13 January 2010. We change allegiance in Needham

Still balaclava-cold at 9am in the bus stop. There's been a bit of a thaw, but snow is forecast so a curtailed run seemed prudent. Needham Market again. Not last weeks new best tea stop, apparently we must recalibrate in the light of Peter's cheese scone score from last week. We are to go to "Viv's"; further down Needham's main street, this café is (according to Peter) the CTC's stop of choice.

On the way we stopped for Peter to mend a puncture - I forgot to take a closer look as did this, I had intended to check out his improved technique following the Bicycle Maintenance evening that he went to last night at Elmy Cycles' swish new retail facility. Peter had told me that there was a lot to be gained from correct positioning of the bead in the well of the rim when it came to slipping it on with bare hands. Or something like that. He is highlighted in the photo - click on image to enlarge.

Barry left us as we neared Stowmarket, pleading a prior engagement. I think he found us too slow for him but was, as ever, too polite to complain. There were no further incidents, and Viv's (or L & V's I think the sign says) was soon found. The building has considerable charm, and has that Estate Agents' much loved cliché 'a wealth of old timber' adorning the low ceiling'd room. However, by far the most remarkable feature was a truly enormous collection of tea pots - the majority of which were of the novelty sort. My pictures tell the story.

This Wednesday was Richard Seggar's Official Birthday. Like our dear Queen, Richard will be having his actual Birthday on a different date, Friday. Being an honourable chap (and a republican - though not too upset, I hope, by my reference to our Monarch) he paid for all of us and, since a Friday ride was on the cards, promised to do the honours for those then present who had missed out by virtue of their absence today.

The return journey was uneventful, and followed pretty much the same route as last week - except that we took the old A14 through to Haughley and Elmswell and when Tony and I found ourselves off the front coming through Elmswell Tony decided to take the cut off just past the church, which was slushy snow over rutted ice, and gave us a bit of bike-handling practice down to the 1088. I achieved a gentle 31.6 miles, but probably worth 40 since I had to pedal all the time. SJH

Twelfth Night, but no Drama.

Definitely the core of the ride on this wintery Wednesday. There were clear roads for Tom-Tom, Peter H, Justin and SJH all the way to Alder Carr, which had closed its Cafe until (maybe) February. The disappointment was all the greater because Justin had confessed to never having been this most superior of Farm Shops, and we were looking forward to introducing him to its delights.

We are a group not easily cast down by life's vicissitudes, so back into Needham to search for tea. We found, inside a building that Susan and I had visited last May and had a rather indifferent experience, a new enterprise and a warm welcome. Our waitress was more than a match for Peter (terror of the tea room) Heath.

"Can we have a pot of tea . . . . and can we have a jug of hot water to go with it?"
"We do that anyway"
"I'd like a cheese scone - and can you pop it into the microwave for ten seconds?"
"We always do that"

Not only all that, but we were served loose tea, home made scones with jovial service. All this at the double fronted place near MSDC offices, I don't think that it has a name yet. Needham is a bit close for normal weather, but in special circumstances this could be a life saver.

At the café Pete gave a discourse on the Building of the Cathedral Tower, via a few anecdotes gleaned from Horrie Parsons, the Project Manager for the task, which he delivered at an excellent talk he attended recently. What a project; if you wish to be delighted and entertained for ever, then Pete's your man and the tower's the subject. It was, in fact truly fascinating.

T-T suggested that we risk the Creetings rather than the main road, and he was correct, but ominous clouds that looked like wet grey sheets - with pleats in them were developing fast to the north east as we wound our way down through 'Toy Town' to Stowmarket. Fine sleet began as we passed through Borley Green, and became heavier as we went through Woolpit (refusing T-T's offer of a snifter of Bushmills at The Old Police House in favour of getting home safely). Snowflakes were getting fatter, and had settled on the traffic island with A1088, getting heavier as we neared Norton. The glasses needed a regular finger across the lens to be able to see anything. I was dropped off at my door, just grabbing the pic above featuring Peter waving farewell.
I later heard that Justin and Pete got home OK. My total was 32.6 miles. 14.2mph.

Everything's white outside now, 3/4 hour after getting home.