Moira

Todays runners and riders were John , Gordon , Tim , Bev and a guest appearance from Kev too and me. Off we set on John’s magical mystery tour as he was the only one who could remember the way . But there was some dissent in the ranks as he put a massive loop in from TB some of wishing we had started from Sanders Park as at 15 miles we could have made it in 5 miles. John is a mile monster . It was quite pleasant a nice breeze and not too hot . On arrival at Stourport some of the riders had a refusal at the 15 th fence and carried on round the one way system and home . The guilty 3 being Gordon who had a reasonable excuse a family dinner and Bev and Kev . Bev was too hot. I had a wobble but managed to stay on , wether to cut short or carry on John assured me it was only about 8 miles to The Cob House from Stourport stupidly I believed him 🥰. Bev did warn me that it was all uphill which it was we turned left to Martley and the climbing began. We made it 12 miles later to the cafe . I didn’t mention this fact once to John honest . We found a table in the shade to enjoy our tea and tea cafes . Off we set for home vis Holt Fleet luckily a lot of the lanes were in shade but my garmin did show a temperature of 30.9 degrees at one point . We decided well I did the best option home was the quickest as it was getting warm . Only the last couple of miles did the heat hit me and I was really pleased to get home and into a cold shower 🚿 A few pictures below . Sorry Tim you were pulling that face on both pictures I took of the three of us 🤣🤣

I’ll be there John x

I don’t quite know what Alan was doing to Julie in Rous Lench but she was squealing like a pig ( sorry Julie that’s what it sounded like ) I think she must have woken all the poor residents up !!! Great to get home before that very heavy rain . I agree we’ll done to Barry’s daughter 👏 But think Barry is now worrying about the cost of Lesley’s new outfit for her visit to the Palace 🤣

Me too sorry John had a mad day now going out to a birthday party . So no excuses Julie I’m out too tonight see you in the morning 😝

A bit more practice then and you will crack it John 🤣🤣 I was very hot when I got home and was covered in dead flies xx

A lovely sunny day with a little bit of wind 💨. John must be feeling his 77 years as he arrived at TB with his long sleved Saracen’s waterproof top on and didn’t take it off until the cafe. Just the 4 of us starting today from TB John , Tim , Bev and me . We picked Steve up at the end of Bouts Lane so that made 5 but Tim was suffering so turned off for home as we turned towards Bidford so back to 4 again until we collected Dave M on the bridge at Bidford. Steve was on the front from the bridge I think he was doing a time trail as we seemed to race along and John then joined him . They both went for it Bev and I reckoned they had an early lunch planned or John was just too hot with his waterproof on. We did go through Offenham but didn’t see much of it as it was head down and in race mode . ( for Bev , Dave and me ) We arrived at the cafe and decided to sit by the river as it was so lovely . John actually relented and took his waterproof jacket off. We’d not been long there when the Phillpot’s arrived . Christine was dressed like John all trusted up long sleeved top and leg warmers . Picture below to prove it. As Alan arrived he was totting some medication he’d picked up luckily there was no takers. We then had the silly cap competition photos below. Chris Poole then arrived . Alas we couldn’t sit in the sun any longer well that was what I was told and we set off for home . A bit windy in parts . Why is it we always get a headwind and not a tail wind ?? We managed to miss most of the chipping until the last part where John , Bev and I came across a very newly chipped road in Blackwell luckily I knew a little short cut from my dog walking around that area. Moira to the rescue 🤣mind you those two did pick on me and made me go on the front a very very long way. A few photos below a lovely ride despite the wind and good company . Just remembered we’ve a new nickname for Mr Phillpot as he’s been very grumpy of late . Especially to a very unsuspecting lady on a horse in Bishampton who he grunted some abuse at . Victor Meldrew was with us who knew.

The venue tomorrow is the cafe by the river at Evesham . We will go out a different way to make it a bit longer and so will miss The Lenches out ( unfortunately 🤣) We will go out via Feckenham, over the bridge at Bidford then a right and into Evesham that way for a change. 9.30 am TB 🚴‍♀️🌹🚴

Very impressive nearly 80 miles and Dayhouse bank too. Great pictures 👍 It was good we got the actual timings right this morning to meet at the cafe .

