Thursday start from Debenham

Great Thursday ride lead by Peter, starting from Debenham Sports centre. Viv, Nick, Mike & Frank joined Peter on the ride which took in plenty of the lovely quiet lanes in the area with a Coffee & Cake / Snack stop at the excellent Wild Blackberry Café – Bromeswell where Pat was waiting for us. The weather was excellent and we were able to enjoy sitting outside.

The route to lunch took us through parts of Rendlesham & Tunstall Forest , via Blaxhall to Great Glenham. Quick minor detour to look at the historic 1 handed Church Clock – this dates back to 1770 when you obviously didn’t really need to know time down to the last minute! Lunch stop was at the Crown Inn. We were all impressed with the service, food and value – a great proper pub.

Our final leg of the ride was a pleasant run back to Debenham, skirting around Framlingham then via Earl Soham and back to our starting point.

A very pleasant and well planned 48 miles – thanks to Peter for organising and leading.

Mike & Viv – Happy riders on the quiet lanes

Wild Blackberry Café – Cycle Friendly

The healthy option [?]

Pigloos a plenty

All Saints’ Church Gt Glemham & the one handed clock.

Speedy get away after lunch – we did pay!

Fleeting glimpse of Framlingham Castle

Is the other half of that bike inside the House?

Sunday Ride – new Coffee Stop venue

With an OK weather forecast , Viv, Gorge, Frank, Mike, John, Jane (guest) & Nick (lead) set off from Skyliner initially taking a long route along the cycleways around Morton Hall Estate to the railway crossing over to Cattishall. With cycleways not being that common seems a shame not to use them whenever possible! The route took in some “rough stuff” going through Great Barton and again crossing Hall Farm on the edge of Fornham St Martin. We were met by Dick at the end of Livermere Drift and headed on to Timworth Green before crossing the A134 and making our way to West Stowe , Lackford and along part of the Icknield Way to the edge of Cavenham and our Coffee Stop destination Porter’s Lodge. This is a newly opened Tea Room ( and , excellent Garden ). It’s only opened on Weekends but well worth a visit and proved popular with everyone. Good selection of Cakes and savouries with proper china and tea pots plus that all important service. We were all pleased to see Colin’s Wife Shirley there and catch up with Her on Colin’s progress in Stoke Mandeville.

The next part of the ride took us further along Icknield Way, then left towards the A14 before heading what initially looks like the slip road to get on to the A14! A swift left then took us through the Village of Higham and past the lovely St. Stephen’s Church. The road through Middle & Upper Green made for pleasant cycling with the distant view over to Ely Cathedral in the distance. Few hills to tackle via Barrow, Hargrave, Chevington & of course the short but sharp Church Hill in Whepstead before we all cruised downhill into Hawstead for “lunch” at Maglia Rosso.

The final leg of the ride was a short one back to Skyliner taking the concrete road route before crossing the A134 & skirting around Little Whelnetham & Rushbrooke.

Very enjoyable, relaxed 38 miles

Porter’s Lodge Tea Room

Presentation first class & tasty too!

Much debate about the components on this fine specimen!

Tuesday Ride ~ Long Melford – Lavenham – Stowmarket Loop

Main topic of conversation as we gathered at Skyliner Sports Centre was how wet would we get? The various weather forecasts which had been consulted clearly showed rain ranging from a few millimetres to torrential downpours and flash floods! It certainly was warm and humid. With many of the Group on Holiday the turnout was modest with just 4 of us setting off. Frank & Nick riding the “Nolan Sisters” and Mike & John riding with some assistance from the “Bosch Brothers”.

First part of the route , devised and lead by Frank took us south under the A14 and straight out into the countryside along the familiar quiet lanes skirting around Rushbrooke, Little Welnetham & Stanningfield. After Shimpling we headed west past Giffords Hall Vineyard before taking the road through Stanstead and down to Long Melford to the Cherry Lane Garden Centre for our Coffee stop. We were joined by Neil who had ridden up from Colchester to met us. Still dry and pleasant we enjoyed the break sat outside.

After Coffee, south past Melford Hall before turning East ( Neil headed south back to Colchester) and taking quiet and undulating roads to Lavenham. Frank’s route avoided the main drag through Lavenham and took us past some very quaint timber framed Houses and then onwards to Brettenham, Harleston, Onehouse and then a wiggle around the outskirts of the ever expanding Stowmarket to Narey’s Garden Centre for our Lunch stop ~ still no rain. Good Lunch at Narey’s was enjoyed sat outside. ( Narey’s is quite tricky to get to on a bike but worth it as a reliable lunch stop for hungry cyclists)

The return route to Bury was firstly along the cycle way parallel with the A14 then via Haughley New Street. We finally had some rain near Elmswell and stopped to put jackets on – soon regretting this as it didn’t really amount to anything. Frank was excused leadership duties at Thurston Planche & allowed to head home to Stowmarket (!) to hopefully avoid the heavy rain that now looked inevitable. The rest of us managed to find our way back ending the ride having done 45 miles.

Thanks to Frank for leading (most) of the ride and the interesting route.

Lavenham
Lavenham
Narey’s finest Cheese & Baked Bean Toasty
Jacket stop
The “Dolan Sisters”
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