Cyclists Touring Club
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Cyclists Touring Club |
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A good day, weather was a bit overcast, not too hot, no wind or rain.Nothing to complain about there.
10 set off from Coventry Station, John turned up with his new friend Bruno to see us off! 
Met Alan from Leamington at Weston, then on to Wappenbury and Eathorpe. Down the roughstuff to Marton. The old Eathorpe Hotel doesn't seem to have changed much, the builders seem to have been there for years converting it to flats. Through Birdingbury and Leamington Hastings to Shuckborough where we stopped near the top of Beacon Hill for Tunnocks biscuits and to admire the view of Coventry in the distance. 
A nice little hill to climb at Priors Marston, quite pretty around the back of the village. Past the concrete microwave tower to Charwelton, where Roger and Gordon decided to turn off to Badby for lunch at the Maltster's. They didn't think they were up to the full ride? Nearly there now, Preston Capes, Maidford and Litchborough. The plan had been to have lunch at the Red Lion in Litchborough, but they have stopped doing food on Sundays!
Stopped to have a look at the Radar Memorial just before the A5 on the road to Bugbrooke.
Finally made it for Lunch at The Five Bells in Bugbrooke at about 12.45. 
After lunch on to Flore and Little Brington, where we made a small diversion to have a look at Althorp, Lady Di's family home, £11.50 to get in!! I don't expect they have many cyclists visiting, although there seemed to be plenty of people who were paying. Got a bit confused by the one way system in Long Buckby, but finally found the road to West Haddon. Just a few miles then through Yelvertoft and Lilbourne to tea at the Farm Shop in Catthorpe. 
Met up with Roger and Gordon again, also Tom and Ken who had come out for the afternoon. It was about 4.15 when we arrived, the choice of cakes was very disappointing, but Sheila treated us to a round of teas. Sheila bought some sausages while she was there, hope they were nice.
Uneventful ride back to Coventry through Shawell, Churchover and Harborough Magna, Bob and Alan turned off down the Fosse at Brinklow, the rest of us carried on home. Back at 6.30, about 75 miles.