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Past Ride

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Sun Jun 12th 2011

12th Midsummer morning ride to Avebury	3*

Leader: Steve Swanton	Start Time: 4:00 am	Start Location: WMP
Description: Final update: 14 booked for breakfast. Forecast is for a clear but cool night and showers later, so dress warmly and we may see the sun rise. The return of a Wantage classic after a gap of 4 years. A hilly ride of about 70 miles through the early morning over the Wessex Downs to Avebury for breakfast, taking in some beautiful (but easy) off-road on the gallops above Manton and the Marlborough-Chiseldon railway line (10-miles-ish total). Starting in the dark at 4am (lights required), we'll climb Hackpen Hill to see the sunrise over the Vale at ~4:45. We'll drop down into Lambourn (possible 5am pick-up) and continue via Baydon to Aldbourne for an early morning pre-breakfast stop on the green. There is an easy off-road section along the gallops north of Marlborough en route to breakfast at The Red Lion in Avebury at 8:30am (booking now closed). We return via Marlborough, the Chiselden railway path and Badbury Wick (coffee/beer stop) and then along the foot of the Downs back to Wantage, returning about 1:30.
Riders: David Bridge David Roberts David Smith Des Higgs Iain Kent Lucia Singer Pat Hurt Paul Jarvis Robert Shaw Steve Swanton Steven Rogers Ursula Hallam Riders = 12 Report: This will be remembered as the Wet One! The VERY Wet One. But not before we'd seen a fantastic sunrise over a Vale blanketed in low-lying mist. 11 riders set off from the Market Place at about 4:10 in the half-light of a cool but clear morning. As we climbed towards the Childrey cross-roads there was a stunning view across the Vale, blanketed in a low-lying mist with a reddening sky above. We reached the top of Hackpen hill in good time and were soon joined by Pat. At 4:46 the sun broke the horizon and rose behind a distant layer of cloud as a fine orange disc. Wow! To be continued...
Distance: 112.00 km (69.59 mi)
Viewing the sunrise Sunrise over the Vale The risen sun The thatched bus shelter in Aldbourne By Manton House at 7am An ideal spot for a puncture repair in the rain! Sheltering in Ogbourne St. George 8 Drowned rats back in Wantage ...we'd done it!
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Start Locations: WMP
Wantage Market Place; OMH
Old Mill Hall, Grove

Categories: 1* - Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.; 2* - Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.; 3* - Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.; 4* - Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.; More Information