I’ve been told off by John we went to Upton Severn not Seven . Just John and me at TB . ( Gordon hope you’re okay as we haven’t seen you since last Sunday ) Off we set going out via Hanbury nice for a change we were soon joined by the Philpott’s and Steve so we had the famous 5 . We went out via Pinvin and then Alan took us a different way . We went down roads that neither John and I had been down before , so it was a lovely change . Can’t remember the name of the common / places we went through but hopefully Alan will update you . I’d 40 miles by the time we got the cafe which was very busy luckily we managed to find the last free table. Chris and Roger then arrived . Lovely tea but no tea cakes or toast !!! so had to have cake instead. So I’ve just had a slice of toast when I’ve got in . Off we set for home now the significant seven , into a headwind past Defford . Roger had new wheels which had a very noisy free wheel . He actually managed to free will up a hill !! Show off 🤣🤣 Roger was very nicely dressed and almost fully coordinated in Rapha gear but his gloves didn’t match ( Julie would never have done that 😝) It was the longest ride for me this year just over 74 miles but I must admit the last few miles were a struggle luckily I managed to persuade Chris and Roger to carry on the last 3 miles for me without me so I could go steady as I watched them disappear into the horizon but I could still see Rogers gloves didn’t match 🤪 Sorry to hear you’re still not right Mick take care 🥰 A few photos .

As it’s going to be a nice day thought we’d try Clive’s at Upton on Seven we haven’t been there for ages . We will be going out past the Philpott’s house then via the main road into Pinvin in order to miss some lanes that have been chipped . I know some can’t make Sunday but hopefully some will ( Alan n Chris we need you out ) 9.30 am TB 🚴‍♀️🌹🚴

Opps Chris we missed you, we got there by 11.20 am obviously we were going super fast 🤣 that or we had Barry on the front with his motor .He’s only got one speed now super fast 😝 ( joking Barry xx ) Well what a beautiful day for a bike ride . Four of us from TB John , Gordon , Bev and me. We were joined by Barry and Steve at the top of Bouts Lane and Dave M just shy of the bridge at Bidford. A lovely ride out in the sun on great lanes . Just as we were enjoying out tea and toast , no teacakes , along came Alan on his own . He was a bit late as couldn’t make his mind up wether to come out or not . Think Chris probably persuaded him to go so she could have a peaceful morning gardening without interruption from ‘ Sir ‘ . Off we set for home going left at the main road towards Pebworth not towards Welford as Dave M wanted to 🤣 . I forgot to say on the way out John did a wrong turn left but luckily I was on the case and got us to the correct left turn . Dave M might have been happy as John’s wrong turn would have took us to Welford. Again a nice ride home in the sun 🌞 would have been perfect if the wind wasn’t there but we’ve had far worse wind than today. A very enjoyable ride with good company . Sorry we missed you Chris n Co . Wish I could say we missed you too Leigh !!!! 😜 . Hope you’re being looked after well x Would be nice to see you out Micky D forgotten what you look like 🥰 Julie I hope you’re behaving yourself and not have too much fun and wine 🍷 A few pictures to prove we there Chris P .

Tomorrow’s venue will be The Expresso Barn , Long Marston . Last time I posted it we didn’t make it there as there was only 3 of us and it was cold so we cut it short hopefully with the sun out there will more of us in the morning. Going out via Feckenham and up that little steep hill to the top of the Ridgeway. TB 9.30 am 🚴‍♀️🌹🚴

Yes poor Gordon the only one in long leggings 🥵 A good ride despite the hills . Thanks again Chris for the drinks hope you had a lovely birthday 🥳 x PS think it must have you been you Julie who broke the camera 😝

Morning the venue tomorrow is The Railway Cafe Bewdley aiming to be there around 11 am as some of the regular riders need to get back for Coronation parties hence the shorter ride . 9.30 am Sanders Park car park 🚴‍♀️🌹🚴

Yes that where we saw you . Were you wearing a red top?

