Ice Ice go away, then we all come out to play

Saturday’s call to those lost to us over the winter months worked - 17 met for coffee, Mr SC and PC headed towards the Dorset/Devon Coast, whilst 15 (yes we think this is a club record) headed out via Wyke and Ditcheat, then onto Parbrook, Lottisham and the Barrows. Mr LT had to scoot home to catch a train, but the rest headed on round to Chapel Cross. Mr Trims had to whizz off before coffee, but Rose had the kettle on and the rest of us tucked into cake and hot drinks and inane cycling banter like usual. The majority rolled back up to Bruton together, with a few splitting off for different or longer routes home. Great day out… Mr SC and PC meanwhile put in a 100miler in around 6hrs - awesome.

Sunday, and lots of WhatsApping - brought a slight change to proposed route. 4 Mighty BCC headed out of Corton Denham at 9am in the direction of Sherborne, Leigh, and Lions Gate - Ms JP got her best turbo training song pinging round her brain for the “whizzy” road through Mintern Magna, Cerne Abbas, Godmanstone and Forston. Up to Dorchester, Poundbury and onto the Martinstown road with Hardy’s Monument looming in the distance. The last 5 miles of climb and headwind resulted in satisfaction and great views at the monument, but tummy’s grumbling we high tailed it back to Dorchester for fuel and fluids. Rolling through Poundbury again we found Finca, in Buttermarket, for a welcome stop. Mr TW, Mr DC and DrL then introduced MsJP to the delights and mild mental torture of the Piddle Valley. What Dr L and MsJP hadn’t banked on was the bow wave over their heads when one of those too fast metal boxes flew round the corner and straight through the flood on the other side of the road. Lots of elevation today, good pacing by Mr TW, and all satisfied by our efforts. A good day out on the roads.