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December 2002
My chatter this quarter starts back in August when the weather was hot and sunny with a run down as Blithfield Res. that only reached Yoxall. Shows we are all getting a little older. Pearl managed the venue the following week to The Pig in Muck at Claybrook. The Naylors and Thompsons had a camping weekend near Aylesbury so that Howard could check out the annual bus ramble route. Meanwhile Phil was out on his bike leading a rural ride on Charnwood tracks. The good weather continued for the next two Sundays with Alex taking Mary’s ride to Hoar Cross and Howard leading a ride round the Six Hills.
The bus ramble route turned out to be even better than I had predicted in the previous quarters chatter with a very interesting stretch of canal seeped in industrial history and splendid views from the top of the hill we climbed – thanks to both Keith and Howard. The weather finally broke on Happy Hearts Day at Ashby where I was suppose to take people rides on the tandem and triplet. The turnout was amazingly good in spite it lashing it down outside although the interest in club cycling was poor. The next Sunday Keith and Jean organised another successful 30 in 3 and freewheel. I don’t know who was responsible for importing the freewheel winner but he certainly showed us all up winning by several yards.
The committee remained practically the same at the section AGM with the same poor attendance. Even Pearl and myself failed to attend this time as we took the opportunity to having a weeks camping in Paris. We managed to return for the tourist trial that turned out to be a super route although we failed to get back in time to complete the competition. Thanks very much indeed to John who managed to find tracks that I have not ridden before.
On the first Sunday in October it was good to see Mary was back on her bike again after her accident to lead a super ride round Whittington. I missed the next two Sundays by jetting off to Catalunia with my mate Hugh to explore the northeast corner of Spain. On my return I experienced for the third time this year wind so strong it was impossible to ride a bike. The Sunday ride was cancelled and instead we went by car to the 11’s destination. The climate may be getting warmer but the wind is not in the interest of cycling.
A quick word of thanks for the most interesting slide show. What a women, far braver than myself, to ride across the Gobi desert is certainly something I would not dream of attempting.
As I write this report I look forward to our Social this Friday. After that there is the Carol Service and mince pie runs and the final Sunday of 2002 the hot grub run again centred around the Cross Keys at Newbold. If you are coming, please give me a nod so I know how many to cater for. I also have the menu for the Section Seasonal Dinner to be held on Thursday night January 9th at the Queen’s Head Heather. Make sure you book your hot grub and/or your £10 seasonal meal with me on or before the mince pie run 22nd December. Also check out booking your dinner for the D.A. prize presentation, which I believe to be on the 21st February at the Plough at Ratby.
Finally Easter 18th – 22nd April seems a long way off but I do need to book a site before Christmas if we are doing something similar next year. I am looking at a site at the side of the river Severn near a place called Crewgreen between Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Welshpool. Bed and breakfast is available at the site. If your interested in camping or accommodation please contact me asap.
August 2002
I always find writing the Charnwood report for the 2nd Quarter of the year difficult as I spend most of the time away on long weekends or tours abroad. In May a couple of weekends in Derbyshire, part of the weekend at Meriden with the wife and myself back riding a tandem after many years on solos, and a camping weekend at Harrogate I saw very little of the rest of the section. The first Sunday in June club riding returned to normal for a run to Carsington Reservoir but it became so hot that half the riders only made Elvaston castle. The rest managed a circuit of the res. mainly on cycle paths now that the area has been developed for leisure activities. We returned via the bridle path over Madges Hill that is now heavily rutted thanks to the 4wd brigade making this route unsuitable to cycle. Whilst a number of the members disappeared for a wet week on the Cornish Riviera three of us set off for a longer ride into the south of the county that came to a halt at Arnesby windmill when we were struck by torrential rain.
Fred, Martin(w) and myself jetted off to Trieste for a holiday in Slovenia and Croatia with three of my other mates. Superb scenery, wonderful people and hot weather gave us a memorable tour. A comment was made that we had consumed more pints than we had seen clouds. The highlight that stood out above the others was a day in Plitvicka National Park, a fairytale place of lakes and waterfalls, ideal for photo shots for entry in this year’s competition.
Once again I missed national bike week so hopefully other section write-ups will cover those events. I failed to interest the section in a car-assisted ride for the President’s ride, instead I found a ride around Tutbury and Church Broughton had been organised on my return. The Audax rides were well supported with 19 riders completing the 100k and 23 the 200k from the 50 entries and 47 starters. The section runs for July as in previous years attracted very few members as most were on holiday.
As for the future I am trying to get some support for a car assisted ride to join the family ride in aid of the Red Cross down the Brampton Valley Way on the 7th September, as the section will be walking the following day on the annual bus ramble to Aylesbury. Keith has organised a route that includes lakes, nature reserves, towpaths, wind power and an odd hill in what looks like an interesting 8-mile walk. The next day, that’s Monday 9th September the section is putting on a stand for the Happy Hearts Day at the Hermitage Leisure Centre – any help from members to man the stand would be appreciated. On the following Sunday the section is organising the 30 mile in 3 hours and the freewheel competition once again at Thornton with a special start for our section at Heather.
This is the official notice of our section’s AGM that will be help at Whitwick Constitutional Club at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th September. We are hoping for a better attendance this year – previous years it is the same old few that are left to decide on how the club should be run during the following year so do your best to attend and help determine how your section should be run in the future.
Another date to remember is the 8th November at Whitwick Sports and Social Club. The Charnwood Social is to be held on a Friday night this year and includes a hot meal and live entertainment from a top county duo “Sinnernam” all for £7.