Sunday 28 January Ride to Midhurst

For a change a dry day for the Ride today. It was mainly cloudy with light winds and temperatures of around 10C but reaching the dizzy heights of 15C when the sun came out in the afternoon. Jeff was the leader and he was joined at Chichester Cross by myself, Sam and Russell. We chatted to a lady who admired Russell’s Bike. I asked her to take our picture so apologies for the quality but she managed to get it out of focus probably by partly covering the lens with a finger.

We headed out on a unique Jeff route taking lots of back routes and paths in a Tour of Chichester style coming out by Homebase. Then it was on via Westhampnett and Strettington to join the lane over the Downs up Sculpture/ Pillygreen Hill. Then down to East Dean and the valley lane  to join the main road at Upwaltham. After a fast descent of Duncton Hill we joined the quite lane to Seaford College and on to Graffham where we stopped for Elevenses at Graffham Village Shop.

I headed home via a Heyshott and Cocking soon after we left while the rest continued to lunch at Midhurst. Jeff continues the narrative as follows with thaks for the pictures –

We did the back roads to Lavington and all enjoyed a roast beef sandwich at Garstons Cafe Midhurst.

Then something strange happened, the sun came out . So we jumped on the bikes and headed out to Bepton where Sam’s computer recorded 15° briefly.

We stopped so I could try Russ’s saddle and Sam tried my bike which he liked (he has never been complimentary about my bikes before ! ) I liked the saddle so it was back slapping all round.

The back roads to Cocking were what you would expect in the winter.

From there it was the main road to Singleton where Russ and Sam turned east for a pm coffee stop at Aldingbourne. I headed back to Lavant on road then Centurion Way back to Chi. My mileage read only 36 miles but everyone agreed it was  a good ride.

Jeff

Edwin continues

On the return ride I spotted quite a few showdrops at the side of the road, nice to see as a first sign of spring. These were taken near Heyshott Common

My mileage from and back to Pagham was 46.

There follows a couple of pictures taken mid month on the Camera Club North Cornwall Seascape photography Worksop

Edwin

Saturday 27th January 2018, Ride to Hilliers Garden Centre Café

Eight cyclists (Philippa, Roy, Bev & Colin, Steve & Carol, Harvey and Chris) gathered at Chichester Library for a short ride to Hilliers Garden Centre at Fishbourne.

 The weather forecast for the afternoon was light rain, with it turning heavier late afternoon; however, as it was a short ride starting at 1 pm, I was confident that we would be home and dry before the heavy rain came along.  Oh dear!  How wrong I was!

We left the library and headed west towards Westgate.  After going over the level crossing, we turned right down Clay Lane.  We then took a right hand turn at the crossroads with Salthill Road.  Unfortunately, as we made our way north, the rain started to get heavier.  At the end of Salthill Road, we took a right hand turn onto the B2178 and then two left hand turns to take us into West Stoke Road.

By this time, the rain was heavy and relentless.  We went through West Stoke and briefly paused at West Stoke Village Hall in order to show Steve & Carol where our AGM takes place.

We then cycled down Lye Lane, crossed back over the B2178 and carried on southwards down Moutheys Lane, towards the junction with Clay Lane.  Here we turned right and then left over the bridge spanning the A27, before taking a bridleway which took us over the railway line to Brooks Lane in Bosham.  From here, it was just a short trip along the cycle path alongside the A259 to Hillers Garden Centre.  We arrived looking like drowned rats! After getting out of our wet gear, we settled down to a nice cup of tea and cake.

It was still pouring with rain when we left, so we took the quickest way back to Chichester, continuing along the cycle path alongside the A259 and getting back to Chichester at approximately 3.45 pm.

Philippa

Saturday 13 January Manor Nursery Runcton (2nd Report)

The ride left Bognor Library led by Steve, Carol led the ride back. There were 18 rider’s on today’s ride, weather was cold but dry.

We made our way to Highfield Road and over the rail way bridge, onto cycle path passing Tesco on our left. Turned left into Rowan Way to the end and then Berry Lane through new housing estate and onto cycle path alongside A259.

At Mercedes garage we turned right and made our way to Oving village and onto Drayton, at the T junction we turned left and over level crossing heading back onto A259 cycle path. Turned into Green Lane ,at the end of the lane we turned left half a mile on busy road then turning right into Manor Nursery.

