Storm Babet having passed through, we were forecast to have an overcast day with a top temperature of 11°C and northerly winds; not ideal when the destination was Charfield, 29km to the southwest. Nonetheless, a dry start tempted seventeen riders to the tempo ride and a brisk wind assisted tempo was set along Stroud Road and into the countryside. At Frocester there was a rearrangement of the group, with four turning back for a coffee at Quedgeley and the more committed tackling the fearsome Frocester Hill. Regrouping at the top, two groups formed to facilitate vehicles overtaking along A4135. The fair wind persisted and made the rough tarmac before Cotswold Edge Golf Course fractionally more bearable for those still riding their narrowly shod summer bikes. The descent from the day’s high point of 249m through Wotton into Charfield was smooth and fast, and negotiated safely by all. Then a crossing of the Little Avon River and a short climb to and over the railway took the group to the site of the planned new railway station and, more importantly, the cake stop.
By this stage the sun had broken through, tempting us into sitting outside. A foray indoors was required to select from the various Halloween themed comestibles after which settled back to enjoy the unseasonal warmth resulting from the wind’s veering to the SW, at least if we were lucky enough to have a chair in the sun.
Those who sat in the shade, or who ate quickly, were itching to leave even though the hot food was yet to arrive. Accordingly, they set off first and enjoyed a following wind, until the gravel and rough roads caused the only puncture of the day. A quick change was thwarted by the pump’s refusal to release the valve and so a second tube was called for before we could set off for Michael Wood. Ironically the hot food fanciers passed by while repairs were being undertaken.
Despite all the recent rain the roads were dry, vindicating the summer bike selections, but the President, with his eyes on riding the canal towpath from Slimbridge, discovered a watersplash of some considerable depth under the rail bridge at Blanchworth. The towpath was dry though!
With the discovery of an excellent new café, a following wind in both directions, and the unexpected sunshine highlighting leaves that were showing their autumnal colours this was a truly an autumnal day to dream about.
MT