Ride to ‘The Crab & Lobster’, Sidlesham, Saturday 28th July 2018

On a sunny and windy day, fortunately less humid of late, thirteen cyclists gathered at Chichester Library, for a ride to ‘The Crab & Lobster’ in Sidlesham.

The group set off from the library heading west towards Westgate, crossing over the mini-roundabout and heading straight on before turning left to pick up the cycle path which runs in front of Chichester College, ending at Chichester Railway Station.

After negotiating heavy traffic passing over the railway crossing, everyone turned right and then left to go down Canal Wharf, left into Basin Road and right into Kingsham Avenue.  Carrying on until the end of the road, the group then turned left at the junction with Whyke Road and right, to pick up the cycle path along Quarry Lane which led to the footbridge over the A27.

Emerging the other side of the footbridge, the group then immediately took a track alongside Vinnetrow Road, which eventually came out into School Lane in North Mundham.  Crossing the road, the group then proceeded to go through North Mundham, picking up Regional Cycle Network Number 88 towards Fisher and eventually emerging at Mill Lane, Sidlesham, the location of ‘The Crab & Lobster’.

The group arrived at the pub at 3.20 pm.  The staff were quite surprised to see so many cyclists and ran out of tea pots for everyone!

Following tea, the group made their way back to Chichester via the same Number 88 path, but changing the route slightly at North Mundham, by heading towards Hunston.  At Hunston, those still remaining in the group headed along the canal path, which by this time was very quiet apart from a couple of fishermen, arriving back in Chichester via the canal basin.

Turning left to reach the junction with Stockbridge Road, the group then turned right, crossed over the railway line and again took the cycle path in front of the Westgate Leisure Centre and Chichester College.  At Westgate, the remaining cyclists headed east back into the city, arriving back in the town at approximately 5.30 pm.

Philippa

Evening Ride Thurs 26 July to The Gribble at Oving

A ride with two starts and one end point.

The ride was to the Gribble at Oving.

10 riders set out from Chichester Cross and went direct via Tangmere.

15 set out from the Arun Leisure Centre and luckily i decided to join them…as I only realized I was supposed to lead the group when i got there!

A good mix of people tonight; regulars, not so regulars, and a new rider Beppy, who we hope to see again soon.

Due to numbers, we split into two groups, one closely following the other. All went well around back streets and over Highfield Bridge to South Bersted where unfortunately one group went one way and one another.

Luckily fail-safe procedures kicked in and we met up again at a pre arranged point.. From there on all went well with no further issues. From South Bersted we cycled to North Bersted and Shripney Lane to Shripney.

Then up the A29 to Woodgate where a slight delay was encountered with half the group getting across the railway crossing and half not, when the barriers went down.

After regrouping we took Hook Lane to Aldingbourne, then Woodhorn Lane around the back of Oving, approaching the Gribble from the rear.  The Chichester group were already well settled into their seats.

For the return ride to Felpham we were joined by another 4 riders who came out from Chichester but wanted to return to Bognor.

The route was straightforward…over the railway bridge and around the lanes to Colworth, Elbridge and then into Bognor via Bersted.

Round trip mileage from and back to the Arun Leisure Centre was 15.0

Graham

Sunday 22 July Ride to The Scarlett Arms, Walliswood

This ride was a train/car assisted one starting from Amberley Station to enable a reasonable mileage and still get into little visited territory in Surrey. Jeff the leader came by car and I came by train while Russell, Mike and Paul came by bike. Weather was hot and humid and mainly sunny with temperatures of 25C on the coast and 28C inland

Most of us met up at the Station and we joined up with Jeff at Amberley Village with better parking. We then continued on back roads via Rackham and the road past Parham Park.

Then it was on via Wiggonholt and West Chiltington taking stream lane to the village and up the hill to Broadford Bridge. Then a lane to Billingshurst and a a welcome 11s break at Whispers Cafe.

Jeff was using a Garmin for the ride route which took us on some not seen before back streets and over the A29 and then to the A272 before turning off on the lane to The Haven.

Then it was on north via Bucks Green and Rudgwick and on to Ellens Green and over the border into the wilds of remotest Surrey. Then more lanes north to Walliswood within sight of Leith Hill. We split between a nearby Green for sandwiches and the Scarlett Arms Pub.

The return ride took in some nice shaded lanes, ideal for the day.

Then it was into Broadbridge Heath just west of Horsham where Garmin supervised by Jeff pickup up a pleasant cyclepath through some of the new housing.

Then it was on south via Barnes Green and on via Conyhurst and back to familiar territory at West Chiltington and a stop for tea at Wiggonholt. I left before everybody else to catch the hourly train back to Bognor with more than 5 minutes to spare.

Mileage from and back to Amberley was 48. My mileage including getting to and from the station at Bognor was 58 though it felt longer with the heat and humidity.

I returned from France earlier in the week including following 5 stages of the Tour de France. The first picture shown was taken on stage 1 near La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast.

For more details and a larger picture see https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones/41742938470/in/photostream/

The next picture was taken on Stage 9 just south of Roubaix on a section of Cobbles where the riders and vehicles were stirring up great clouds of dust.

For more details and a larger picture see https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones/42785733254/in/photostream/

Edwin Jones

Saturday 21 July – Awayday Ride Southampton to Fareham

An opportunity to explore a little further afield today on our awayday ride starting in Southampton. We were largely following NCN 2 route eastwards but its a very picturesque route with much to see.

The riders were Andy and Ally, Mike, Debbie, Christine and Graham and we all arrived train assisted to Southampton. There we met Graham (2) who had ridden directly as he lives much closer. So seven out in all.

