Still Progressing

Celebrate No1 son's 49th Birthday on Friday by risking a ride with the informal group of cycling chums all guaranteed to be older than he. First group ride since 5th September last. The thermometer outside the kitchen door offered -4c by way of encouragement. I piled on the garments until I resembled a lycra snowman . 
This outfit has a destabilising effect, as I realised yesterday. When dressed up in the same foolish outfit at the start my second ride on Pearson the fixie, I found that getting my leg over the saddle led to falling sideways against the side of the house - not a very elegant way of setting off. "pensioner in legover-failure incident" might be the local headline.
And the above paragraph was very much in my mind as I prepared to launch the Mercian on to the A1088. Moving, successfully, to the crossroad by The Dog with right arm outstretched I charged into the road to Tostock (just managing to keep ahead of vehicles approaching from in front and behind). Cruising down what Neil Dykes calls 'The Smugglers' Route' I'm well under way. At the agreed meeting point, Justin and TomTom are already there. Soon joined by Stephen L and Ron Fisher. After such a long absence, it's reassuring that little (if anything) has changed. We spend ten minutes discussing possible routes, and probable tea stops. Someone suggests we should decide where to take tea before we address how best to get there. I abstain. I'm not going all the way or, perhaps less amusingly, pulling out early. How about not stopping for tea?
If I remember correctly, we are to go to Hollow Trees by way of a typically abstruse TomTom variation on a well loved (and previously familiar) route through Boxford. We head off from our familiar meeting place towards Drinkstone, and thence down the hill to the Rat Valley. At the foot of the hill we come to a cunning bike-handling confidence test. A white van was waiting for us, having just turned into the hill at the junction. The road past the van was covered an splodges of ice and not particularly wide. Obviously climbing off and tottering by on foot wasn't an option, since my four chums have all whizzed through with effortless confidence. So through I went, successfully. There had been an earlier few patches negotiated comfortably - and there would be a few more. This is why one cycles with friends. A confidence building learning curve. And without incident.
Right and then left, up past that Mill that has been converted to apartments (Hancocks? Hickocks?)and on southwards. Whilst some of our number took a pit  stop, TT, Peter and I looked at the Memorial to WW2 USAF Airmen based at Rattlesden Airfield  and Peter asked, having seen the small, separate memorial stone to one Shirley Lee.  "Is Shirley a man's name in America?"  "Yes, Peter and so are Gene, Tracey and Jessie" (there are more but I can't remember them). A quarter of a mile on, past Punchards Farm we pass Louse Lane, which causes more discussion - and I mention my favourite 'Whelp St' (not to mention 'Baby Lane' which we passed about half a mile back).
At Bildeston I ask TomTom where we were heading "Chelsworth" he said. This was pretty obvious, I was just hoping there was a different route westwards that didn't use this little climb OR Semer Hill. Ah well, here goes. Skip the Granny Ring (the last attempt, a week ago, had led to an unshipped chain and ungainly dismount - or unmanly disgrunt as Susan just suggested) All went well, if jolly slowly. The descent into charming Chelsworth was much faster than the last time, and I did that charmless thing so popular with slow, unfit riders. Cruising past the waiting group at 25mph (or more) and not slowing down until it suits us. Fortunately the burn-out point usually comes pretty soon. Just outside Monks Eleigh, where I realised the plan was to turn left, I made my excuses and left - claiming to go to Lavenham.

Original Title mentioned Morieux - should've been Preston

However I turned right through Brent Eleigh and then up to Whelp Street and Preston. As I turned left from Whelp St (which I now realise is a hamlet rather than just a street), I am gently overtaken by a very clean Land Rover Freelander. As reach the end of  Preston St Mary, I see it coming back. The driver (a distinguished looking gent) stops and the window drops. "Do you know this area at all well?" "Fairly, how can I help?"  "I'm looking for Welt Street"  "Ah, Whelp Street. And I tell him" It isn't often I'm able to help someone with a direction so quickly and accurately. And as for the coincidence after our 'Louse Lane' discussion, well, how weird is that? OK, not very, since we were so close to the place (about 800 yds).
With various changes of direction as I toiled into the north easterly breeze, mostly at a 10mph grovel (but that was fine since I wasn't trying to catch anyone up) I  rolled onto the forecourt of Orchard House at 12.00. Only now was I able to check my watch and change the mode of my computer The Snowman costume plus two-finger 'Sealskinz' precluding any agility without stopping and removing gloves. With the temperature still no more than 2c, that was never going to happen until I reached home.
36 miles, 13mph. Still Progressing.

SJH

22nd August 2012, Cavendish Tea Room revisited.

November 2011. Enormous, but warm and friendly.

