Bognor Chichester CTC Ride Notes- Club Website is at www.bognorchichesterctc.org.uk
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Sunday 29 June. Tom Anderson Commemorative Ride
Colin led this ride using some of the Toms favourite back roads and tracks. 11 of us met at Walberton Pond. Colin, Phil & Verna, Harvey, Anne, Gill, Sue, Avryl, Jim and myself (Edwin) Bruce joined us at elevenses and John Wickens, John Maxim and Keith Dodman joined us at lunch. Christine and Bruce left us during the afternoon. We were joined at tea by Freda, Jim, Dave, Jan, Irene, Alan, Liz, Eric and Tony who rode direct to Joys for tea. This made a total of 24 out during the day and 22 at Joy?s for tea.
The weather during the day was very good with clear sunny skies early and late and sunny intervals and some cloud during the middle of the day. There was a strong south-westerly wind and temperatures up to 20 C.
From the Pond Colin led us up to Madehurst and then turned off on the farm road and track up to the top of the Downs at the parking area by Bignor Hill. We gathered for a group photo by the Signpost. We then cycled down the very steep road descent with its exceptionally steep bend. Then it was along to Bignor Roman Palace cafe for elevenses.
Colin then led us back through Sutton and Barlavington and then Coates and Coldwaltham to lunch at Wiggonholt.
After lunch we headed back via Amberley and then the Khyber Pass route with great views across the Arun Valley with poppies lining the fields. Then it was Burpham and lanes across to Warningcamp and Poling and a track across to Lyminster and down into Littlehampton for tea in Joys back garden. We enjoyed excellent hospitality with tea and a wide selection of cakes.
Many returned home on different routes. Colin led some of us back along the seafront across the footbridge and over to Yapton. I left the others here to head back on the coast.
Mileage from and back to the Walberton area was about 43. My mileage for the day was 58.
Edwin
There is a Slide Show below of this Ride. The Slide Show will play on this Website; refresh the browser to start it from the beginning. The best way to view it though is to click view all images and you will be taken to the Slide.com website and the Slide Show will play with larger sized pictures.
After very substantial breakfasts at both B& Bs we all met up for the ride at Nether Wallop Pub. After heavy rain all night the skies had cleared to bright sunshine and temperatures up so 21C. There was a strong WSW wind giving us a tailwind home.
We rode about 4 miles to Stockbridge with a climb over a ridge to meet up with the Awayday Ride. Avryl was leading this and was joined by Richard, Colin and Mike a CTC member from Kent who was staying in Southampton and had spotted our ride on the Website. Colin had taken a train to Eastleigh and had cycled from there. Richard, Colin and Mike came by car. The 10 of us had an early elevenses at Lilly Langtrees café.
Avryl then led us on lanes down the Test Valley. We saw a lot of other cyclists out on the quiet lanes. We headed south via Mottisfont. There were some stiff climbs and winding pretty lanes in an area many of us had not explored before. We eventually ended up at The Plough Inn, Sparsholt for lunch a few miles west of Winchester.
After lunch I led Linda, Adrian and Gill on a direct route home. Phil and Mary and Colin stayed with the Awayday riders aiming to complete that ride and then ride back.
The 4 of us took a route through Winchester and then a long climb up from the valley first on a B road out of town and then on the A272. From the top we had great views including Fawley and the Isle of Wight on the Horizon. Then we turned off on a lane with ups and downs along a ridge before descending to Warnford. Then it was a long climb out of the Valley to Old Winchester Hill. Then along the scenic ridge with views to the Meon Valley on one side and the coast and Isle of Wight on the other side.
We descended to Clanfield and stopped at the shop there for recuperation in the form of ice creams and chocolate milk. Adrian left us here to return to Portsmouth. I led Linda and Gill on a direct route back via Chalton, Rowlands Castle and Clay lane.
The days ride to Chichester was 62. My mileage was 70. I got back home about 6.30.
Today was a ride over to Nether Waller for a weekend away meeting up with the Awayday ride from Stockbridge tomorrow.
