The ride leader having, unusually, posted the planned route set off from the Square with a dozen companions, confident that the group could and would stay on track. How wrong could he be? After picking up an extra at Castle Meads we were no longer an “unlucky thirteen” as fourteen turned by the White Hart to tackle Over Old Road.
Alas, at Hartpury, the first breakaway had four riders haring down the A417 as the group turned for Ashleworth. After a regrouping at it’s Hub the group split again climbing Wickridge St. and the turn towards Hasfield caught out a further set of renegades. Things had calmed down by Tirley Knowle and at Long Green an orderly crossing of the A438 saw us on the way to Longdon. The rollers and long false flat up to Tunnel Hill necessitated another regrouping before sweeping through Upton, over the Severn and out along the new cycle path to Ryall’s Lane.
Joining the A38 a deliberate split to make overtaking easier took place but unfortunately the ride leader found himself in the second group. Fast pedalling was required on his fixed wheel bike to catch the front runners and signal the turn into unfamiliar territory – Uckinghall. At a crossroads our coffee destination was signposted left but lessons had been learned and no one was seduced by it. The ride leader arrived and signaled a right turn and for the first time we experienced the full force of the day’s westerly wind. Observing a long and straight embankment to our right we mourned the passing of the rail line to Upton (the source of Tunnel Hill’s name) and sped through Uckinghall towards Puckrup Hall where a truly English scene was playing out – the village cricket ground, now surrounded by a golf course, was in use. No dodgy Australian appeals here woud get the batsman out!
Finally, we emerged for the last time onto the main road, crested Mythe Hill, and swept in to the melée of (almost) stationary traffic that is Tewkesbury High St., bang on time for a very warm welcome at Café au Chocolat. As always, after coffee the varied attractions of home and pub split the attendees with riders heading back to Gloucester via A38, Tredington, Walton Cardiff, or Cheltenham’s Hewlett Arms.