Six souls braved what was the first chilly and autumnal day of the year for the AA ride to Tewkesbury; windproof jackets were the order of the day as we left Gloucester by the usual route to Maisemore where we turned off by the pub to skirt round the back of the church. We soon warmed up with the climb of Woolridge Hill where great views were to be had east to the Cotswolds and north west to the Malverns.
After Hartpury we dived into the lanes past Blackwells End and re-crossing the A417 at Hethelpit Cross then into Pendock. Straight across after the wooden church we found a lovely bit of smooth tarmac over the M50 before turning off into the lanes through Berrow, Birtsmorton and the edge of Longdon. A quick flirtation with the main road under the M50 before we turned left through Slades Green and Bushley green. This rewarded us with the lovely descent to Bushley and the last main road run into Tewkesbury. Coffee was had at Coffee No 1.
We lost one rider after coffee as they were staying out and planning on meeting the early risers at the lunchtime pub.
Our return journey took us through the now non existent village of Walton Cardiff and the ever increasing housing estate. I remember when it was all just fields. We then followed the roads via Tredington, Stoke Orchard, Boddington and Staverton.
JD