What an excellent day out! Only three braved the Tempo ride this week, but we were rewarded with a delightful ride in beautiful sunshine.
The first leg to Birdwood along the A40 was hard work into the chilly wind (I let my young and enthusiastic companions do most of the pulling, there has to be some advantage to seniority). Once into the Flaxley valley there was enough shelter to dump gilets and enjoy the climb.
The whole of the road from Soudley to Blackpool Bridge has been resurfaced and is a joy to cycle on, a great improvement to the old tarmac, which offered no fun and the constant threat of a ticket to A&E.
On the climb to Parkend we met a fourth club member who was on his way to Bristol for Sunday lunch and rode with us to Tintern. We were pleased to provide some company and a bit of shelter from the wind.
More climbing through Sling and then the long descent to Bigsweir (could have done with my gilet back on) and then down the valley to Tintern. With our usual cafe closed we tried The Filling Station by the Abbey – limited indoor seating but excellent coffee and cake which we enjoyed outside.
The climb through the wireworks was a definite highlight, sunshine, spring flowers, burbling streams and birdsong. From there it was the usual route through Chepstow, over the bridge, and back through the lanes. 
The remains of the storm were now a very welcome tailwind and we flew along nicely, working well together as a team.
Early season legs dictated a second cafe stop in Berkeley, the youthful riders opting for enormous milkshakes with whipped cream.
A hugely enjoyable 76 miles with 4,196 ft of climbing at an average 15.7mph – not bad for the first long ride of the year on heavy winter bikes.
SP.