Sunday Ride: 16th April 2017

An AwayDay to Bosham in West Sussex

Twelve starters for an early 8am start. Tom led the easy way out through the Merstham Gap. Thenc the traditional route out through Newdigate where Maggie who was a sick note that extended only to Tanhouse Farm left us. Capel, then a pose by Tom B with a great view of Leith Hill.

First stop was the Milk Churn Cafe after thirty odd miles. A special little easter egg for and buzzing coasters for those with heated food. Jim disappeared around this time.

Tom said nothing of a nasty surprise just before Fittleworth. A long twisty 1:6 gradient (15% in newspeak) was a killer though some managed to fake a grin to camera as they spun down the other side. We roared on to Amberley where the rich dined in comfort whilst the poor munched crisps outside.

A little bit of off road included a field, six kissing gates, a suspension bridge and lovely rutted but dry paths. This brought us and a good many others to Arundel Castle. Barrie left us to ride home. Hopefully he got his Imperial Ton! Onto Ford (as in prison rather than Prefect) where Steve had to leave us for his train home.

The last bit was due west into a strong wind but we rode on through Barnham and Chichester to roll up in Bosham smack of schedule at 4pm for the obligatory group photo. The bad news is this was just after the Anchor Bleu finished food. The less said about the Breeze Cafe the better but we eventually found sustenance in Bosham Walk.

We had covered 67.71 miles @ moving average of 12.29 mph.

Before we rolled back to Chichester for the train home – a couple of pictures of the same thatch cottage in Bosham as it was in 1979 and 1881(?). Pity about the fella …