6 of us met up at Chichester Cross, myself (Edwin) Phil and Mary, Linda and Gill. Adrian joined us at elevenses.
Weather was overcast all day with spots of rain and drizzle occasionally but nothing very much. Wind was SSW so that extra bit of south in the direction gave us a good tailwind at times.
We rode via Clay Lane, RowlandsCastle and Finchdean to stop for elevenses at QE Country Park café. While we were there a school group set up a Steel band and starting playing.
We continued with a climb up to Butser Hill and then a fast descent to East Meon. Then along the Valley to West Meon and quiet lanes to Cheriton and then Tichborne for lunch. A dog kept us entertained, grabbing my seat at one stage.
After lunch we took quiet lanes alongside the River Itchen to the north of Winchester. Then more lanes via Crawley, a pretty little village with no Aircraft noise. Then an up and down rolling B Road to Stockbridge for tea at the Lilly Langtree Café.
Then lanes via Longstock and a climb past Danehill Ring before descending to Nether Wallop. Phil, Mary, Linda and Gill stayed at a B&B here while Adrian and I went on a few more miles to a B&B at Over Wallop.
We met up at a Pub in Nether Wallop for an Evening meal which proved quite interesting. The original Landlord had left and the villagers had taken over for a short period taking turns behind the bar. Today everybody was down at the village Green for a special event. The Pub was open but nobody about. A villager told us to help ourselves and settle up later which was apparently the usual routine when no volunteer was around. We had a bit of fun finding the bar lights and then poured ourselves some drinks. Phil was our chief barman.
Linda had ordered in advance an evening meal of Sea Bass and as the cook was late back he told us pudding would be thrown in free. We were left an apple pie and a strawberry flan with cream. Mary divided these into even portions and we ended up with 2 puddings each
Sat 21 June. Ride to Nether Wallop.
Today was a ride over to Nether Waller for a weekend away.
5 of us met up at Chichester Cross, myself (Edwin) Phil and Mary,Linda and Gill. Adrian joined us at elevenses.
Weather was overcast all day with spots of rain and drizzle occasionally but nothing very much.
We rode via Clay Lane, Rowlands Castle and Finchdean to stop for elevenses at QE Country Park cafi??. While we there a school group set up a Steel band and starting playing.
We continued with a climb up to Butser Hill and then a fast descent to East Meon. Then along the Valley to West Meon and quiet lanes to Cheriton and then Tichborne for lunch. A dog kept us entertained grabbng my seat at one stage.
After lunch we took quiet lanes alongside the River Itchen to the north of Winchester. Then more lanes via Crawley, a pretty little village with no Aircraft noise. Then an up and down rolling B Road to Stockbridge for tea at the Lilly Langtree Cafi??.
Then lanes via Longstock and a climb past Danehill Ring before descending to Nether Wallop. Phil, Mary, Linda and Gill stayed at a B&B here while Adrian and I went on a few more miles to a B&B at Over Wallop. We met up at a Pub in Nether Wallop for an Evening meal.
11 of us met at Chichester Cross. Alan & Liz, Freda & Jim, Kath, Richard, Christine, Steve, Elizabeth Medler and Bob & Gill Marshall. Adrian joined us at lunch.
We rode along Clay Lane and then the A259 and lanes through Prinsted and on to The Greenhouse Café Emsworth for elevenses.
We went on via Aldsworth to Stansted House Garden Centre for lunch.
After lunch both Elizabeth and Adrian went back. The rest of us took the back bridleway to Funtington and West Stoke and took tea at Freda and Jim’s house.
I led this ride and I was joined by 7 others at the Cross, Phil and Mary, Harvey, Linda. Anne, David and Keith Dodman. Weather was perfect with clear blue skies all day and temperatures up to 24C.
I led the group on the lanes across to Bosham Hoe and round the Harbour to Bosham for elevenses. We were joined there by Jim and Freda but they headed back after elevenses.
We continued to West Ashling, Watery Lane and then up to Funtington. Then the lane via Walderton and Stoughton to East Marden and the steep climb after the village Well. Then on to Hooks Way where Gill was waiting for us. We were joined a few minutes later by Ernie and Richard Boulton, the only 2 on the Arun Adur Ride.