We didn't really wait for Pete to be away on holiday before we returned to the Cavendish Tea Rooms, but we felt easier about the visit. Our previous call  is documented in my blog of 23rd November 2011, "The search for the most expensive scone is over" was the title. When I wrote that account I was unaware (these days it is not unusual for me to be unaware, due to age-related Mutton. Rhyming slang; look it up) that Peter had, on that occasion, had a full and frank exchange of views with the management  regarding value for money. I did record my own surprise at finding my usual fiver inadequate to the task of clearing my debt - but I was terribly restrained and merely held my tongue and borrowed from TomTom. In any event it was probably for the best that the terror of the tearoom wasn't with us. Peter will always tell it like it is, especially if the way it is isn't to his liking.

August 2012. Even bigger, but chilly. Cool, even. Hence shades

A picture of decorum

A perfect ambience

Glenn Morris hopes they won't  spot what he's hidden under his napkin

Back to the present then. But with a nod to that previous trip. But more about that later..  . . . Justin because, having looked it up, I realise that there was a similarity in the circumstances. TomTom brought someone to the tea stop by a different route, and someone who had a puncture arrived late, with an escort. Last year it was Dawn Demarco who had the puncture, and was helped by Chris Wiseman and TomTom - who brought them to Cavendish along the main road, while the rest of us took the back road route. This time it was new Mercrediste Graham Dixon's second puncture, and it happened on the main road just short of Cavendish, and it was I who stopped to assist.Though this had the appearance of a second puncture, it was actually the sliver of flint that caused the first one which had been hiding in a cut in the cover for about twenty miles (they do that; if you find no cause for a puncture this means that you've missed it. There is always a cause, and if you don't find it you will most certainly get a repeat deflation).

I never finished this Blog. I came across it this Sunday morning 17th February 2013, after Publishing my 15th Feb edition. The photos are jolly, so I'll publish right away. Maybe we'll be able to repeat a visit in the spring or maybe it has gone the way of all premium scones. Maybe someone knows? Perhaps there Solicitor? No!  that's quite enough Solicitors thank you.

SJH

15 Feb '13.Two Convalescent Rides with Un-planned Starts

I went out on a different15 mile circuit yesterday. There had been a gap of about a fortnight before that - due to the weather. I have read various accounts, from Wednesday Riders, of foolhardiness in the face of snow and ice which have only served to reinforce my resolve to wait for the arrival of Spring. Suddenly, Spring is here (or possibly some counterfeit day or two of  clemency. I don't care which). The sun is up, the grass is riz and a few birdies is tweeting - so I thought "I'm damn well getting out for a proper ride". Fickle fate took the initiative, by giving me a very tenuous justification for a ride. But first; a warning.
You are probably expecting not only a cycling-related blog, but a piece solely and exclusively devoted to cycling. So, if you are not interested in motor cars, and feel cheated, then you would do well to fast- forward past the next four paragraphs and see if there's anything more to your taste at the end. I can't be any more specific, as I don't know how much time I'll devote to my first long ride for nearly six months.
 We were let down  by two of our motor cars - all right, all right, it's true. I'm a cyclist with three cars. I don't care. We are ludicrously attached to them all. There is no logical reason for three - one is essential, obvs. Our 1965 Triumph Spitfire isn't exactly practical, but we've owned him since 1986. He's transported two bikes plus camping equipment down through France to Le Mont Ventoux - in fact, to the summit of Ventoux. How could we possibly abandon a chum like that? The Red Baron is a Dual Fuel (Petrol & LPG) 1988 BMW 325 Touring (That's German for Estate Car). He was, until a year or two ago a 1989 BMW Touring (you know what that's German for by now). We bought Red Baron II because his bodywork was better, and persuaded the sellers to transfer Baron I's mechanicals and seats and lots of other stuff. So deep attachment again. Then we bought another BMW for daughter Polly when she was learning to drive. Now she's in Plymouth, at Uni (as she and her chums would have it) and has no use for a car. Yet again we feel unable to part with ' Baby Beamer'.