The weather was perfect, with no chance of rain and a light breeze off the sea to alleviate the strong sunshine.We made our way from Southampton central station through the city centre almost entirely on cyclepath, stopping to admire the recently cleaned up Bargate.

Then to Holyrood Church, left in its bombed out condtion from the war, and its Titanic Memorial. A short ride later we started the highest climb on the day, going up over  the Itchen Bridge. We stopped at the top to admire the view. From what we could see it appeared there were three cruise ships in dock.

Then from Woolston we joined NCN2 proper, riding past Weston Heights for a short stop at the ruins of Netley Abbey.

Already lunchtime now, so we stopped at the cafe in the Royal Victoria Country Park.

Then on via cycletracks to Hamble-le-Rice and its golden pillar box, dropping down the hill through the village to the harbour, where the Hamble ferry pulled in almost as we got there.

It is astonishing how many bikes a small ferry can squeeze onboard!

On the other side of the river at Warsash we had a bit of offroading in between stretches of quiet lane until reaching the tea stop at Titchfield Haven nature reserve.

Graham (2) left us there to ride home and the rest of the group headed inland via Stubbington for about 5 miles, until we reached the finish at Fareham rail station and the train home.

The mileage from Southampton station to Fareham Station was exactly 20 miles.

Graham

Thursday 12 July Evening ride to The Spur at Slindon

10 riders for tonight’s cycle to The Spur at Slindon, weather was warm with a slight breeze. We set off from Arun Leisure Centre, Felpham, leaders Steve and Carol, new rider Liz, Maureen and Tony, David Sinclair, Sam, David Barton, Lucy, and Julia.

We made our way through Roundle Estate and onto West Morlands Drive to the new relief road and onto the new cycle path to Littlehampton. We was all very impressed how smooth it was but could not work out how they managed to hang it out for so long, lets hope it is kept well maintained. There were a lot of other cyclists and pedestrians using it as well, so to all those car drivers who was complaining of it being a waste of money, you were wrong again. We stopped for a photo at Comet corner then made our way to Yapton.

Turned right into North End Road making way to the level crossing and turning left into Lake Lane and onto cycle path to Walberton. Left turn into Walberton Lane for a nice little hill climb up to Fontwell where we stopped at the top to regroup. We made our way through A27 underpass then into the Woods and cycled the bridal way out to Park Lane where we turned left and climbed up to Slindon. We turned right into Reynolds Lane then to T junction of busy  A29. We crossed the A29  into Mill Road and took first left into Bridal Lane. At the end of the road we turned left and reached our destination. We all had a well earned drink and a good laugh.

On the return journey Carol led us back who took us to Mill Road, with the light beginning to fade, decided to take us back via the A27 which was quiet this time of the evening. Back through Yapton to new cycle path where Sam, Tony and Maureen peeled off. The rest of us we had enjoyed the new cycle path so much we rode it again back to Bognor where the ride ended.

Thank you to all the lovely people who joined us for this Summer ride and hope to see Liz again soon. Total milage about 18 miles.

Steve and Carol

Sunday 1st July 2 Weald Ride to Cranleigh

It was another exceptionally hot day with sunny skies in the morning and more cloud in the afternoon with a NE wind and temperatures reaching 29C. The official ride was to meet for the Horsham Crawley organised Event at the start at Wisborough Green. However I emailed all regular Sunday riders with the option of meeting at 9.00 at Walberton Pond. Harvey and Chris made their own ways there while I was joined at Walberton Pond by Sam and Bob. There were similar numbers taking part from the other 2 groups.

We headed out on the usual route via lanes to Madehurst and temperatures still a reasonable 20C.

Then it was a fast descent of Houghton Hill noticing even so early a great long queue of traffic stuck behind 2 cyclists climbing up on this busy and narrow road. We now try and find another route when coming back. After Houghton it was back to lanes via Amberley. After a brief section of main road past Wiggonholt we turned off on a lane via Broomers Hill. Then it was  lanes via Northwood Farm and a track crossing the Arun and Canal and another lane to Wisborough Green.  We took elevenses here at the Old Mill Cafe. We signed in with Bob from Horsham Crawley.

Then our group and Arun Adur riders headed out together on the northern route. Out of the 4 routes available we both choose northern which has the advantage of least familiar lanes and least hills though all relative with a few little steep ones thrown in. This included on the quiet lane to Drungewick.

We continued north passing the Mucky Duck Pub, nice ring to that ones name. Then on via more lanes letting Richard Boulton from Arun Adur do the leading. At Cranleigh in sight of the North Downs we split up. We headed to Norcutts Garden Centre Cafe, Cranleigh while Arun Adur wanted to go further before lunch.

For the way back we headed south via Dunsfold where we waved to Arun Adur group ensconced at the Pub and on via Plaistow where Chris caught up with us and then Kirdford and back to Wisborough Green and tea at the old Mill Cafe again giving the cheerful owner a fair amount of custom for the day.

Our return took us via Kirdford and lanes south passing east of Petworth. At Kirdford we were behind a tractor and trailer and combine Harvester for a few miles. Sam looked like he very much would have liked to overtake but there was no room even for a bike.

Then it was on via a gradual climb of Duncton Hill. Sam and Bob turned off via the valley road to East and West Dean. I headed back via Eartham and Yapton. Mileage from and back to Walberton was 63. My mileage for the day from Pagham was 85 with 4122ft of climb.

My latest picture was taken last Sunday evening looking from near Pagham Harbour mouth at Pagham north west across the harbour at high tide and sunset.

For more details and a larger picture see https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones/42133780365/in/photostream/

Edwin