An amazing 10 riders set of on the ride in the wake of storm Claudia’s deluge. The autumn weather had been relatively kind but the inevitable change came with a vengeance.
Considering the predictable disruption that the storm had caused the captain initially quizzed me about the nominated route, given that a published major landslide would scupper or progress without an easy route change, I knew that even before we left the square it was going to be an “eventful” day out. We eventually set off down Westgate Street on our way to the Over roundabout and up through Highnam Village, and on through Rudford, Highleadon, taking the small climb up to Upleadon. Continuing over the
Tewkesbury Road and pushing as hard as I could, it soon became evident that my planned route was never going to be completed in time for the scheduled destination (Clive’s of Upton OS) in anything like a couple of hours, and moreover a re-routing of the ride was fast
becoming “higher than my pay grade”. Up steps the Captain and Theo who in a matter of minutes had planned an alternative route that would prove to rescue the situation. On through Brand Green, Pool Hill, we again climbed through ketford, and encountered a large Blue Tractor with a large trailer approaching along a single-track road. If you are familiar with group of Lions quietly wandering along their way, and encounter a Bull Elephant in their way, you understand the outcome……you move out of there as soon as possible and let it pass. Onward to Ryton there seemed to be an unauthorised break in the group. It turned out that 7 of the group had successfully passed slowly and carefully a group of 3 horses, without any trouble. But when one rider approached, going extra slowly, somehow got the horses spooked for no apparent reason. Perhaps it was the brightly coloured bike and neon pink helmet and shoe covers (I wonder who that was), the larger horse at the front reared and stopped, and the two smaller horses behind turned and ran back the way they came. So along with Alistair and Colin who had just brought up the rear, the three riders decided to stop and let the horses regroup and pass. This took quite some time as the horses needed a lot of reassurance and encouragement to actually get past, phew!
On to Ryton and then over the M50, then briefly onto the Ledbury Road, one rider left us who had another pressing appointment, and the remainder of us took a left up into Bromsberrow where my route ended and knowledge of the two “good Samaritans” came into play. Meandering through the lanes up to the Hollybush (was I the only one not knowing where we were…yes), over the A438 skirting the Gullet Quarry, we made our way to Wellend. Anyone on a ride I led a few years ago will remember one of the coldest/wettest rides I led, although traumatised I managed to contain myself and we turned right along Drake Street and then first left and “hey presto” we were back on the planned route only a few miles from our destination, and back on time arriving at Clive’s at 11.13am. At least I can confirm that as ride leader something went to plan, I had pre-booked a table and they were there waiting for us, two clear tables inside in a warm a toasty farm shop.
On the return home I foolishly questioned the route and yet again was proved wrong in my orientation, or maybe it’s an attempt to be excluded from leading ……. you decide?
On a more serious note, just approaching Tirley, the Captain and myself noticed what must be two fairly new born lambs with their mother in a field with other more mature sheep, not being a “country boy” I thought it seemed to be a little late for new lambs in mid-November, and fortunately the capital agreed so “it must be right”. We eventually went our separate ways at the junction, with no road closed signs indicating any potential issues, the majority turn left to get to the Hawbridge Inn, one rider risked taking the Wainlode’s route (which was fortunately just about passable) and two of us playing safe heading through Ashleworth.