Dear fellow members and friends
13 May 2005
As I explained in an earlier circular, last Sunday's ride was – relatively speaking – the most difficult of the three I've planned for May and early June. Ideally, I would have put it last but a combination of the opening date for the Itchenor ferry and the vagaries of the rail timetable defeated me. But all went well in the end. See Helen's report below.
Boots!
Ian
The Next Rides
Sunday 22 May
Chichester Harbour – very flat! 20-25 miles
As last year, taking the Chichester Canal path to get out of the city and then down to Sidlesham. A glimpse of Pagham Harbour and then across to West Itchenor where we'll take the ferry (pedestrians and cyclists only) across the Chichester Channel and from there into Bosham and then back to Chichester via Fishbourne.
Catch 10.17 from Brighton Station or meet at 11.19 at Chichester station. Return trains leave at 53 minutes past the hour from Chichester. NB all direct & Southern trains.
Sunday 5 June
(A different) Berwick Circular
Berwick station – Michelham – Arlington - Wilmingon – Alfriston – Berwick church – old coach road – Selmeston – Berwick station
Only about 16 miles but some of it on fairly rough track – and lots of stops for photos and refreshments! We head north for a couple of miles to Michelham Priory, where no doubt Fred will be busy with his camera. Then we turn south through Arlington making for Wilmington with what should be good views of the Long Man. Past what remains of Wilmington Priory and village we make our way round to the Sussex Ox (not to be confused with the Brighton Bullock) for lunch in the (we hope) sunny garden. Retracing our steps a little we cross the Cuckmere and make a brief visit to Alfriston before heading back towards the A27. But just before Drusilas we take to a track – usually cyclable but only short if we decide to walk which brings us to Berwick Church. We then make our way out to the Old Coach Road and follow it past the Alciston turn to Bo-Peep where we regain a tarmac surface and follow the road down to the main road at Selmeston. At this point we will decide whether to simply cross the road and head back to Berwick station or to divert to the Selmeston tearoom.
The Last Ride - Helen's Report
Photos by Joyce
Felicitations completed at Hassocks station, we – Ian, Joyce, Richard, Sharen and myself – headed westwards through Hurstpierpoint, across the A23 to Twineham and on to Bolney.
Richard, Helen, Sharen, Ian and Joyce
Ian cleverly failed to tell us about the challenging hill into Bolney compounded by the roar of the traffic from the close-by A23 which almost sent Sharen on her back to Brighton prematurely and the rest of us mutiny driven. We were relieved to see the Bolney Stage but our leader said 'No' it had to be Staplefield. Fortunately for him, it proved to be just across the A23 and a good downhill away. There seemed to be some indecision about whether it should be The Three Jolly Tanners or The Victory.
Lunch at The Victory Inn
Graham and Sharen voted with their wheels by going to the Victory while Joyce, Ian and I continued up to The Three Jolly Tanners only to return downhill to meet the others at The Victory.
Lunch at The Victory Inn
Joyce vowed to stay put should they change their minds. The decor and ambience of the pub were its most recommendable features. The staff behaved as though they could have taken part in the altercation, from which the pub's name derived, between the two pubs. Joyce complained that we were sitting in the car park to eat our lunch but none of us managed to steal ourselves to the pleasant garden until it was almost time to leave.
Slaugham church
On to Slaugham,we were surprised how quickly we left the traffic noise behind after we went under the A23. A pleasant 'pubbed' village to be explored on a future occasion.
Slaugham Ponds
Joyce took obligatory photos of Slaugham Ponds and Ian commented how picturesque Warninglid had the Bourton On The Water feel.
Warninglid
Several menacing undulations later we came to Wineham but Ian was setting a fast pace today with Joyce close behind on the home-straight. I trust she caught the 3.47! The bluebells were beautiful, the weather kind. Self-satisfied it was worthwhile, we said our goodbyes till next time... thank you Ian for a great ride again.
Helen