Club Ride Saturday 29th March 2014

I’m rather partial to a farm shop, although as the saying goes, I couldn’t eat a whole one.  Some of them are even attached to farms, but quite how much produce actually makes it from the farm to the shop is anyone’s guess.  Of course there’s a premium to pay, although farm shop devotees will tell you that if you buy better quality food you end up eating less of it, which evens things out.

The Allington Farm Shop happens to be my mum’s favourite farm shop. I say favourite, it’s actually the only one she ever goes to and to the best of my knowledge she only has two others to compare it with.

When Howard first mentioned calling at the Allington Farm Shop, an idea instantly began to form in my mind whereby I could combine the club ride with my Mother’s Day obligations by getting her to meet me there.  Just as quickly though I dismissed the notion, which was clearly ridiculous, not least because she's 82 years of age and hasn't ridden for years.

Arriving at the Allington Farm Shop after a very lively ride we were greeted by Howard and Clive. Al fresco we enjoyed our coffees and for a couple of us, a satisfying, generous wedge of moist apple and cider bread pudding, without an apple orchard or cider press in sight.

Garmins were very much the topic of conversation with most of the technical jargon sailing blissfully over the top of my rapidly thinning thatch. I did manage to make a mental note of a few buzz words which when I get mine will hopefully help me to blag it.

Remounting, it was a pleasure not to have to put soggy clothing back on. With the unique sense of freedom which always accompanies the first ride of the year in a pair of cycling shorts, we set off for home in much the same vain as before.

Garmin reference: http://connect.garmin.com/course/6056491