To misquote Lady Bracknell, “To lose one rider may be regarded as a misfortune…” but by Tredington our leader had carelessly lost three. “Too fast, too slow”, were the unheard cries: his hearing’s not the best, you know. However, the remaining half of the original group from Kings Square pressed on through familiar roads to reach Stumps Cross. Aiming for less familiar territory the leader chose a rare visit to Cutsdean, taking in a gravel enhanced descent, a church of note and a long drag back up to the ridge. Another forested roller coaster to Hinchwick took us to the wicked steep potholed descent from Cadley Hill to Moreton before welcome refreshements ahead of the queue at Cotswold Cycles.
Leaving showtime in Moreton behind, the briefest off-raod enabled us to follow the Evenlode as far as Adlestrop and a most enjoyable long descent from Kingham Hill to Kingham. Confused by a bridge over the railway (it was disused, not the expected main line to Oxford / Worcester) and a considerable tail-back of festival traffic, our leader erred. Aided by map navigation, a gratuitous loop to Milton-under-Wychwood was required before recovering his bearings to pass through Idbury and the Westcote villages, observing two Red Kites circling ominously close-by. A short stretch of main road soon took us to a very steep but mercifully smooth arrowed descent to Wyck Rissington and another church of note. The village green here is a cracker. Another mile or two took us back into more familar country through The Slaughters to Guiting Power and a welcome from two ‘A’ riders with (second) full glasses. (photo). The highly recommended Cotswold Gold proved its worth before the combined party headed up to Hawling and the pheasant filled roads down to Brockhampton and its ford.
Some evidently tired legs were revitalised for the last descent to Cheltenham but it was agreed to have been a grand day out: rail crossings of all descriptions, leader’s errors (apologies made!), great scenery, old routes revisited, a cautious ford crossing, new lanes discovered, great cycling weather, good coffee stop, good beer (and cider) and 82 undulatiing miles. Why stay at home?
