Filling the gap between the Novice and Tempo rides was today’s intermediate pace ride, billed as 12-16mph. The chosen route made this a very optimistic assessment for the two participants. Up Nut Hill and Fiddler’s Elbow to Craham Corner they discussed how much harder hills have become, but it’s possible that the onset of rain and a head wind were as important as advancing years in creating this impression!
Turning into Mill Lane Kevin observed that he’d been down it recently and found it in a poor state. Though this did not deter us, our joint observation confirmed his opinion. No matter, we continued to Jack’s Green and imagined what fine views we could have had across the Painswick valley, had the weather been kinder.
Upwards again, to cross the Slad Road and for a while we enjoyed clear skies. At one point, near Gifford’s Circus Big Top, we realised that we could look to right or left from our high road and see rain falling below us in both directions. It was not to last.
We skirted Stroud to reach Bowbridge and tackled the steady climb of the former turnpike road up Butterow. No tolls to pay, despite the sign!
Again we enjoyed imagined views, this time of the Brimscombe Port site, still undeveloped after all these years, before topping out at the Bear in what had become quite heavy rain. Hoping to gain some shelter we avoided the Common. The road through Houndscroft, St. Chloe, and Theescombe usually offers good views across the Nailsworth stream but as rain coated our glasses and the cratered road surface demanded our attention we missed these too.
Finally, we saw something we’d been looking for – a Café sign! Off with the capes and into the warm dry Canteen to join the Novice riders, already tucking into breakfast baps and cakes. As our ride leader was contemplating catching the 11:57 from Stroud as a return option the sun came out and he dismissed the idea, only to regret it as the rain returned for our ride back along the Nailsworth and Frome valleys.
We reached the Severn’s valley as the sun came out. That and a generous back wind made for pleasant ride home, so nice that by the time we reached Gloucester only our gloves were still wet.
MT