....Selfies and erm, Superfood and erm, Suntan lines and erm, Scenery and erm, a Sink(!).
I'd originally planned to do this ride on my own as a means of bagging a lot of BCQ check points in one go to give a boost towards my target number. It gelled into a group event after a couple of G2 tea-stop chats.
Heidi and Bryan, who are also collecting BCQs, Michelle and Matthew opted in straightaway and Terry, Andy and John signed up in response to my posting on the web. So eight of us in all.
Start point was just south of Gatwick and seven of us left from there picking up Andy in Rusper on the way down to Barns Green, Coolham and Storrington. Up the rather tedious climb on the B2139 from Amberley to Whiteways Lodge before turning down to Arundel for the first BCQ and our tea stop.
The Edible Sandwich Co is in a great location looking over the River Arundel, the sun shone, the birds sang and when it finally came the food was OK. Shame about Heidi's vegetarian turkey sandwich. Shame too about my carefully planned schedule.
The schedule took a further beating as we turned westwards towards Chichester and into the strong headwind. Pausing in Chichester for the second BCQ checkpoint and its associated and obligatory Heidi and Bryan selfie, we climbed up onto Emsworth Common. About that point it was clear that we weren't going to make the planned ferry, so an executive decision was taken to cut-out an eight mile loop of the route (and unfortunately a BCQ checkpoint) and head straight down through Havant to Portsmouth and the ferry.
The ferry became tea-stop No 2 with chocolate milk recovery drinks. After landing at Fishbourne we headed for Newport via the hills and Havenstreet (another BCQ and selfie). Five of us headed for the lovely Old Church House B&B in Newport where we were welcomed with tea and cakes in their back yard sun trap, while Terry, John and Andy branched off to other hostelries nearby.
Our evening out was at the splendid Bargeman's Rest. Our landlady had warned us that the food portions there were large and she was right. But that didn't stop Bryan ordering and devouring a triple burger with fried egg. Well, you need protein for muscle recovery.
Sunday morning after a great full monty English breakfast, the team gathered at the Old Church House for a circumnavigation of the Isle. The route was of course dictated by the 5 remaining BCQ checkpoints on the IoW. So firstly northwards up the cycle path alongside the Medina Estuary to Cowes, eastwards along the coast (NCN 323) and down to Calbourne and the delightfully named Winkle Street.
Someone in the group must be very righteous, because the sun was shining, there was hardly a cloud in the sky and it was getting warm for the first time on a ride this year.
Freshwater Bay was next 5 miles down the wonderful undulations and downhill sweeping bends of the B3401. And after, as we climbed eastwards up the cliff road the views of the bay and the sea were fantastic.
Now, did I mention that the IoW was hilly? No. Well it is. But no worries. Bryan, our favourite cafe owner and entrepreneur had brought stocks of his latest "Superfood" energy bars. Just like the pros, the route profile fore-warned us of up-coming hills, enabling quick stops for advanced energy top-ups.
They worked too - magic!
They were needed too. Michelle hadn’t quite cottoned to the idea of credit card touring. Her two panniers, (“to better balance the bike” apparently), contained the chunkiest possible woollen cardigan (‘cos I feel the cold) and probably three more changes of clothing for our evening out, and probably a kitchen sink. Just perfect on a ride with 4000+ ft of climbing. But no problems. With a good eating strategy anything is possible!
We weren't quite as clever with weather forecasting. Nobody was expecting bright sunshine. Bryan’s red-neck was better suited to Texas but it did serve as a useful beacon when we were following him through the shadier lanes. And, ladies, tan-lines are supposed to be brown and white, not red and white.
So, next stop Godshill for lunch at The Hollies, where we celebrated Matthew's birthday with a candle in, you’ve guessed it, a large bar of Superfood.
On to Sandown and the final BCQ (and selfie of course). It's an "interesting" (14% in places) climb up onto Culver Down from Sandown, but the views from the top are fantastic. Would we have routed up there if there was no BCQ checkpoint at the top? I doubt it.
Back down to Fishbourne and the return ferry. Chocolate milk shake this time on the ferry – must be the best recovery drink ever. And, on to the train home where the helpful Southern Railways guard let us put on and helped us squeeze in all 8 bikes into the carriage when he was probably supposed to allow only three. Alighting at Gatwick, where there is easy access to the NCR 21, Andy rode off northwards home to Dorking while the rest of us rode south for just 3/4 mile to our cars.
It would have been a lovely ride if I had done it solo as I had originally intended, but it was much, much more fun riding it with good company, Thanks for coming guys.
Final score:
Day 1: 80 miles 3300 ft
Day 2: 59 miles, 4030 ft
BCQ checkpoints (and selfies): 8.