A successful day with weather cooperating and a very reasonable, 16°C at the start rising to about 22°C at the finish.
Tracy and Trevor arrived ahead of schedule this morning, so six riders, Bill, Neil, Jigs, Tracy, Trevor and myself leading on the old railway loop exploration.
Our relaxing route south out of Newport and a gentle ride to Sandown.
Elevenses was taken right by Sandown Pier at a cafe called, ‘The Beach Cafe’ not surprisingly. Then we headed west along the seafront to Shanklin, for today’s steepest, but thankfully short climb back up into the main town.
Once in Shanklin town center we aimed for the end of the existing railway line to join the railway path to Wroxhall. A gentle set of ascending reverse curves on this section of the route. It’s not a very long section at about three miles through the countryside and you’re then into the hamlet of Wroxhall, where you can look across the valley to where you’re going to have to climb to, an ornate gateway on the north eastern edge of the Apuldurcombe Estate.
After a short, steep climb we were at the old gatehouse.
Beyond the heavy old iron gates leads to a rough trail that had a welcome mile or so of downhill to reach Godshill for lunch. A nice lunch stop, a little pricey, kind of tourist trap, but nevertheless nice food and even better company.
The last leg had us using a bridleway for two miles to rejoin the railway path heading back north to Newport. This was nice and flat for the last five miles, although a gusty wind from the west was mildly irritating.
An added bonus on our return to Newport, the car show was still in full swing.
A good ride, nothing too strenuous, just on 25 miles, with @650ft of climbing.