. . . . and mellow fruitfulness (or shallow fruitlessness) is with us but, by the time we are under way the mists had dissolved into hazy sun which, in its turn, becomes a bright shadow-casting heat-source. Summer's last hurrah, forecast to last all week.
A welcome face at Assembly (register taken by Mr Heath, Activities master) was that of Gareth Doman, back on his bike at last after his nasty prang at La Marmotte. He stayed with us to Preston St Mary before turning for home. The downside of our larger club runs is that you can miss speaking to someone entirely, beyond a welcome and a farewell. Sorry to have missed you Gareth. Also welcome were Mark Harris (Braintree CC) who is more usually seen on the Sunday Espresso ride, Paul Callow brought a work colleague called Marcus, and Graham Gidney is a Wheeler new to Wednesdays
Mr Heath's master plan was to go to Hollow Trees at Semer via a cunning and devious route of considerable beauty and (for me at any rate) challenging little climbs. The early stages were usual stuff through to Brent Eleigh, up the hill to the B1115 and right on the switch back road to Waldingfields Little and Great, carrying on to the little roundabout where we took the left (old Roman Road, I notice) and a slightly tricky right and left over the A134 past Cornard Tye and Sackers Green. Lanes were small and views were breathtaking in the Autumn light, making even Great Cornard look romantically rustic. We went down quite a bit, then went back up the ridge on a lane about 1/2 a mile further south. This was the particularly challenging climb of the ride, rearing up between high banks which gave it the heat of a Tour stage (for a minute or two - and I'm not complaining) and more views at the top. We weaved our way towards Assington (which is at least 20 miles south of Assington Green, but quite close to Gedding Hall which is about 20 miles from Gedding. Think misdirected fire engines controlled from Milton just outside Cambridge). Right and left over the A134 (again) and across the A1071. This is a bit tricky, because the road we go across to isn't open to vehicles at this point and as if to reinforce this it has a huge high kerb. Just to the right of you as you struggle over the kerb is a bollard that creates a pinch point. This must have seemed a neat idea to someone in an office somewhere "this will create a hazard that will cause traffic to slow down and take care". Like hell it does; Glenn Morris and I had a 40ft truck thundering straight at us and our rear wheels that were still in the carriageway. The driver's interpretation of taking care was to maintain speed but lean on his horn. I felt the draught pull at my wheel as he passed.
Through delightful Boxford, and up Cox Hill - another mildly testing ascent - then Kersey, Semer and tea. This was my first visit since the new arrangements were opened. The Café is now very light, airy and spacious, with lots of smart pale oak with spruce and welcoming Chloe. It's been so long that I had quite forgotten how low their prices are; my scone and jam with pot of tea was just £2. In the garden there is now an additional seating area that looks to have been specially made for Wheelers, fenced off from the 'old' area. Marvellous interlude.
The cold that I had hoped to leave behind in the Suffolk countryside was still very much with me on the return journey, and I bade farewell to others at Hitcham. I just could not keep up.SJH
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