Home Forums Sunday Rides Sunday Ride 5th Februry Re: Sunday Ride 5th Februry

#24538
ValleyMan
Member

Yet another debacle of a Sunday ride, mainly of my doing….

We met as usual at (just after) 0900. Joining club stalwarts Andrew R, Mark, Celia, Dave ‘sweaty’ Edwards, Richard (of flapjack fame), Kim and myself was Andrew soon to be a resident of Clunderwyn.

Andrew R had originally been on a tight leash as he was bound for Dubai, however, the snow had put paid to his plans. Consensus was reached around a trip to the seaside with a couple of hills thrown in for good measure and off we set.

Just past Ludchuch the more observant members of the lead group noticed that we were alone. Doubling back we found the source of the problem; a dodgy from wheel bearing on Kim’s bike. This seemed an ideal opportunity for refreshments and out came the flapjacks from Richard, Andrew R, Celia and Kim. It was like an episode of Masterchef.

Andrew R had now been summoned home to iron his budgie smugglers and finish waxing his bikini line as Janice had managed to book them onto a Virgin Flight. So he and Dave agreed to make sure Kim got home safely and the remaining five of us continued with me leading the way….

First up it was down to Wisemans Bridge, er no, everyone followed me down the hill to Amroth. Realising my mistake I was starting a u-turn when Mark suggested we took the cliff top footpath. This more than adequately mitigated my cockup as we were treated to spectacular coastal views.

Back on piste, we scaled St Brides Hill and at New Hedges headed for Devonshire Drive at which point Mark bade us farewell. We then headed for the Ridgeway via St Florence and the upper slopes of Coal Lane. Celia need to get home and after a bit of discussion (and more flapjack) we decided to stick together and drop back down to Milton and loop back to Narberth via West Williamson, Cresswell Quay and Crosshands.

I led the way again secure in my knowledge of the local roads and ended up in Lamphey. At the junction with the main Tenby – Pembroke road it was helpfully pointed out that I had missed the turning to Milton. There was no real option but to retrace our steps back up onto the Ridgeway. Still the sun was shining! There was also the small matter of being accused of stalking a group of young ladies but that is another story.

Celia sensibly took the lead from this point on. As we headed down to the Quay I was just explaining to Andrew that the In-Laws of one of our number ran the pub then guess who we bumped into walking along the road. Matt was suffering from a minor bout of man flu, however, he still had the strength to enquire as to our route and suggest an alterative as being ‘better’. I am never sure of Matt’s terms of reference as his idea of ‘better’ often seems to involve more and steeper hills.

We therefore stuck to the ‘planned’ route and Richard left us just before Crosshands. Celia and I then left Andrew at the foot of Narberth Hill to find his own way home. However, given the way he was effortlessly cruising up the hills all morning, I don’t think was too much of a hardship for him. This seems to be developing as some sort of initiation for new riders.

No point in putting the 40 mile route up as I am sure it will not be one we will want to repeat! It and it looks a bit confusing with all the doubling back 😳

Moral of the story is don’t trust me to plan a route, let alone lead it.

PS We might have been having a few ‘issues’ with our Sunday Rides recently, however, just see what the Aces have been up to!

http://www.tenby-aces.co.uk/tacc/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=view&catid=7&id=196&Itemid=118#203