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Character building in the Cotswolds. |
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On Sunday 17th Keith Daffern led out 13 or 14 hardy, or possibly foolhardy, souls towards the rain soaked Cotswolds. Waiting in the exposed lay-by on top of Loxley Hill, enjoying the full force of the weather whilst the leather-wearers donned their waterproofs, it did cross my mind to chicken out and settle for the Sunday papers in front of a warm radiator at home but my innate stupidity prevailed. Our route to the breakfast stop at Cotswold Farm Park would have left bloodhounds on the track of a fugitive floundering, a less direct and more convoluted course would be hard to imagine and it was a credit to Keith’s ingenuity and his Sat Nav. It is testament to his skill that the only blip was contemplating turning into Jonjo O’Neill’s racing establishment at Jackdaw’s Castle. Few ride out leaders can have arranged a meeting with a TV celebrity over breakfast but Keith but did us proud by having Adam Hensen from Countryfile to hand whilst we tucked into his eggs and bacon. The weather briefly brightened and we set off for Swindon by a similarly unlikely and interesting route, only to arrive at George White’s substantial showrooms in a miserable drizzle. It would have been hard to find a more suitable destination considering the weather. A multitude of bikes to sit on and admire, a mind-numbing array of biking gear, all the gadgets you could wish for and a comfortable coffee bar – all in a warm, dry environment. Great! I seem to remember a short dry spell on the journey to Burford but after that, things definitely went down hill. Taking a break at the tea van outside just off the A40, I was used as a human target by an anonymous member of Burford Golf Club. No sooner had I been subjected to friendly (or more likely unfriendly) fire, than the heavens opened and the next fifteen miles (during which we appropriately passed through Moreton in the Marsh) were akin to biking through Niagara. Apologies for lack of details of the route but although I know which villages we passed through, I am a little hazy as to the order in which we travelled through them. I hope Keith repeats this ride, (perhaps he could try for Julia Bradbury or that nice Alice Roberts for breakfast), I know that through a clear visor and on dry roads there’s a lot to see and enjoy and the route should have been a real treat. Two good ride outs in one week (Pitsford on Wed.), CWAM must be one of the busiest groups, so much to do, so little time! |
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