Saturday 7th January - lest we forget

Cannington poppies was one of many intended destinations that didn't quite happen at the end of last year. So let's continue our theme of making up for missed opportunities.

Route out will be toll road, sea front, anchor, jeannie's bogs should you wish to latch on.

Usual split at Spaxton for the long and the short of it.

And a big well done to anybody who had throwing himself in front of a car in the 'nick's winter ailment' sweep.

A fabulous turn out for the first Saturday ride of 2017 and good to see Ivan out again after his wilderness weeks.

Once the various sub-groups had assembled about 28 riders set off for Poppies with a stop at Knoll Bogs for Adrian. Mostly the group stayed together and it was only the occasional minute of silence that led us to think that Marsella had dropped off the back. Family honour was intact at Wooly hill where Lofty took first place with his old man second. Thought there would be a rant down the main road to Bridger but Ivan was directing traffic through Bawdrip which was good news for me as the fresh layer of crap disguised last week's crap making it look like I might have cleaned my bike.

Must have been another round up in Bridger as the roads were very quiet and we sailed through without a hiccup. At Spaxton, Keith tried to slip away to Poppies but peer pressure caused him to do a 180 and return to the fold. There was a problem in that Poppies was never going to be happy or cope with 28 cyclists so a small group of 4 went to Poppies while the rest went to the Cricketers aka Chickens, aka Cocks.

It was a little cosy at Cocks as we formed an orderly queue across the shop, round the corner, down the steps, out the door and across the car park. I tried to take a leek just inside the door but realised you had had to pay for the organic veg and put it back. Ivan and Keith were particularly interested in the small adds, one of which offered gardening by Sue. Nothing like getting your bush trimmed by a nice young lady.

Some thought the prices a little high but I was happy with an Americano, breakfast panini with sausage, Cheddar, bacon and tomato with side salad, coleslaw and crisps for £7. The democratic vote was to go round the back but in my view no amount of democracy or diplomacy has ever resulted in going round the back. Lofty, Andy C, Tony (grrr) and myself set off at a good speed and thought perhaps we'd better wait in Bridger for the rest. Tony (grrr) decided to continue home alone so Lofty, Andy and me waited, and waited, and waited......7 and a half minutes later the group appeared and we quietly slipped back into the group like nothing had happened.

Carlos was in a major panic when he split his bib tights on the outskirts of Bridger. They clearly couldn't take the strain of the extra muscle he'd built up on his New Years training program. Or was it just too many mince pies and chocolate? A few individuals started to struggle for pace along the A38 but we kept it all together as far as East Brent where Ivan waved us past. We offered to stay with him but the honourable Ivan merely waved us away so we f'd off at full gas (not really).

Anyhow, a nice day out for a first ride of 2017 and hope everyone (Ivan) got home safely.

OJC: 4, KFC: 6/10, TTCR: 7/10. Mileage between 60 and 75 ish.