12 set off on today's ride towards Southam; a few 'fresh' from their return from the Welsh Velo. Pleasantly 'cool' conditions for the current heatwave!
This led to quite a fast initial pace of around 15mph with Mr Gullen leading the way for a while, and we arrived at Hatton Locks for 11's, a good 10 minutes early! Plenty of time to ring our food orders through to our lunch stop and Clive to show off his new steed! According to Joan, he's got to sell one of his other bikes to pay for it! Can't see that happening 😮
A short ride along the towpath brought us out on the road to Norton Lindsey where a couple of riders had to head home, and not long after Mr G had to do the same as his new garden bench had been delivered 2 weeks early!!
Luckily he had pre-warned us of a major road closure nr where the Fosse Way crosses the M40, so we diverted through Bishops Tachbrook before getting back on track near Deppers Bridge.
Arrived at the Fox & Hen, Bascote Heath at 12:45 to receive very prompt service and a good 2 course meal for only £6.95. A very busy pub - where even Nigel looked like a youngster😀
Quite a warm return ride via Offchurch, Cubbington and Stoneleigh before passing through the Warwick Uni campus and on through Balsall Common to Knowle where I left 7 riders to make their own way back to Earlswood.
58 miles for me at an average pace of 13.9 mph and plenty of time to recover before watching England get knocked out of the World Cup