Gold Star ⭐️ for you Alan x

Well the mystery is was Th Expresso Barn open or not as we didn’t make it there deciding to stop somewhere else . It was drizzling en route to TB and when we set off but it soon stopped thankfully. Only the 3 wise monkey’s starting from TB . John , Bev and me . I’ll let you decide who was see no evil , speak no evil and hear no evil . Alternatively you may say the 3 idiots !!! No sign of Steve on the way out so we ploughed on but on reaching Bidford , Bev and I ganged up on John decided not to cross the bridge the point of no return . Off we set to our new venue doing through and off. I’m not going to tell you where we went you’ll need to guess from the photo’s . Answers on a post card please. We had excellent service at our destination . Oh I forgot to say John nearly fell over as he was getting off his bike at the cafe ,apparently he has trouble getting his leg over 🤣🤣 Again on the way home we were doing through and off . Thankfully just past Broad Acres Bev asked if we could stop doing it . I wasn’t going to be the one to ask . It was good fun made the miles go quicker and got us all working. Think we may have seen Tony S on Evesham Road but we were just rotating so not sure but we definitely saw Chris Poole in Bradley Green . Felt really smug as it started to rain 10 minutes after getting home . A good ride with my fellow monkey’s 🐒 A few photos so you can guess where we stopped .

The venue tomorrow is The Expresso Barn , Long Marston going out via Feckenham. 9.30 am TB 🚴‍♀️🌹🚴

First off the weather was a shock it was raining/drizzling first thing didn’t expect that . Just the 4 of us from TB and to the cafe John , Julie , Bev and me . Nothing spectacular happened on the way out. Shortly after we’d just sat down and were munching on the smallest ever teacakes so not munching needed really, the Electric duo arrived. Alan and his brother Barry . Barry was on a virgin ride on his new electric bike . It’s exactly the same as Alan’s . He’d had coaching on the way over apparently. I must say his new E bike did look nice and shinny too. Don’t blame you Barry you are in your 80 th year. Alan commented to John that he was the puncture man in our little group but John pointed out that actually us girls were looking after him ‘ Care in the Community’ Off we set for home Alan wanting big hills so Barry could test his bike out so that got Julie groaning. Barry was like a big kid on his new toy nice to see he’s got his cycling mojo back . There was a couple of technical issues like not being able to get into his big ring. So they both went back to Alan’s to sort the issue out. We bumped in Leigh going the opposite way along Flying Horse Lane but he decided to turn and sit on the back of us for a bit as he’s still suffering from side effects from his covid. Just to finish the ride off it decided to drizzle again. Roll on summer 🌞

The weather looks dry tomorrow so thought we’d head out to the Potted Pantry Blackminster. I have rung them and they are open tomorrow . Going out via Feckenham. 9.30 am TB 🚴‍♀️🌹🚴

Julie what can I say I was surprised to hear your words at Mr P but very funny and well deserved x I love the coffee there and was Extra hyper as Gordon got me a second cup as I think he wanted me on the front on the way home. Luckily this time I was no where near John when he fell off just heard a loud noise and saw him jumping up quickly not advisable at his age 🤣🤣 me old mate 😜 A great ride but a shame it wasn’t as sunny as Saturday

Starting from TB this morning were John , Bev and me so a bit short on numbers. Bev cheated and drove there as she was worried about the distance as she’s been away in France. Bev also was far too optimistic about the weather and was wearing fingerless gloves 🧤. Off we set picking up Steve on Bouts Lane where we turned left and Bev with her very red fingers turned right for a shorter route. It was windy on the way out but we soon made it to the railway carriage and got a lovely seat inside by the log burner which was on. So it was not only the teacakes that were toasty. After a good chat with Steve and John reminiscing about there younger days and the training that they used to do ( oh yester year how fit they were 🤣) Fully refreshed off we set back towards Binton where John and Steve were racing each other to the top I obviously left them to it and watched from behind . John won 🏅 I was told it would be more of a tail wind home but alas it wasn’t Mr Shelley got the wind direction wrong today either that or it just changed round when we were in the Railway carriage. I could certainly felt my legs the last few miles and so went the short way home . Think I went that slow when I left John that I nearly came to a standstill 😝 A couple of photos to prove we went out.

I have spoken to John the real Boss I am merely his secretary 👩‍💼 We are going to The Railway Carriage Milcote best way to get a tailwind home apparently. We will be going out via Feckenham and up that little steep hill to the ridgeway. We will be meeting at 9.30 am it’s now spring. 9.30 am TB 🚴‍♀️🌹🚴

A chocolate Labrador it’s normally a black cat 🐈‍⬛ poor you Leigh you do get into strive hope you’re okay nothing hurt but your pride . Julie anyone would think you thought it was hilly today 🤣 You did forget to mention the man driving the caravan that you made such a good impression on 🤩 A nice ride lovely to see Chris P and Roger x

I’ll be there John 🤞🏻