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
Bognor and Chichester Cycling UK 