We all stayed together for the afternoon ride starting with the steep climb out of Hooksway. Then onto the lanes from Chilgrove over to West Dean. Keith picked up a puncture but asked us to go on and he rejoined us at tea.
We took the Centurion Way to Lavant and a few more climbs on the lane across to Goodwood Park. For a change the Gate was open and we had a good ride through the Park. Then on to Boxgrove and down to the A27 where we gave the new Cycle Bridge the Clubs christening ride over it. This had only been open about a week. There are 3 ramps up each side. I had checked it on Friday on my milometer and the ride over the bridge comes to exactly 0.2 miles.
Then on to Avryl?s where we were joined by Arthur and Lynn and Sonia and other riders from the Moulton Club plus Alan, Liz, Mike, Eric. Freda, Jim, Irene, Dave and Jan and then Richard who arrived on his vintage motorbike. I counted a total of 28 including Avryl.
As usual the tables were groaning with great bowls of Strawberries with Cream and Chocolate and Carrot cake, a true feast for hungry cyclists and an ideal warm sunny day.
My mileage for the day from Pagham was 45.
Edwin
There is a Slide Show below of this Ride and of the Tea. The Slide Show will play on this Website; refresh the browser to start it from the beginning. The best way to view it though is to click ?view all images? and you will be taken to the Slide.com website and the Slide Show will play with larger sized pictures.
A fairly short ride tonight, frm the Arun Leisure Centre at Felpham, to the Black Horse at Climping, a pub the club has not visited "officially" for some years. Nice to see it back in the fold.
Four of us departed ALC on a very pleasant sunny evening, alan, Julian, John (R), and myself. Very little wind made for good cycling conditions.
We proceeded via the Roundle and Flansham down towards Elmer, leaving the road at Ancton for rougher tracks through Ancton Wood, joining the A259 just short of Climping turning. We have not used the track through Ancton wood for a while, but despite recent heavy rain the ground was hard-packed and firm. The main obstacle en-route, and the reason why we have not been this way for a while, is the broken bridge over the Ryebank Rife; however this has now been replaced with a very solid metal structure.
Back on the tarmac again, we continued to Climping roundabout, then to the pub via the school and the trackway into Climping Lane.
Return route was down to the beach and straight along the shoreline to Elmer and Felpham, at the request of John, who had not been that way before.
The beach was better than when i last ventured this way, but still required a bit of pushing across some of the looser pebbles.
The morning started with a sumptuous breakfast including dried fruit and strawberries. Weather was clear warm and sunny with some cloud later.
Linda made some enquires with the help of the hotel and found out that Cherbourg remained closed with no ferries going there from England but Caen was open. The decision was made to get a train to Caen from a Station at Valognes, 6 miles away. We would then get the 17.15 ferry today bringing forward our ferry from tomorrow. Linda made the calls, got the ferry tickets changed and cancelled tonight's hotel in Cherbourg.
A text from Phil indicated he was still waiting at Cherbourg so Linda rang him and advised him to head for Caen. We later heard he and Mary caught a ferry from Caen at midday after getting an early train.
We cycled the 6 miles to Valognes and booked ourselves and 11 bikes on the 13.15 train to Caen. We then had a few hours to wait around at a nearby café having coffee or hot chocolate and wandering around town.
A military operation was planned for the bikes with luggage taken off on the platform, and the ladies loading the luggage and the gents loading the bikes. There were 6 hooks for front wheels to hang up on and the others were piled against an entrance. The guard was very accommodating.
At Caen there was an exit down steps but Linda persuaded the station staff to lead us across the tracks.
Linda navigated us across Caen to the Cyclepath to Ouistram. This is a long paved path alongside the river with views of a ship being towed down the river and also passing PegasusBridge.
We were greatly relieved when we got on the ferry which sailed without incident.
My mileage, to Valognes, to Ouistram and after a train from Portsmouth to Chichester the ride home to Pagham totalled 27 miles.
Posted by RideLeader
at 22:33 BST
