The day started with I guess what you’d call ‘seasonably cold weather’ in that being late November it was a tad frosty. But the sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky.
Five members formed a steady group and followed the excellent route advice from our Ride Secretary who had already been out checking the conditions - what dedication!
So we settled into the groove checking the road conditions on the B4040 to Sherston before heading north past Westonbirt Arboretum to Tetbury and then off to Cherington.
As we turned the corner to exit the village we came across Mr & Mrs Swan (my guess) out for a stroll in the middle of ‘their’ road. A car had just passed us and was carefully moving forward to encourage the swans to move over. They weren’t having any of it. As the car moved left, so they did they. And as the vehicle moved right they did the same. Eventually we rode past the car and gave ourselves as much room as possible passing the birds. Some of us felt quite vulnerable riding within 2 to 3 feet of such large birds! Despite a good few miles to Rodmarton the car never caught up with us, so might still be held up for all we know.
Our refreshment stop was AV8 at Kemble Airfield. (I refuse to call it Cotswold Airport - oh, … I just have). I last visited many years ago. It turned out to be a very pleasant stop. The airfield was busy, possibly owing to the light winds and superb visibility for flying. And the cafe was excellent - good coffee & cake and very friendly staff. Mr C says it is definitely back near the top of the Official MCC Coffee Stop List.
We took the direct route home through Kemble, Oaksey, Eastcourt & Hankerton. To finish at the Town Hall just after 1pm. What a lovely mornings cycling!
Five members formed a steady group and followed the excellent route advice from our Ride Secretary who had already been out checking the conditions - what dedication!
So we settled into the groove checking the road conditions on the B4040 to Sherston before heading north past Westonbirt Arboretum to Tetbury and then off to Cherington.
As we turned the corner to exit the village we came across Mr & Mrs Swan (my guess) out for a stroll in the middle of ‘their’ road. A car had just passed us and was carefully moving forward to encourage the swans to move over. They weren’t having any of it. As the car moved left, so they did they. And as the vehicle moved right they did the same. Eventually we rode past the car and gave ourselves as much room as possible passing the birds. Some of us felt quite vulnerable riding within 2 to 3 feet of such large birds! Despite a good few miles to Rodmarton the car never caught up with us, so might still be held up for all we know.
Our refreshment stop was AV8 at Kemble Airfield. (I refuse to call it Cotswold Airport - oh, … I just have). I last visited many years ago. It turned out to be a very pleasant stop. The airfield was busy, possibly owing to the light winds and superb visibility for flying. And the cafe was excellent - good coffee & cake and very friendly staff. Mr C says it is definitely back near the top of the Official MCC Coffee Stop List.
We took the direct route home through Kemble, Oaksey, Eastcourt & Hankerton. To finish at the Town Hall just after 1pm. What a lovely mornings cycling!