At last, Tuesday was looking to be a dry day and 5 riders met up at Winnall, including 2 new to group rides (well, Marie-Claude had done 1 before) and Stephen who volunteered to do his first tail rider role.

It was a (shortish) 93 mile jaunt heading north-east towards Northington, to pick up the Candovers road, which is always great value. Crossing the A339 to get into the lane to Upton Grey, which added its own challenges with the low sun shining through the trees and creating some really bright areas and with the roads having just been washed by overnight rain, there were plenty of hazards to manage. The lovely flowing lane between Upton Grey and North

 Warnborough is great fun, and having crossed the A287, we were again into a good B road that took us to Winchfield, where a right turn takes the back, twisty roads to Hartley Wintney. Its a quick dash from there to Wellington Farm Shop, which has one of the largest cafes and where there is always space.

Coffee and snacks consumed, it was away for the return journey. A short trip up the A33 to avoid the road closure directly outside the farm shop, before turning towards Grazely, and onto Mortimer, Aldermaston and Brimpton, before turning south to Kingsclere, where we had the fast sweeping road towards Whitchurch, where a right took us into the lanes to St Mary Bourne. Left to Longparish, before picking up the A30 to Sutton Scotney, and getting back into the lanes for Micheldever, Stoke Charity and finally ending up at Cobbs in Kingsworthy, where tea was very welcome.

We were so lucky with the low levels of traffic, and the skills in the group meant that only 2 drop offs were required.

A big thanks to the positivity of those that came and to Stephen Roche for taking up the tail position.