Had a warming welcome from friendly staff, hot tea and cake. We had arranged to meet up with Chris who led from Chichester between 2:15 and 2:30, our timing was spot on. Now making total riders 21.

For the return Carol led back via Green Lane . At A259 Chris plus 2 turned left back to Chichester and we turned right for Bognor. Carol took lots of different back streets making her way back to the Library. Really nice people on today’s ride and a special thank you to Bob who joined us from London and George Sinclair our youngest rider

Steve and Carol

Sunday 14 January Ride to East Meon

The weather today was mainly cloudy with a little sun midday and dry with light winds. Temperatures started cold but reached 8C in the afternoon.

Sam was the leader and he was joined at Chichester Cross by myself, Bob, Mark and Mike with Jeff joining us in West Street so 6 in all.

We headed out on West Street at a brisk pace and then Sam decided on a change taking us on the A259 via Fishbourme, Bosham and Southbourne. We then headed on lanes via Westbourne. We took a brief break at the top of the hill from Westbourne where I said I was suffering from PCI (Post Christmas Inertia) Sam commented he hadn’t heard of that before, not surprising as I had just made it up .

We then headed on via Rowlands Castle passing the Cafe and then on to the Cafe at Horndean Garden Centre for elevenses. It was a day for an indoors stop with some good warm heating.

Then out into the cold again

From here I headed back to make it a half day ride. The rest continued on lanes via Cathrington and Clanfield and over the hill near HMS Mercury before descending to The Isaak Walton, East Meon for lunch.

The full days ride from Chichester was due to be 50 miles. My mileage from Pagham for the half day was 41.

Edwin

Saturday 13th January Ride to Manor Nursery Café, Runcton

The weather today was cold and dull but dry.

There were 2 rides today, the original one starting from Bognor Library with 18 out plus an additional ride starting from Chichester Library with 3 out.

So far we have a report for the Chichester Ride sent in by Chris Merrien the leader as follows –

We had a great ride this afternoon. Carol Featherstone and Colin Witt were waiting at the library. I decided that we would do a reasonable distance so we left the city via East Street, through the Hornet and turned at the Four Chesnuts to go down the Oving road. We crossed the A27 and went to Tangmere museum. From there we skirted around the airfield and came to the Gribble Pub. Turned back to go over the Drayton level crossing and then when we got to the A259 we headed down on the cyclepath to the Pink Pub. At the roundabout, we turned down Chalcroft Lane and made our way to the next roundabout. From there we headed towards Lagness and then on to the Manor Nursery. We arrived at 2.20 pm just as the group from Bognor arrived.

All in all it went well.

Chris

Sunday 7th January. Mince Pie Ride

Today was the Mince Pie Ride to the house of Philippa and William at Bracklesham Bay.

We met at Chichester Cross at 10.00. Those on the ride were myself, Russell, Mike, Graham, Bob and Andrew  so 6 in all. The weather was sunny all day with temperatures starting at 4C and staggering up to 6C. There was a strong and cold NE wind.

We headed out on West Street and then Appledram lane. I had planned to keep out of the mud and stay on the roads but the low sun directly in line with our route made it unsafe so we diverted onto the Salterns Way parallel with Apuldram Way. Then it was the lane and paths across the fields  where we had to negotiate a nuber of floods across the route. Luckily these were shallow enough to see if there were any potholes. Then over the Lock  gates on via Birdham Pool to Birdham. Then from the roundabout a stretch of the B-Road towards Bracklesham before turning off on a backroad via Earnley and on to Philippa and William at Garden Avenue at Bracklesham .

We had a splendid spread provided including sausage rolls, home baked bread, Mince Pies and other cakes.

More club members arrived with Harvey, Dawn, Fred and Roy coming by Bike and more coming direct by car being Dave, Jan, Arthur and Lynn so including Philippa, William and David there were 17 in all.

For the return Russell and Mike went back early but Harvey joined us so 5 on the group ride

On the way back we took a route on lanes via Almodington to Sidlesham Common. Then it was a stretch of main road towards Hunston

Mileage from and back to Chichester was about 18. My mileage from Pagham was 30.

My latest HDR picture is one taken at a viewpoint in Bristol during a day trip from Bath while staying there with family over Christmas week.

 

For more details and a larger picture see https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones/39414987852/in/dateposted-public/

Edwin