Willie
Gall suggested an Easter Tour in Hampshire based at the Flowerpots Inn,
Cheriton. This is a pub which brews its own beer and provides accommodation
in a converted stable block. There were four of us, Peter Ashby, Willie,
Willie's friend Nick Upton and I.
Day 1 On
Good Friday morning, Peter, Willie and I met at Purley in bright sunshine
for the ride to Hampshire. Nick was to meet us at Haslemere as he was travelling
down by train. After dropping down Pebble Combe the sun was replaced by
an overcast sky. We had to stop at Gadbrook Lane as Willie had a loose front
mudguard. His misfortune was my good fortune as I was able to ride along
Gadbrook Road possibly for the first time, a pleasant lane. The roads were
quiet and we passed through Newdigate, Capel, Ockley, Forest Green, Ewhurst
and into Cranleigh where we stopped for tea. The tearoom was run by a cyclist
but unfortunately for us it is not opened on Sundays. We then proceeded
to Haslemere via Dunsfold, Shillinglee and Gospel Green. At Haslemere we
stoppedat the Mill Tavern for lunch and to meet Nick. He arrived shortly
after us and was given the most important rule of touring, when buying a
round Peter has to have a pint glass with a handle. We discussed the destination
for afternoon tea and I was pleased to learn we would be stopping in Selborne
to visit Gilbert White's House and the Oates Museum. Shortly after leaving
Haslemere we entered Hampshire through the small village at Hammer. The
countryside was pleasant and the lanes quiet. At Selborne Peter managed
to get a 50p discount on his admission to the museum due to his advanced
age. Gilbert White, an 18th century Naturalist, was the minister at Selbourne.
He wrote the Natural History of Selborne in which he recorded his observations
of plants, birds and animals. The house was interesting, well worth the
visit. It had a large garden at the rear on the slope of a hill. I was disappointed
that the Oates part of the museum was not dedicated to porridge but to a
family whose most famous member uttered the sentence “I am just going outside
and may be some time". This line I use most Sunday mornings as I set
out for the Sunday ride. The story of the Scott Expedition was well presented
with pictures, written materials and artefacts. After our tour of the rooms
we had tea and cake. We left Selbome and passed through Four Marks on the
way to Cheriton. The light was fading as we approached Cheriton and just
before we reached our destination we stopped at the memorial stone which
commemorated the Battle of Cheriton in 1644. We reached the pub at 7 pm.
We had dinner and sampled the excellent beer made a few yards away in the
brewhouse.
Day 2 It
was a fine morning as we crossed the few yards to the bar for our breakfast.
Before setting out a minor repair was done on Nick's wheel. In the bright
sunshine we rode north alongside the River Itchen passing through Tichbourne
and Ovington. Just after Ovington I had the only puncture of the tour. We
left the Itchen at Easton and crossed over the M3 and passed through Kings
Worthy. After passing through Kings Worthy we were on quiet roads. We passed
large fields, and the song of the skylark was in the air. I also spotted
two buzzards soaring high in the sky.We stopped at Stoke Charity for a map
check and decided to head east to Micheldever in search of a tea stop. We
had no joy on the tea front so headed north past Micheldever Station, which
was about three miles away from Micheldever. Shortly after leaving Mitcheldever
Station I had trouble getting up a hill and discovered a bulge on my back
tyre. I hadn't fitted the tyre properly after fixing my puncture as the
tube was raising the bead. I stopped to correct my mistake and asked a lady
cyclist who passed me to inform my companions I would catch up. After catching
up we proceeded into Overton and we met up with the lady cyclist who was
waiting for her husband who was out on a racing bike. I recognised Overton,
as it had been a destination on one of our breakfast runs. We then followed
the Test Valley heading west to Freefolk and stopped at the Watership Down
Inn for lunch. Just before the pub we passed a terrace of almshouses in
red brick with a thatched roof. A local in the pub informed us this was
the longest continuous thatch in the country. He also said it was only on
the front of thebuilding, the back had a tiled roof. The pub menu stated
that rabbit had never been on the menu. After lunch we followed the Test
Valley heading southwest through pretty villages with numerous thatched
cottages. After riding down the valley we turned off and headed in a south
easterly direction for Winchester. We did not find a tea stop until we reached
Winchester where we had tea and cake. We passed the Cathedral on the way
out of Winchester. It was an undulating ride for the last hour as we returned
to Cheriton. We had ridden 60 miles. In the pub that night we were treated
to the sight of people in 17th century costume. These were members of the
English Civil War Society who were going to place a wreath at the 1644 War
Memorial on Sunday morning.
Day 3 We
started our ride just before 10 .00 am, expecting to see the Royalists gathering
for their march to the War Memorial but they must have had a late night
as no one appeared to be up. We headed south out of Cheriton to look for
the source of the Itchen just out of the village. We found the field with
the spring but there was no marker. We were heading for the south of Winchester
and did a bit of rough-stuff on a quiet track. We crossed the Itchen
at Otterboume. Heading west we travelled through quiet roads and crossed
the Test just before Mottisfont. We passed Mottisfont Abbey and headed north
along the Test Valley. We stopped at the John of Gaunt pub at Horsebridge
for lunch. After lunch we continued north along the Testway, an old railway
track, for about three miles. The track surface was good and it was a pleasure
to be traffic free apart from the odd walker. We left the track briefly
at Stockbridge, a big tourist village, and rejoined the track after leaving
the village. We left the track at Leckford and I gave thanks to the patron
saint of rough-stuff, St ‘Arris of Fortin 'eath. We headed east and
skirted the northern outskirts of Winchester and headed for Alresford. We
had a short circular tour of Old Alresford passing the numerous watercress
beds then went through New Alresford and stopped at the railway station.
