Clanfield where the route went a little astray. I thought the turnoff I wanted was earlier than it was. We stopped by a turn to Hinton Amptner and Colin said it would get us to the route I wanted and the climb wasn’t too bad, half a mile of vertical climb later we stopped at the top to recover.

This was now all new roads to me which was good. A short way further on we pulled in to let about 20 horses and traps pass, sportive for horses maybe?

Then it was on to a lane new even to Colin via Denmead Mill and then down to Denmead. Then it was another new lane down to Southwick. Colin spotted a new Cafe in the Post Office at Southwick filed for future reference. Then it was the long but relatively gentle climb on the B Road to Portsdown Hill. A sharp fast downhill followed to Cosham.

We then followed the Cycleroute down the western side of the Portsmouth peninsular past the continental ferry Port. The Bank Holiday crowds were apparent as we passed the Dockyard where a great multitude filled the pavements waiting to enter. Another multitude filled Southsea Common for the International Kite festival which seemed bigger than ever. We easily found Harvey and David at the meeting point of the War Memorial where we had our picnics.

After lunch the groups merged and we headed east along the front. I led the group up paths and backstreets to get to the Eastern Road Cycle path. I took a route to the Langston Harbour footpath which goes alongside the water and avoids convoluted backstreets.

Further up we joined the cycle path following the eastern edge of the Portsmouth peninsular with good views over the harbour and then across to Havant via a footbridge over the A27.

Then it was through Havant and an ice cream stop at Flintstones Cafe, Emsworth Harbour.

As time was getting on we headed straight back to Chichester on the A259. As we neared the foot crossing of the Railway where the new bridge is some racing cyclists were coming the other way. When we reached the crossing, one of the other cyclists came back asking if we had a seen a Garmin Edge. I spotted it lying directly on one of the rails. A Train had just come through but on the other line, close one!!. It didn’t seem damaged by falling, the screen was still on.

Mileage from and back to Chichester was 58 for the long ride. My mileage from Pagham was 69.

On my way back home I took the lane via South Mundam and then the track across the fields to Summer Lane and Pagham. In a field beside the track some Sunflowers were growing. On one of them a bee was having a serious guzzle ignoring me however close I got the lens. I got this shot with my basic compact camera set to macro and slow synchro flash.

My latest HDR was taken Monday of last week on a day trip to London of the Atrium Roof of the British Museum using a fisheye lens.

For more details see http://edwinjonesphotography.com/blog/2013/8/british-museum-roof-fisheyed

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 20:47 BST

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