Saturday, August 23, 2008
M6 - Summer at Last - Saturday 23rd August 2008
The sunshine team
Cygnet out for a swim
Catching up on local wildlife news
Searching the ditch
Is it a grass snake?
No it is a puncture
Where does the wheel go?Fifty-Seventh Ride: Saturday 23rd August 2008
Routemaster: Doug
Riders: Doug Freeman, Janny Freeman, Steve Darby, Dave Shuttleworth, John Hancock, Pete Bones
Total mileage: 26.69 miles
Average Speed: 10.9 mph
Fastest Speed: 28mph
The M6 arrived at Harbury Village Hall for a 9am start, with the promise of “blue skies and fluffy clouds for this ride”. They were not to be disappointed by one of the few sunny days this summer, 14c to 18c, with 6mph wind from WSW. The ride had been advertised as between 15 and 25 miles, and the M6 were to be given the option of a shorter or longer circuit on route.
We set-off through Bascote to Long Itchington, and here we stopped by the pond to admire the swan, cygnet and ducks. We received a wildlife update from a local resident, and then headed off in the direction of Stockton, and joined the canal towpath at the Blue Lias. There were a number of narrow boats making their way up and down the flight of locks, and we left the tow path just after passing under Birdingbury Bridge.
We made our way via Gibraltar Bridge to Napton Hill, and at a regroup just before crossing A425, Janny noticed that her front tyre was almost flat. The inner tube was found to be beyond repair, and our spare inner tubes had Schrader valves, but Janny’s wheel could only take a presta valve. So we had to call on our M1 support team, and Lynne Cooke was summoned to rescue yet again… M7 gold star to Lynne.
The M5 continued on their adventure through Napton to Marston Doles. Here the M5 opted against the shorter route home via Southam, and instead headed for Priors Hardwick and on to Wormleighton where John’s scrumping detour only delivered one apple. The home journey was via Fenny Compton, Knightcote – where Dave left us to return home to Deppers via Hambridge Road, Bishops Itchington, and finally Bush Heath Lane into Harbury. Pete invited us to his Heber drive country retreat for coffee, and John and Doug readily accepted but Steve had to go shopping.
A fine sunny ride, wildlife on route, another puncture, excellent company, and coffee and water courtesy of Liz and Susie.
Doug.
