CTC Inters ride to Beaulieu

We leave home to once again meet up with the inters at Hurn Stores, this time for a ride out into the New Forest. Fresh in our minds is the experience of our last ride with the inters which was pretty tough but chanting the mantra of 'ride harder to get better' we join up with the group. The plan according to the programme is to head out to Eling tide mill but due to the strong winds it is decided to head for Beaulieu instead and then make the cycle back against the head wind a lesser distance. So to make the ride a similar length as the one planned we head off for a big loop round the top of Ringwood taking in the villages and hamlets of Ripley, Sandford, Somerley, Harbridge, Ibsley and Poulner before stopping for coffee and breakfast at Crow Farm. A welcome break at the farm shop cafe and shelter from what appears to be an increasingly strong breeze, perhaps the change of destination will turn out to be a good idea.

Beaulieu River

Lunch stop at Beaulieu

After the short break we set off into the New Forest National Park en route to Beaulieu passing our Saturday ride coffee stop in Burley before riding on to Brockenhurst. From Brockenhurst it is a fast ride with the wind at our backs to Beaulieu where we stop for lunch by the rive in the shadow of the Abbey. Lunch by the river is enjoyable and the sun is out but the stiff breeze makes it a little chilly so we decamp to the cafe for a coffee before starting the ride home into the headwind.

The route for home takes us initially south towards the coast at Sowley where we turn to head west into the teeth of what is now approaching a gale. 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' we wonder if philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is right but it's still a decent mantra to keep you going! Onwards to Lymington where the usual Sunday sailing crowd are out frequenting the bars so we have to be careful dodging the crowds as we take some interesting short cuts around the backstreet's of the town. There has been a settlement at Lymington since the Iron Age and evidence of the hill fort can still be seen at Buckland Rings. Lymington over its history has been famous for a number of things including the production of salt, in the Napoleonic period it was a major military centre and in more recent times a centre for ship building and yachting. 

White horses at Barton on Sea

Beach Comber Cafe Barton on Sea

From historic Lymington we follow the coast to Barton on Sea where we stop for a drink at the cafe and to catch our breath. The cafe is perched on the cliff top and from here you can see the white horses out to sea and unusually no boats which tell us something about the strength of the wind!

From here we briefly cycle again as a group to New Milton before splitting up to head or separate ways to home, we join a small group heading back to Hurn and from there head for home. We arrive home a lot more tired than when we started but having enjoyed another great ride in good company.