Rather than getting up in the wee small hours a good number of riders turned up for my ride to Hailes.
Starting off with a rather annoyingly cool north/north easterly wind thought was given to those doing the 150 mile challenge. We made our way out via Staverton, Boddington and onto Tredington where we took the second right towards Fiddington. We reached Ashchurch where I think the new houses and Outlet Village took us all rather by surprise. Behind the army camp and I think the early hour resulted in that road being v quiet.
Soon after that we entered the Cotswold National Park just before Kemerton. Onwards through Overbury and Conderton we discovered that they had just tar sprayed the flowing descent to Beckford-bit of caution required. It was in Beckford we made a stop because Adrian’s brake had been rubbing since home 
Soon fixed we took the left towards Ashton under Hill but turned right where we spooked a Hare, who decided to run towards the main road. We quickly ‘backed-off’ and it ran into the field before the main road. We dispatched the main road by turning to the village of Dumbleton- home to a lovely Cricket pitch and pavilion.
We left Dumbleton and headed through to Wormington. Onto the old A46 we soon turned off to Stanton which seemed full of tourists whose photos we kept ‘photo- bombing’. We soon encountered a traffic jam – no, not cyclists but a small procession of vintage tractors.
Much to Adrian’s dismay we avoided the climb of Stanway to continue through Didbrook and onto the cafe- forgot that little kick to the cafe!!
After a lovely break two groups made their way to either the pub or home to Gloucester. With an event on at Prescott there were many exotic cars out including a Metro 6R4 – classic and lethal in the wrong hands.
The Gloucester group split again in Gotherington with some going straight on to Tredington whilst me and Carl went via Bishops Cleeve and I introduced Carl to the route through the racecourse. Onto the cycle path, Honeybourne Line and the green lane home. Lovely day to be out.
JD