Ride Report - Saturday 13 September

[Ian]

It was a good turnout for an afternoon that had forecast heavy showers. Eight of us left Christchurch Bridge slightly after 1pm on a route planned on my garmin. Due to the unpredictable weather it gave me options to shorten the optimistic 38 miles.
Our route was: Emmer Green, Dunsden, Sonning Common, Gallowstree Common, Stoke Row, Checkendon, Ipsden, Woodcote, Goring Heath.
There were signs in the Harpsden Valley that a heavy shower had recently passed through but other than this the weather remained favourable.
At Sonning Common we briefly lost touch with Erica with whom we agreed to meet at Stoke Row. As a result I reversed my planned route from our cafe stop at Stoke Row. All seemed to work well although the state of the road from Checkendon (Furniture Hill) to Ipsden is now dire for a downhill approach. However, we were rewarded with an ascent of Catsbrain which seemed to be wind assisted. At various stages of the afternoon the group split to go their separate ways so it was that just 4 of us returning to our start point.
Stats: slightly below 12mph for 30 miles.
Thanks to all (Erica, Fred, Simon, David C, Bob, Fred & Peter) for your company.
Next Saturday I shall be leading a ride from Beech Hill.