Sunday Club Ride 8th March

Meet in the car park on Brookley Rd, Brockenhurst, 8.50 for an 9.00 A.M start.

First up, Apology. Although it was fantastic to have such a large group out last week it may have led to me taking my eye off the ball somewhat. As everyone knows, the first rule of Sunday Club Ride is no-one gets dropped, it’s supposed to be as comfortable as wearing your Grandads slippers.

Unfortunately due to my piss-poor leadership skills we had people, including new riders being spat out the back and ended up spread out over about 800 metres by the time we reached Braggers Hill. In future if we get such high numbers we’ll split into two clear groups, one faster leaving first and one slower leaving second. Sunday rules will strictly apply to the second group. Both groups will try to keep a neat and tidy formation.

This week I thought we’d try out the newest of our 6 regular routes.

We head out of Brock via Sway Rd, hang a right towards Sway, left and then left again on Pitmore lane before re-joining Sway Rd. a quick left on the main rd to take the right onto Marsh lane, hang a left over the water before joining Undershore Rd and passing the Lymington ferry.

The Lymington Ferry joins the mainland to the Isle of Wight. Wight Link Ferries claim that ‘at just 40 minutes this is the quickest, most scenic and comfortable way to visit the 18th Century’.

The primitive ancient peoples on the Island are known ass ‘Caulkheads’, specifically referring to those with three or more generations of boat building heritage. To Caulk is to seal the gaps between the planking on a new boat using a thick tar, mixed with whale blubber. The Caulk is then boiled down to a foul viscous liquid and applied when still warm. These ancient skills have thankfully not been lost to the island and can still be witnessed today on one of the islands many brewing tours

On to S. Baddesley Rd, through South Baddesley itself and left through the East End on the Lymington Rd. Up to East Boldre and Hatchet Pond.

From Hatchet Pond we turn right, pass Beaulieu and follow Hatchet lane to pass Beaulieu Rd Station on our left.

Beaulieu Rd station was not originally part of the planned network. The railway company were obliged to open it as a 'personal' station for Lord Montagu, a concession to him for allowing the railway to be built over part of his Beaulieu Estate. A special signal would indicate to the train drivers that they should stop for Lord Montagu and his guests. In reply, as they hit the accelerator, the train drivers would offer up a few special signals of their own.

We head to Lyndhurst passing Boltons Bench on our right until we reach and follow the national treasure that is the Lyndhurst one-way system. Heading west on the A35 before taking the right turn to Emery Down. From Emery Down we turn left passing the iconic Portuguese fireplace up the arse-end of Bolderwood to the top of the hill. Re-group if necessary at the top of Bolderwood before taking a sharp left back down to the A35. Cross over and back to Brockenhurst for Vittles at The Sett.

Weather looks o.k-ish so I hope to see another great turnout.

https://www.strava.com/routes/23419152

Phil H