Wednesday 22nd May 2019

Long ride report by David.On a dry day with early cloud dispersing, another magnificent seven riders set off from Outwoods Drive in the direction of Beeston Marina, including two of the intrepid Caledonian team. Philip, Eric, Rob, Jeff, Terry and David followed Howard on the 35 mile route at a steady pace enjoying a canal tow path ride more refined than Scotland’s rugged tracks.

The route took us along the South Notts bus route through Stanford, East Leake and Gotham. We were then suddenly onto tram tracks in Clifton, before cutting through residential roads and past Trent University to be beside the A52 on the cycleway to cross the River Trent. After passing a huge demolition site of the Horizon factory and following the canal for a short while, we rejoined the River close to where we would stop for coffee and cake. This was not at Beeston Marina, towards which Philip had made already made a pre-emptive bid; but over a narrow bridge to the Canalside Heritage Centre to where others would be first to the till. Originally it was to be Beeston Marina but on spotting the Canalside Heritage Centre we changed our minds.The Canalside Heritage Centre was a new find, and very welcome. From the upstairs balcony we had a view over the weir, as we sat around a table no bigger than an item of luggage on a Ryanair flight. We were soon provided with more runway space for cakes in the usual manner, and Eric tried to recall a limerick he had composed prophetically describing the situation.

It was a lovely ride through Attenborough Nature Reserve, with the sun coming out. We could not ride fast because other people on the paths were enjoying the scenery. At times we were surrounded by more water than land, but nobody fell in and got an ear wash (as in Erewash canal). Ratcliffe power station, which was sometimes to our right and sometimes to our left, seemed for a long time not to get any closer. When Howard pointed out the site of Thrumpton Hall, it helped some of us recover our bearings and others childhood memories.

We followed the Trent to Sawley Marina, then we were on the home run on country lanes through Sutton Bonington and Normanton. Altogether, a fine ride finishing at about 1:30.

The Short RideKeith, Lyn, Rosalind, Ann, Patrick, Myles, Marcus john and Rob decided to head south into the wind taking the rather bumpy route out past Mucklin Wood. They then headed for Swithland and Rothley taking the path alongside the A6 up to the new bridge at the Birstall Park and Ride before descending to Wanlip. Going further south they then turned into Watermead Park at the northern edge of Birstall and then headed north along the Soar valley to Cossington. A very pleasant refreshment sojourn was taken at the garden centre in Cossington where they met up again with Ray Clay who had made his way there independently on his electric assist bike. Chatting in the very pleasant surroundings ran on a little longer than normal so it was well after noon before the riders returned to Loughborough.