The Beacon Message Board

I'll take a B Run to Snitterfield, approx 55 miles - Planning to stop at 'The Farm' - www.thefarmstratfordshop.com

Route will be something like this: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34051842
(out via Ullenhall and Little Alne, return via Lowsonford and Earlswood)

9:00-09:15 at the BH

Matt Hale (Leading)
Toby Hale
Stuart Jones
Noel O'Dwyer
Pete Norman
Mark MacArdle

Hi Matt, i'd like to join your ride, thanks. Stuart Jones

Ah, I was just toying with the idea of volunteering to lead a ride myself... I was even thinking of starting via Ullenhall and Little Alne (before swinging off in the other direction)!

But, since you've beaten me to it, I'd like to put my name down to intercept you part-way to your destination if I may. I'll wait for the route plan before working out details.

If it turns out that you've got a lot of takers, I'm willing to step aside in favour of someone who wants to do the full route.

Hi George,

Route above now - I've not been to 'The Farm' before, so thought it could be worth a try. Out of interest - where were you thinking of for a stop?

Hi Matt, sign me up please!

Matt Hale wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2020 22:36

Hi George,

Route above now - I've not been to 'The Farm' before, so thought it could be worth a try. Out of interest - where were you thinking of for a stop?

Cheers, Matt.

I've had a quick look at this, and I can now see that my plan is going to be a bit more difficult to realise than I initially thought. Because your return route swings east (taking me further from home), I think it's going to make more sense for me to just do part of the outward route, then make my own way back from the café. I don't think it's fair for someone who's only doing a quarter of the ride to deny a place to someone who wants to do the whole thing, so if the ride fills up and there are other people interested, I'll drop out. Otherwise, I'll meet you somewhere near Portway. I'll work out the details later and update you.

Btw, is the bit down the A46 to the outskirts of Stratford a little square-collecting diversion?

About the ride I was planning:
I was thinking of visiting another farm shop, the one at Harvington, where they've got plenty of outside seating. So I was going to start the same way as you, then swing west to the shop, before taking a fairly direct (south-to-north) route back, as follows:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34163488
If the weather holds up and I don't get swamped with work, I might do that the following weekend, or maybe next month.

Hi George,

It's a nice stop at Ellenden - would be a good route to look forward to

We'll see if the ride fills up, otherwise we can pick you up en-route (Portway or Bransons Cross would be fine) - if you could confirm by Sat evening.

Yes - the section along A46 is a 'square' Did you have any concerns about this section?

Hi Matt, I'll join too please!

Matt Hale wrote: ↑

18 Sep 2020 12:04

We'll see if the ride fills up, otherwise we can pick you up en-route (Portway or Bransons Cross would be fine) - if you could confirm by Sat evening.

Great; will do.

Matt Hale wrote: ↑

18 Sep 2020 12:04

Yes - the section along A46 is a 'square' Did you have any concerns about this section?

It's not a road I'm fond of, Matt, but I wouldn't want you to change anything on my account. I can easily miss it out by turning left just before the A46 and be first in the bacon sarnie queue.

George,

I would be happy to take your place on the route.

Noel

Since Noel is keen to join and I'm still struggling to come up with an intersection route that ticks all my boxes, I'll bow out of this one. Long range forecast for the following weekend is looking okay, so I'll probably lead on Sunday 27/9. See you all then instead. I may pitch up at one of the other cafés if there's a group that looks like having fewer than six.

Cheers George,

Ohh Captain Hale, permission to pedal aboard requested!!!

Nice ride, especially when the sun came out - thanks all. One incident to note...Noel was stung by a wasp on the inside of his lip on the way back - able to ride on, but grimacing at times. Hope you're OK