Saturday 11th June - Doniford

The long awaited heatwave has arrived, unfortunately temperatures drop back to normal on Saturday.

Route out will be Sea Front, Anchor, Brent Knoll again, but we'll take a different route to Doniford this time by riding up to Pines then down Cothelstone and on to Elworthy (same as our recent visit to Wiveliscombe...... don't forget to point out those potholes) we'll then turn right instead of left at Elworthy crossroads and down into Watchet, where we'll pick back up with the usual route. This should give us around 90.

Tri-stop can be Pines, Cannington or similar.

I hear a rumour that someone might have a new bike, I also hear that he ordered it on Monday and collected it on Wednesday. I personally think that this can't be true as anything less than a 9 month turn around is impossible (especially as the hyper-efficient Germans weren't involved.)

We've been shafted

As predictably as night follows day, my announcement of a 90 mile ride is followed by a change in forecast from dry to wet!

Let's head south, and see what happens....
Chatterboxes are on standby!

I've just seen a trailer for tonight's springwatch. A pair of canyon ultimates has been spotted in the anglian reed beds. These rare Germanic visitors haven't been spotted on these shores since the last Tour of Britain. The nest cam has revealed some very promising behaviours from the couple but, as yet, no eggs have been delivered.

Hello friends of German efficiency. Ride report coming up.......in about 6 months time. Or maybe 7 months. Okay, between friends let's make it a year.

Fletcher Christian turned up at Priory on Saturday and promptly led a mutiny to Portishead. No doubt he will be hung for his crimes when apprehended. The rest of us were cast adrift towards southern climes in search of a taste of paradise.

Not much to report as far as Woolavington where we patiently awaited the arrival of some of the slower riders. A wide load was clearly on the way as an lead vehicle warned of its impending arrival. Right on cue Ivan sailed past and we decided it was safe to move off again. As we pulled out onto the A39 there was the tell tale signs of a dropped chain. Lucky for Pete his bollocks stopped him from falling off but he did have to stop to pick one up off the road.

On the fringes of Bridger Mark said he was heading home, nudge nudge wink wink. A few minutes later Jeannie also said she had to return home, nudge nudge wink wink. I'm not starting any rumours but those Flybys on Strava tell a good story.

The clouds gathered as we approached the Quantocks so we cut across muddy lanes to the A39 and headed along to Holford. You could tell it was holiday season, there was a 3 mile queue of traffic following something akin to a caravan. Ivan pulled into a layby and when the traffic cleared we continued to some posh hotel in the middle of nowhere. Cream teas were ordered and we enjoyed warm home made scones with lashings of jam and clotted cream. We then debated whether it should be cream or jam first. Fortunately Paul, with his experience of afternoon tea at the Palace, put us straight on the matter by explaining the difference between a Devon tea and a Cornish tea. Unfortunately we still don't know which is which.

There was a little uncertainty about the route back. A local offered some help. Ooh argh, left, then left, go past the church, ooh argh, and then left by the pub, left again, and then follow the road for about 100 yards and you'll know exactly where you are. Yeh - like back where we started. Ivan then punctured, not literally of course or there would have been considerable mess. After a record breaking 11 minute repair we set off again.

As we got to Highbridge Ivan's nose sniffed out a burger at the Brent Knoll Summer Fair and decided he needed refuelling. He looked most displeased when nobody felt similarly inclined so we all set off again for home, with the exception of Pete who was still in the bog. By the time he came out his bike had been raffled off for 50p.

Shame about the weather but a good ride with good company as always.
OJC: about 5, KFC: 6/10, TTCR: 8/10

I hope nobody missed the very interesting springwatch...

Kate Humble was sporting a very snazzy pair of Oakley's and getting very excited about the new arrival in the canyon's home. None of us could see anything but Kate was convinced that the nest was full of eggs. Perhaps those glasses had been coated with a special rose coloured tinting by those fiendish birds.

More updates to follow as this exciting story unfolds....