A chilly but bright and sunny morning greeted the riders assembling in the Square, and the ride appeared to have seven takers, then one arrived precisely as we were setting off and another appeared as if from nowhere. But I had booked a table for 8! Anyway, I was sure we’d manage, even if it was Mother’s Day and the café likely to be busy. Unlike the roads actually which seemed to me to be much quieter than usual – which was very nice as we needed to use some of the main roads to achieve our objective.
A standard start over to Maisemore showed that we had a fairly strong tailwind, so that was handy for punctuality, but several voiced concerns about the ordeal to come in returning home. Well I always say don’t worry about that and deal with it when the time comes. Onwards and upwards (literally) as we tackled the climb of Woolridge and down to Ashleworth, then up again via Wickridge Street and the ensuing contours of the side of Corse Wood Hill, with a few ups and downs spreading our mini peloton along the route. Regrouping after the fast descent to the B road to Tirley, which we abandoned after a couple of hundred metres, we took the little-used (by us, anyway) lane to Tirley Knowle and through the sweeping bends taking us to the Corse Lawn road. This was fairly quiet on this particular spring morning and the tailwind had us speeding onward to the sting in the tail, i.e. the climb to Cold Elm. Descending to the A438 we saw signs and marshals for a cycling road race – organisers unknown, but a rare sight these days.
Ever onwards to the Mythe we went, this time with a bit of a gusty crosswind at times causing some wayward movements from the front end. After climbing the hill and proceeding through Shuthonger (blink and you miss it, especially with a tailwind) we regrouped at the garage and proceeded along the narrow lane via Church End, where a young lady driving in the middle of the road did not appear to see us coming until the last minute – I understand she was thought to have been texting. Shortly after this, on the climb from Twyning to Hill End another wayward car overtook us, then immediately indicated right and slowed almost to a halt to enter a driveway, causing us to slow and possibly emit a few choice words. Continuing, we crossed the M50 and enjoyed marvellous views of the Malverns spread out to our left, clearly visible in the bright spring sunshine. Declining to cross the M5, we turned left alongside it to descend with a reasonably disconcerting side wind to Hill Croome where the picturesque church was much admired (and easy to miss in that direction if you don’t know it’s there). A lovely flat, narrow and little-used lane then took us to the edge of Baughton where we joined the A road and turned straight into the wind – very strong, and thoughts turning once more to the return journey – maybe use the tailwind to go to Worcester, and come back on the train? Or call an Uber? Anyway, we soon turned right and out of the wind and proceeded via Earl’s Croome village to the garden centre on the main road, where various beverages and restorative comestibles were happily consumed. One rider had declined to stop and headed for home, meaning that our booking for eight was spot on! For a change.
Exiting the building for the return journey, it was apparent that the weather had changed; gone were the sunny blue skies and fluffy white clouds, to be replaced with various shades of grey (maybe as many as 50) and spots of rain on the wind. Now I know that March is supposed to be in like a lion and out like a lamb, but this was the wrong way round…
Near Upton three riders elected to take the more direct route back via Tewkesbury, with the other five of us zigzagging our way to avoid much of the wind, via Upton and Queenhill, and Longdon (where we saw the cycle race go through!), Forthampton, Chaceley etc to the Haw Bridge Inn where the fire was lit for us and beer was purchased and enjoyed. And only a few bits of rain to that point – but some proper rain after the pub.
Around 50 miles from the Square.
TB