2014 Cycling

September

The Cross, Cauldon Lowe

Our third visit to the Peak District this year took nine riders to the Manifold Valley.

We enjoyed lunch at The Cross, Cauldon Lowe where we met up with Tony Loach and made plans to visit this year's NEC Motorcycle Show.

L to R: Ben Crossley, Ian Bower, John Ashworth, Derek Jordan, Richard Clark, John Muschialli, Dave Parry, Bob Nash, Tony Loach, Nick Reeves.

Roll your mousewheel to zoom into the above picture - if you can bear to.

On our return we paused at the Charles Cotton Hotel in Hartington for coffee and cake.

Rose and Crown, Thorney

Seven riders gathered at Tony Bradley's house in Northborough and this year we were not blown away by a gale. We set off for Peterborough and didn't let a puncture deflate our spirits.

The cycle routes in Peterborough are numerous, well signed and good surface making it a pleasant ride even in the middle of the town. From Peterborough we cycled east on the North Bank of the River Nene to ... er ... Northside and then headed north to Thorney.

After lunch at the Rose and Crown in Thorney, we set off at a cracking pace to return to Tony's without a pause for cake or ice creams. So Tony saved our lives with coffee.

The Greystones, Sawtry

Ten riders found their way to Lyveden New Bield (eventually). Should have checked the route on Google Streetview. There was a guy from Google at the car park preparing to add this to their locations by wandering round with the back-pack camera array. Sooner him than me.

Did I mention that Google Streetview has a location that I photographed? Click here!

We set off looking for a shortcut through to the east. That is not a photo of a ploughed field - it's our route! Not green laning, this was  brown  laning.

We emerged nettle-stung and muddy to eventually find our way to Sawtry for lunch at The Greystones. Excellent food, reasonable prices and big portions.

What can it be that is distracting the attention of people from their beer and the good company? Is it the Scottish Independence Referendum?

After lunch the sun finally broke through and we had the wind behind us for the ride back.

We paused to remember and appreciate the bravery and sacrifice of American Airmen at Polebrook Airfield Memorial. Then we pressed on for coffee and cake at Oundle.

Bulls Head, Thringstone

This week a dozen Embers met at the Bulls Head. John Ashworth and Grahame Billington cycled all the way from Syston to warm up on a chilly morning.

The first loop of our figure 8 route took us north anticlockwise past Cloud Quarry where we stopped for bananas.

We returned to the Bulls Head to meet Tony Loach at lunch time. We would have stayed longer but the sun was out, the day warming up and the road beckoning.

Our afternoon jaunt was to St Josephs Tea Rooms where we met Helen Ayriss and her sisters. A good place for tea and cakes.

John and Grahame were well refreshed for the long ride home. A fine conclusion to September.