The No Mince Pies Run 
The No Mince Pies Run
It’s strange how we don’t seem to be able to get away on time when we start at Loomies! Steaming hot drinks and gorgeous bacon butties are hard to pull ourselves away from. This time it was deliberate as the morning was “Cold and Frosty” and the extra ˝ hour helped us get our nerve up (and the sun to melt some of the frost). Great turnout at Loomies even though only 7 of us actually did the ride! Nice to have your support guys, even though you think we are mad (and probably were) to ride off to the Cheddar Gorge in those conditions.
At 10am we set out and took the A272 to Winnall and then our normal route to Salisbury. Tim set a reasonable pace and no one actually fell off but it took me a while to relax enough to start enjoying it. A quick blast up the B3089 to a coffee stop on the A303. When we came out of the Little Chef the sun was shining and the temperature had gone up. We had an enjoyable (if slippery) run through the Deverills and on through Stoke St. Michael and then the Gorge! O Boy! What a road! Shame it was wet and a bit congested with visitors. The beach didn’t seem like a good idea and as we were running a bit late it was on through some very minor roads to a HUGE lunch at the Hungry Horse pub near Bleadon.
After lunch and a re-fuel it was south to Wedmore, past Glastonbury and down to Podimore. Then East on the dreaded A303 as Tim decided to shorten the run and head back to the Hill Side Café by the short route. We “lost” Tim C. & Debbie when we turned at the A345 down to Salisbury. Not sure if it was intended but I bet they got home well before we did and probably much dryer as well!
Down to 5 bikes when we reached the Hill Side Café just after 5pm for a quick cuppa and then we separated and headed for our separate homes with the weather turning very wet. I arrived home tired, very wet and muddy (the Morestead road was fun!!) at about 7:30pm.
Well done Tim! That was quite a challenge in those conditions. Your hard work preparing and testing the route paid off and was much appreciated. A shame the conditions didn’t let us enjoy it to the full. I look forward to doing it again in the dry.