Cycle-2024-04
Cycling Report for 11th April 2024
Five riders set off from Cheddar reservoir on a mild, windless day heading through Axbridge and onto the Strawberry Line to Winscombe where we picked up a further rider at the recreation ground. We then headed straight into Winscombe for a very early coffee & cake break at my favourite stop, the bakers! Fortunately, no one was eating in the bakers so there was just enough room for us to all sit down and enjoy the fresh cakes, coffee and low prices!
Having had an early coffee stop, we now had 2 hours cycling to get to our lunch stop and decided to use the public loos but found that they were all locked...disaster! Apparently the result of cut backs! Furthermore, it also started to rain albeit very lightly.
Undaunted, we carried on to Sandford to join the quiet ‘flatlands’ towards Puxton and on the way met Linda making the seventh rider. We then crossed the A370 towards Wick St. Lawrence eventually climbing up onto the ‘toll road’ at Kewstoke where we stopped to get our breath back (or at least those of us on non-electric bikes) and admire the view out to sea and across Sand Bay. We decided to record this ‘memorable occasion’ via a group photo when, miraculously, the sun shone briefly for the first time that day!
We carried on along the toll road, through Weston Woods, while trying to admire the extensive views out to sea through the trees while ignoring the mudflats. We then dropped steeply down into Weston-Super-Mare and onto the end of the Esplanade where we rode along trying not to run into any pedestrians. Once off the Esplanade we cycled through Uphill to pick up the cycle path eventually crossing back across the A370 and stopping for a good lunch at the Bleadon Farm shop & cafe where, unfortunately, Linda had to leave us.
Suitably, refreshed we rode up through Bleadon village and on to Loxton returning to Winscombe recreation ground where Clive got back to his car, and yours truly managed to fall off his bike sustaining a grazed knee! Fortunately, nurse Denise was on hand with the first aid kit and managed to patch me up. From here we cycled back the last few miles to Cheddar reservoir recording close to 33 miles. My thanks to those who supported the ride.
Ron S.
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Cycling Report for 25th April 2024
I was delighted when eight keen pedallers were able to join me at Avalon Marshes for a showery ride to Bere Cider Farm. We set off in light rain but thankfully little wind and not too cold. After toiling up Turn Hill we arrived at the coffee stop and sat in the porch to enjoy mouth-watering cakes, coffee and conversation.
On the road again, we followed the route as planned. The rain stopped for a while, then started again which made cycling alongside the full Sedgemoor Drain a messy process. The wet cinder path threw up red splashes all up our backs, never mind the bikes. A little further on I think we all made the short but steep incline on to the old railway line before our belated lunch stop at J's Bistro. Amid the building works going on in the old Red Deer field we enjoyed a panini and a chat to see us the short distance back to the start.
Thank you all for your support today, I enjoyed your company. Just under 29 miles.
Linda
(Route: Avalon Marshes, Shapwick, Pedwell, Nythe, Bere Cider Farm;
Othery, Thorngrove, Weston Zoyland, Chedzoy, Parchey, King's Sedgemoor Drain, Bawdrip, Cossington, J's Bistro in Chilton Polden;
Edington, Catcott, Shapwick, Avalon Marshes.)
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