Roland and myself rode the Wild Wales Challenge at the end of August that as predicted was a fantastic route taking us through Betws-y-coed and Capel Curig for lunch at Porthmadoc on a super day where we covered just over 80 miles. The wife and myself shot off to the continent for a four country motor home rally for a couple of weeks managing to get three full days cycling in Holland, Germany and France. Unfortunately we missed the bus ramble to Oxfordshire that I am told was very successful. We managed to get back for the Section’s AGM that was much better attended than in previous years. Little changed in the organisation of the section other than the formal recognition of the family section that Phil has worked so hard to form.
The easyriders run was cancelled the following week in favour of supporting the rural ride organised by Keith called “Black Diamonds”. This event was a huge success attracting 19 cyclists from both easyriders and the family group and welcomed a new young member, Joe, from Ravenstone. The ride took us round the sites of the former collieries in the Coalville area with lunch at the Cross Keys Newbold. The highlight of the run was the visit to the Hough mill at Swanington developed into a very attractive historic site where black (brown) diamonds where found by the riders in the adjacent Caliphat pit site. An added attraction was that the Midlands Three wheel Car group where there too giving us a chance to look at Morgan’s, BSA’s and other very nicely preserved relics from the past.
Another historic site was visited the following week on the Chester camping weekend. Although we never reached Chester we did cycle on Saturday through the Delamere Forest to the Anderton lift at Northwich. The site has been totally transformed in the 3 years since we last visited it on the birthday rides into a well-presented tourist attraction. The one disappointment was that the lift had developed a problem so we did not see it working. Quite a common occurrence we were told. On Sunday we cycled round the Peckforton and Bickerton Hills with their attractive castles and along the Shropshire Union Canal using the well signposted Cheshire Cyclways. I left Pearl to lead the run the following week to Lichfield while I mechaniced for my mates in my old sport of stockcar racing. I understand they found a new café en route that will have to be further investigated. Howard’s run down Howard’s way saw Mary do her highest Sunday mileage this year. The cycle route from Derby to Etwall, although a bit messy to start with, is very pleasant once out of the town centre.
The Off road challenge organised by Ron looked well supported, although it appeared that Charnwood easyriders were the only cyclists in the 10 mile family ride/treasure hunt. Probably a good job as some kind local had pinched half the clues. Thanks Ron for that interesting potter.
Two bits of bad news this quarter. Firstly the road accident that took from us Sid Standard, a former Leicestershire D.A. member who probably did more to encourage youngsters to ride with the D.A. than anyone will ever do again. Keith and Jean represented the D.A. in a memorial ride to Shotton in Derbyshire where the accident occurred to lay flower at the scene of the tragedy. The other is the death of Ethel Pickering who although not a Sunday rider was a regular on our Wednesday potter. After struggling with her health for a number of months died on 3rd November.
Well what about the future for the rest of us. Other than
some possibly cold and wet Sunday runs there are two social attractions during
the festive season. The hot grub run 28th December is still to be
based at the Cross Keys Newbold – 10am for coffee, mince pies and sausage
rolls – 1pm for shepherds pie and a veggy option with a short cycle ride in
between, weather permitting. Please give me a nod on or before the mince pie run
if you are coming so I have some idea how many to cater for.
The other is the section’s annual dinner to be held on Thursday 8th January at the Queens Head Heather 7.30pm for 8pm. If you are coming please ask me for the menu to select your meal, again on or before the mince pie run 21st December.
It may seem a little bit early but I do need to book our
Easter Holiday so that we are all together. I am looking at a campsite in the
Vale of Pewsey at a place called Milton Lilbourne that offers both camping and
accommodation. The attractions in the area are Crofton Beam Engines, Wilton
Windmill, Savernake Forest, Chisbury Chapel and Earthworks, Devises Canal Museum
and Broadlees Garden Centre, Stonehenge and Woodhenge plus several other heaps
of stones near Avebury, and National Trust Buildings of Avebury Manor and Lacock
Abbey. If you are interested it is
important that you let me know as soon as you read this as I will be closing
bookings early in December.
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Being on holiday most of May and June I had to hand over last quarter’s chat to Keith. It does leave me a bit short on knowledge of what’s been happening on Sunday runs. So lets start with Meridan. The number of campers appears to be reducing each year yet the attendance at the service was as large as I can remember for a number of years.
After Meridan the wife and myself wandered off to Scotland with Howard and Betty for a tour of the Isles of Mull and Skye. If you do want to island hop in Scotland have a look at the Caledonian Mac Brains offers that could save you £30 or so. Super scenery, marvellous castles, and wonderful gardens but all you need is Mediterranean weather.
Whilst away in Scotland I was sorry to miss the East Midland Rally that I understand was a huge success, hopefully to be repeated in future years. In between holidays I managed to lead a run to Ab Kettleby that was noted for a thunderstorm sending us scurrying back to the lunchtime stop after cycling to the outskirts of the village – good excuse for an extra pint.
Then is was off to Bulgaria with Roland and Martin for a cheap-o holiday with fags at 30p, beer (lager) 40p and B&B £4 together with very pretty though not spectacular scenery and splendid castles and monasteries. Couple of drawbacks were the roads with massive potholes and manhole/drain covers missing for the unwary and the rusting defunct ex-soviet factories spoiling what were very pretty villages in the many valleys throughout the country. Well worth a visit as suggested in a previous cycle touring.
