Firstly an apology for there being no accompanying map or details for this entry. This was due to a technical hitch or maybe operator error with Stava this ride. So when it comes to the distance and the climbs you'll just have to trust me!!
The ride was down to start at Moyles Court the other side of Ringwood so Kathy and I set off at 0800 to give us plenty of time to cycle the 14 miles to the meet point. The mornings are definitely starting to feel a little chilly if not autumnal so arm warmers and a second layer was the order of the day. We cycled to Ringwood via the now wonderfully resurfaced Matchams lane and met up with Derek at Ringwood and cycled together to Moyles Court. Surprisingly we were only joined by three other members but I suppose Moyles Court is not the usual meeting point but it does make a pleasant change.
We enjoyed an uneventful run through the forest to Alderholt going via Ibsley and Ibsley Bridge on our way passing a series of gravel pits which is all that remains now of the WW2 RAF and USAAF base at Ibsley. The base operated between 1941 ans 1947 and was primarily a home to fighter squadrons. The American 1st, 48th and 367th fighter groups all spent time here flying Lockhead P38 Lightnings and Republic P47 Thunderbolts on sorties from the base. As today is the last day of the Bournemouth Air Festival it seems right to remember the brave men who flew these planes and lost there lives. One can only imagine what it must have been like to live in this part of Hampshire and be able to watch the aircraft in the skies above.
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| Old control tower |
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| P38 Lightning |
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| P47 Thunderbolt |
Onwards via Harbridge and North End to our coffee destination the Sticky Bun at Alderholt where our numbers are swelled considerably by riders who have made there own way to coffee.
After coffee the group splits into two those of us who want to do the hillier route and those that don't - guess which group was smallest?
So off we go with the smaller group and double back to fordingbridge and detour to Stuckton and then left up the climb through Winnals Wood to rejoin the Southampton Road and on past Sandy Balls (why does that always make me snigger? - school boy humour I guess!) and on to the Fighting Cocks where we turn left to find donkeys queuing to get into the village hall and waiting for the bus.
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| Is it bingo today? |
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| Am I too early to use my bus pass? |
From here we choose to take the climb up Castle Hill and are rewarded with the stunning view at the top before descending into Woodgreen and on past the mill at Breamore where we cross the main Salisbury road for Breamore village.
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| view from Castle Hill |
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| .......... and the view back to the hill |
We cycle past the entrance for Breamore House which
was completed in 1583, five years before the Spanish Armada and looks today much as it would have done to its’ original owners. From here we climb out of Breamore and onto Whitsbury for lunch. Lunch is at the church and to reach it requires the negotiation of a long gravelly track. However, the views from the churchyard are magnificent especially in this late summer sunshine.
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| on the road to Whitsbury |
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| Lunch stop Whitsbury Church |
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| View across the valley |
After lunch the group splits again with the vast majority heading back towards Wimborne it leaves Derek, Kathy and I to head back to Ringwood and then on to home. On the way home we cycle past Hurn Airport and watch the RAF Blades display team do a quick impromptu display before landing and watch a Spitfire take off to go and do its display at Bournemouth. I must admit we had chased home hoping to see the Vulcan bomber but unfortunately like my Strava app it was grounded due to technical problems.
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| The Blades |
We arrive home 56 miles later having enjoyed another amazing days cycling in great company, what could be better - well we could have seen (and heard) the Vulcan I suppose!
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