I would be amazed if any of you were impressed by the forgoing, but I thought that I'd throw it in as background. The real problem was that the Baron wouldn't start. We were about to take Baby Beamer to our good friend John Gagen at Cockfield, for a service.Traditionally (weather permitting) I would put a bike in the back of whichever vehicle was in need of attention and ride back (then collect when done). For the last few months I've not been able to do this, so we use two cars. I was to drive Baby Beamer, which I took  out of our drive, waited for Susan, then walked down to the garage to check on progress. "He* won't start!!" Susan bellowed. (* each of our cars is a chap) I moved into the driver's seat with the calm reason of one who knows about these matters. Sit in car, apply key. Turn engine for maybe four, fruitless, minutes. I can now tell the problem. "He won't start!!" I yell. I diagnose a petrol-pump related problem, but don't feel in any fit state to crawl under The Baron to investigate. We phone John. I outline the problem, and, like a totally ideal Garagiste, after a moment's thought he says "Shall I come and have a look?". John's workshop is about half an hour from Norton. He will need to finish the jobs he has in hand, but will be with us in about 5 hours. Wonderful. So, since the sun is still out (etc) and it's the first mild day for, er, well, days, I decide on the 15 mile circuit mentioned at the start of all this nonsense. Excellent ride, with a modicum of modest climbing. Average speed (as if anyone cared) 14mph. Quick shower, brief lunch, John arrives in in his black 1991 BMW 318 Touring (did I tell you about that?) and sets about the Baron. Problem identified eventually by a whack to the bottom of the petrol tank.This gets the pump whirring which starts the engine (which also runs on LPG, petrol is only needed for about ten seconds to start the engine after which it just runs on gas). We decide to leave the Baron running. Unfortunately, the petrol pump isn't the type expected, so John will have to source another. It seems best to fix it tomorrow. He will now go home, and we'll take the Baron to Cockfield. and leave him behind the workshop. John leaves. We have the Baron, quietly rumbling as he ticks over (petrol-head term) Susan goes to get Baby Beamer. "He won't start!" she shouts in disbelief. More to the point, the electronic key doesn't work. This means that not only will he not start but we can't even open the doors. Susan cleverly extracts the traditional key from the electric item. All this allows us to do is to get in and sit in the driver's seat - impotently. Phone John. He suggests jump leads to encourage life from a suspected flat battery. Looking for our collection of two sets of jump leads, and failing to find even one, we realise that both are in the tailgate area of  Baby Beamer. Susan has to climb over the front seats, open the rear seats to allow access to the tailgate and crawl round to find the jump leads. We connect the Baron to the Baby and immediately, nothing happens at all. Phone John. He'll be over at 8.30 in the morning.

Morning. John arrives and, as we finish breakfast, we hear the sound of two engines. Baby B has a flat battery, when I used the jump leads I used to the wrong connection. BMW use an odd arrangement involving storing  the battery in the boot and a couple of contacts under the bonnet. There is no problem with the red one, but the three very similar black ones give plenty of scope for error. We will bring the Baron to Cockfield. Only problem now is that Susan is due in Cambridge at 11.00. There's sunshine, and the temperature is inching it's way towards clement. So I will take a bike and ride back - someone has to do it, what a sacrifice!

 Leave John's workshop (which is correctly at Cross Green) and head left onto the A1141 and head home. But why? Do I really need to?

Of course not. The weather is looking sublime. How far would I be able to manage? Turn left off the A1141 towards Cockfield proper  and turn right just after the old railway bridge up Perrydown Lane (no, I didn't know it was called that either) and head south. To Bildeston and right towards Chelsworth. Ahah! A proper climb. Oh dear, it's steeper than I remember. By a lot. Decide that it might be prudent to engage the Granny Ring. A bit of grinding and churning, then finally Clatter-Clatter Grind - and the chain is off and down the inside, cranks rigid. Decide that I would rather not fall off, and succeed  in my effort. A long fiddle to get the chain out from behind the chainring and back on again. Coast back down to make the re-start less hazardous - after all I'm still very shaky in the bike-handling department. I even have to be careful taking a drink (and then replacing the bottle). Just how sad is that? The left turn in Chelsworth through the very narrow bridge and up the hill past Chelsworth Hall is steep, but not as bad as the previous one - and beautiful, and soon eases to a gentle gradient up, to join the A1141 (again), and left to Hollow Trees. This feels very special indeed. I am  under the impression  that the time is about 11.20. However, on my way home I realize that my watch has stopped. I caught the winder on a cycling journey. What else can go wrong? Amazingly, nothing. Well, not yet, anyway.
Scone and tea for £2.80 and a chat to a husband and wife cycling combo at the next table - they were having a huge salad lunch. I thought that  I recognized them, but my ability to remember names is now really terrible, so no chance. They Asked if I'd ridden the Suffolk Punch. I told them I'd just taken a few snaps - they hadn't ridden it either, but spoke of it in awe, and referred to friends who had, and had suffered (in a good way)

After tea I retrace to Bildeston and then turn right, up to Wattisham village, and slightly left back to the B1115 and right to Gt Finborough. The Wattisham bit was new to me - I'm familiar with going via Battisford , Combes and Jack's Lane - but crikey, what a grim and muddy lane up to the main road. Some very smart old conversions, but VERY few. Mostly semi-collapsed barns, broken gates and shabby farm machinery. And yet only a short way away, all was well tended. Just a three mile strip of sadness. If you live there and love it, I'd better apologize. It also looks the sort of area where grudges last, and retribution is enjoyed.

I am beginning to slow down, so a pause for more tea on my way through Woolpit, Chez Seggar.  Sue and I talk mainly about France and their impending trip in September to Le Mont Ventoux. and Burgundy until, finally, Rich. Returns from his ride. He told us tales of no room at Clare, and no café any more at Cavendish (we discuss the likelihood of a Cavendish revival) and how the then sped to Yorkshire Mary's in Long Melford. He mentioned Peter's two punctures,  the main course (so he said) for his 2.15 arrival.

So, 27.6 miles at Woolpit, and a satisfying 30.something at home. A proper ride at last.

SJH