April 27, 2012

CYCLING IN THE APRIL SUNSHINE (REALLY!)

The weather gods smiled on the Joy Riders again for the bicycle ride on Sunday 22 April. Despite a week of mixed-up monsoon weather there was a little pocket of warm sunshine and blue skies for our lovely spring Ride. Setting out from Riverside Barns at Ickleton, we traversed some not inconsiderable inclines (puff! pant!) up to Strethall on the Cambridgeshire/Essex border.

We passed glorious bright yellow fields of rapeseed, vivid against green hedgerows, and saw sky larks frolicking in the sunshine. It was blissful! We then continued on to the lovely little village of Littlebury and passed Howes Wood, resplendent with bluebells. From there, it was downhill all the way (wheeeeee!) to Ickleton village and then a quick cycle along the main road back to the Riverside Barns.

Over a cup of coffee and very fine cake (the carrot cake was especially yummy!) we enjoyed the sunshine, sitting by the lake and watching the ducks and chickens who popped across to make friends (hoping for some cake, of course!).

“Crikey, my ducks! Check out that stunning bike over there”

It was a fabulous way to spend a Sunday morning and even more enjoyable as the spring weather had decided to return for our ride! Many thanks to Malcolm P for the cycle route and to Kay and Malcolm, Jess (who came all the way from London), Sarah, Nick and Annie for coming along on the ride. It was delightful to meet Sally from The Cambridge Raincoat Company who came along on the ride and was modelling a very swish red raincoat with lovely polka dot linking from her own range that we were all coveting!