This is the end of the Watercress Line, a preserved steam railway. Unfortunately
we were too late for tea but we had a brief look at the station and shop.
We then had a short ride back to Cheriton. As our pub did not do food on
a Sunday evening we had to walk about a mile to the Hinton Arms, at Hinton
Ampner, for dinner. After dinner we had to walk through the dark lanes back
to our pub for our final drink.
Day 4 After
our final breakfast we started out for home. We passed the National Trust
Garden at Hinton Ampner and headed east. I struggled on the first climb
of the day but was compensated by the quiet roads and pleasant countryside.
We passed through a number of small villages including Privett and High
Cross. We had a fast descent into Steep where the road hugged the hillside.
Although we had to ride a stretch of main road, the B2070 which was dual
carriageway in parts, it was suprisingly quiet. We came off the B2070 at
High Brow and passed the sign informing us we were in West Sussex. We went
through Milland, Fernhurst and passed the Lurgashall Vineyard, heading into
familiar surroundings. We saw another pair of buzzards circling high in
the sky. At Shillinglee Nick left us as he was going to catch a train back
to Croydon. We pressed on and stopped at Dunsfold for lunch and had the
most expensive beer of the trip at £2.70 a pint. After lunch we did the
reverse of the outward journey passing through Cranleigh, Ewhurst, etc.
Peter left us at Coulsdon and Willie and I rode to the Royal Standard for
afternoon refreshment. Nick was sitting outside enjoying the sun and he
got the beers in. He had cycled to Gatwick where he caught his train. This
was a most enjoyable trip. Hampshire had good roads and was quieter than
the roads we use most Sundays. It may have been quiet due to the Bank Holiday.
The Flowerpots was an excellent pub with no piped music, no mobile phones,
excellent beer, a well-run family business. My thanks to the facilitator,
Willie, for the suggestion and for booking the accommodation.
Escape to sunny Andalucia
by Keith Wawman
On
finding a flight for £40 return Gatwick to Malaga I packed my bike in
a box and got away for two and a half weeks, March 8th-23rd, 2005. Another
goody I found on a web site just before leaving was Wally and Sue advertising
accommodation, together with a collection service from Malaga airport
- they are members of the Beacon RC now living in Spain. They collected
me at Malaga on arrival and took me to their accommodation at Casa el
Pinon 8 km from Coln where 1 booked to stay for five nights. Bike out
of box and then some hilly rides each day when I visited Catima, Alora
- hill top town worth a visit, the lakes at Guadalhorce after riding
through a wonderful gorge (all uphill as you would expect). I saw the
railway running through the gorge in a series of tunnels that was used
in the film von Ryan's Express. Other rides were to Coin, Alhaurin el
Grande and Malaga where I found it was difficult to ride along the coastal
roads. After my five nights stay with Wally and Sue I rode to Malaga
then travelled with bike in a coach to Granada (travel very cheap) where
I found a hotel for two nights. The
next day I spent riding up the Pico Veleta as far as the snow line,
stopping for lunch on the way at the Ski Station Pradollando at 2100m
where I found a complex of four ski lifts, shops and several hotels.
I managed to resist the temptation to try a ride on a ski lift, thinking
of the time, and ride still to do. What a wonderful return ride I had
after that climb! With one eye on the scenery and one on the road all
down to Granada in record time. Next day a local ride including a visit
to Alhambra with its colourful gardens and historic buildings (Granada
was the last stronghold of the Moors). On my morning's ride I found
tunnels and motorways not on my map to work my way round. Next morning
off to the coach station for another ride, some of the route now changed
to motorway. Granada - Orgava, (approx. 850m height) in the high Alpejaras.
Now riding again, passing a wind farm on way up to Boubion at approx
1800m. Two nights at Boubion where I had hoped to meet up with some
of my Addiscombe friends. Must have been hiding as not found in this
small village. But they were there, as I found when I got home, tucked
away in an apartment near the church I took a photo of. Reluctantly
had a ride out from Boubion up again through the village of Capileira
to the snow line followed with run down and a small circuit to Busquistar.
Far enough I thought as again faced with lots more climbing back to
Boubion. After
two days leaving Boubion my biggest joy was that it was mostly down
through the mountains with their marvellous views to Motril near the
coast where I stopped the night. Next morning - you won't believe it
- yet another coach ride! It was along the coast with some motorway
included, from Motril via Malaga arriving at Marbella, leaving the sunshine
behind, but only until moving away from the coast. Stayed the night
at Marbella (too early for the tourists, not yet arrived). Next morning
took on another long climb (must be daft in my old age) up to Ronda
at 800 m. Booked in early at Hotel Aguila (thought of you Neville).
Ronda town was so full of history did not want to leave - walked my
legs off! Well, when looking at the map I found I had to take the road
that did a further clamber up to 1306 m. Thinking of the run down over
my lunch stop at el Burgo - well - it did go down - but 17 km of unmade
road!! Just think of the disappointment.... I continued on to Coin,
arriving later than expected to find my last hotel in Alhaurin el Grande
-whew what day! But I did turn tourist as I found a small fish
restaurant, British run - had the biggest plaice covering the plate.
My last day I only had to return to Wally and Sue to stay the night,
dismantle bike into box then off HOME via my lift to Malaga airport.
This trip cost a total of £400, average hotel cost £16.50 B&B. Lots
of hills l had to plod up. And three coach rides. Well, I didn't have
a long detour around motorways and coast roads. Note: in Spain there
are few railways cross-country and this was the way to travel - like
the locals - cheap and to a strict timetable. Don't forget the warm
sun, I found most days - and riding in shorts! I only did 397 miles
but who cares - it was all good!! Home for a day then off to the Cotswolds.
