Group ride with Clive Good.

A half day round Hampshire...and a bit of Wiltshire

Yes, Saturday was dry! and so 16 bikes arrived at Winnall’s Costa for a morning’s riding
around some B and C roads (with the odd bit of A road thrown in to link the other bits together).

A great mix of bikes. Full on sports bikes to big heavy tourers, fully luggaged up.

We were going to Thruxton, so, of course, we started by going east, with Nick Lee volunteering
to take the backmarker role, we started a quick section along the A31/A272, to get to the old
ridgeway, with a left through Beauworth, over the A272 and on to Cheriton and Alresford.
Interestingly enough, all the road works we came across were for Southern Water.

What does that say?

So far so good. As we went through Alresford square, we became 17. Who was this mystery rider? (all would come clear at Micheldever) Who can’t enjoy the Candover’s road? Unfortunately, things went a bit awry as we turned off for Northington, 6 riders kept going....Quick thinking by Nick, who realised the error and caught and got ahead of the “lost” group, and a few phone calls meant we had a plan as to where to come back together. As the lonely dropped off markers were picked up, the bulk gathered at Micheldever and the mystery rider was unmasked (well he took his helmet off). Too late for the briefing,James opted to head to Alresford to pick us up.

At the Cheriton exit of the A303, we all came back together and so on to Overton and the twisties up the hill. A sharp turn back to Whitchurch, and the lanes to St Mary Bourne. Its a shame about the 30 all through Stoke, but my, the Bourne was running fast (an omen of what was to come). As we crossed the A343 heading across Oxenwood, there was water everywhere, along with the associated dumped mud/detritus in the corners. At the A338, a sharp left, back towards Salisbury, but a leftover Tidcombe Down towardsLudgershall. What a road! Open, empty and amazing views. Determined not to use Andover and the A303, we dropped off the A342 onto a lane for Kimpton, where Southern Water had finished their closure, but what a mess the road was in. (they were still pumping at the end of the village).

And so, 17 bikes arrived at the Jackaroo cafe. Coffee and cake, full English and a mix of ciabattas and paninis were taken. (And the good news was that the wheelbarrow and cones for slow riding were still stacked up at the skidpan).

We were now at least 30 minutes behind time, so off we went, heading west towards the A338 and Porton, where the plan was to pass by the laboratories. But, the MoD had decided to close the gates and a detour via the Winterbournes had to be made. Picking up the A30 to get back to the Porton crossroads, we took a right into the Winterslows, onto Dean, Mottisfont and up to Broughton. Here a right took us through the village, but a closure forced us onto the A3057. The road was subject to road works at Kings Somborne, so being way behind time, we took a right through the village to head across country to Crawley, but none of us was expecting the sea of water that was pouring off the field and brook after Up Somborne. It was so fast-flowing that you could see the current in the water.

We arrived at Cobbs about 20 minutes later than planned but smiles all around and home in time for the 6 nations finales.

Thanks to Nick for being on the ball at the back.