Eighteen riders at Bear Cross on the kind of autumn day that would rival anything spring or summer could offer. Out by Canford Arena, Merley and Ashington. Dropping down Pardy’s Hill is always a blast, mind the horses though. In a nice warm car at the junction with the A350 we would have been waved across almost instantly. Cyclists are seldom offered such courtesy, some practised track stands, others unclipped. Once across, it was Lytchett Matravers, East & West Morden and Bloxworth. Through the small town of Bere Regis and on to Milborne St Andrew, it was warm! The chocolate box village of Milton Abbas is always overlooked, coming down the hill it is too fast, going up you only see the wheel in front, if you can hang on! Stronger legs opened a gap then waited smugly for the regrouping. A pause to remember the fallen, the choice to muck about on bikes is ours, paid for expensively by others. Then it was fast down to Winterborne Stickland and up above Bryanstone school, a wrong turning, a minor domestic but we were soon all together again. Down to Durweston and through the School grounds, it feels like we shouldn’t be there but it is allowed. Around the one way system in Blandford, under the By-pass and onto Langton Long, the pace was high now, a good pipe-opener. Left to Tarrant Keynston, give way at the True Lovers Knot pub for black leather and high viz vests and it was up the Cliff to Hogstock. A familiar route, saw Witchampton, Holt, Pig Oak & Furzehill come and go. Wimborne Minster and the group split, depending on home address. Three of us headed to Little Canford, at pace along Ham lane and then Parley Cross. It was good and fast, the wind socks, unemployed at Hurn Airport,offering a clue to our good form perhaps. At 3hrs 49 we were home to soon.
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