Meanwhile Sunday runs continued although not a lot has been said about the President’s ride or National Bike week. A run has been mentioned where Howard found a, unknown to the Section, cycle path between Mickleover and Etwall. As far as we know it has no name so we have titled it ‘Howard’s Way’ and intend to repeat the run in October with the man himself leading. Martin led us to Watermead Park north of Leicester by a rather obscure route. This park is quite extensive and has been development into a very pleasant recreational area.
Six of us took our motor homes down to the Birthday Rides and more by luck than judgement found a very pleasant secluded campsite a mile from the HQ. The rides took us through some very pretty Dorset lanes with some tea stops organised en route. The event was not over-organised and left riders with a number of options as to the route taken. We met both Marcus and John Brown on the rides and were pleased to see John and Ann Dickinson at the Birthday Tea.
Roland and myself are riding the Wild Wales this weekend that sounds to have again an interesting route with good weather forecast. The Section’s Annual Bus Ramble is on September 14th to the Oxford area held in conjunction with a Rambling Club. Later in September is the Section’s AGM so this Chatter is also formal notice that the AGM is on 25th September 19.30 at the Whitwick Constitutional Club. All section members should try to attend, as it is your one chance in the year to have some influence on how the section is run.
On October 4th I am trying to organise a late camping weekend somewhere near Chester to co-inside with a slide show one of my world cycling mates is putting on and also a chance to see the Anderton lift just north of Northwich working after the spending £3 million in restoration (a hydraulic affair for lifting canal barges from one canal to another). Please let me know if you are interested.
Saturday November 15th is the D.A. Slide show and Photo competition so get your best photos in – entry form is in this cycle chat. The following day is the D.A. AGM at Bagworth and the following Friday 21st November is the Charnwood Social at Whitwick Sports Club with a live band and food all for, I think, £7 was mentioned. December sees the normal Christmas activities although the venue for the ‘Hot Grub’ run has not been finalised due to a change in pub ownership.
CHARNWOOD CHATTER
With Dick Thompson
Firstly I must mention the Charnwood Social. Probably the best I have been to for a number of years. Those of you who missed it don’t miss next year because we are going for a repeat performance. Superb food in a friendly atmosphere with a marvellous duo in the name of Sinnerman providing a topical mixed selection of music and entertainment. Absolutely great!
Better than the weather because after the wind came the rain and more and more rain. However the spirit of Charnwood members was not daunted with some interesting runs before Christmas. A wet start for a ride to breakfast at Castle Donnington was followed by a tour of the rubbish left on the cycle paths around junction 23 and negotiating our way round traveller’s caravans before making for Aston on Trent for lunch. I understand that the rubbish has now been cleared and travellers have been prevented from access onto the cycle tracks now, thank goodness. A change of 11’s was necessary on Alan’s ride the following week, as Shackerstone appears to open late if at all in November.
During November our oldest active member achieved a new club record of managing to have 8 punctures in a week. Not only this but he was having a job to make the patches stick because of the damp. Alex was asking me about these puncture resistant tyres last week but my suggestion is to have narrower tyres on the two front wheels so he stands a better chance of missing the thorns!
The next week I was leading a run round Repton again in the rain though it did manage to clear up before we were made very welcome at the Admiral Rodney at Hartshorne. Shackerstone was found to be open for Pearl’s run and somehow the rain just managed to hold off for the ride. Brenda certainly gave us a mystery tour because I could not even get the breakfast stop right never mine attempting the lunch stop. Sorry if I misled any members who made for Newton Regis but we went to Bosworth instead. With the Carol Service, being in Leicester, I tried a car assisted ride that was not well supported but it did work with Alan leading us down the cycle paths to the church. The service itself I felt was just right for the occasion and my thanks go to those who did the organisation. There was a rumour that the mince pie run would have to be cancelled to which I expressed my concern but as it turned out everything appears as good as it always has been including the swapping of Christmas cards, which I find a most amusing tradition. Well done Loughborough Section for sorting things out, this event must continue not only for our DA but all the other DA members who look forward to this event.
Our hot grub run on the last Sunday of the year seems also to be growing in popularity with a record 28 attending this year. Thanks to Elaine at the Cross Keys who provided an ample portion on a plate this year in the friendly the atmosphere of my local. The first run of the New Year on a cold day managed to set up a new record for being the shortest ride between 11’s and lunch ever. No chance of a picnic that day Stephen (re comments about Charnwood last quarter) we were even cold riding.
The section annual dinner again proved to be popular with Pete and Di providing another great meal.
Forthcoming events include the DA Dinner that will have been and gone by the time you read this. Then there is the Charnwood Section Slide Show on 29th March. The Easter Tour follows for four days from Friday 18th April to Tuesday 22nd April when the section will be going to Chirk not Crewegreen as was originally thought. 29th April we have the section’s Anniversary Tea at the Sports & Social Club at Whitwick. Other tours and events include Scotland in late May early June, Bulgaria in mid June, Dorset for the Birthday Rides in August and the Annual Bus Ramble thought to be in the Oxford area and to include Blenheim Palace in September. So the section has plenty of interest during the summer months other than Sunday rides.
I would like to finish by wishing Ann Dickinson the very best. I understand she is out of hospital and making good progress. Be nice to see her back on a bike in the near future.