Right, well, I was up in good time, and ready to go at 9. Which is daft, as it's two minutes to the Minster and we weren't meeting til 9.30.
Si had texted to plead crippledness, and offer tea later if we happened to pass by. Which was a shame (the crippledness, not the tea offer), but meant we didn't have to detour to Copmanthorpe. I set off for the Minster in good time, and sat for 5 minutes enjoying the bells before Aidan arrived, shortly followed by CrinklyLion. We decided on a route out of town along the river and up to Tadcaster Road, before swinging right at the Big Tesco Roundabout.
It was along here that the trike and I garnered the first double-take of the day - from a golden labrador. Crossing the main road via a bike path that allowed me to deomstrate the trike's jinking ability, we were out in the countryside proper, and bowling along nicely. Along one verge there had been some heavy duty hedge slaying (yes, slaying, not laying), and I took advantage of hiding behind one of the huge piles of debris for a comfort stop - whereupon I could see that the hedge thrashing machine had gathered up a couple of roadsigns and bollards too...
There were an encouraging number of other cyclists out, from serious looking club groups to pootling couples - it must have seemed like a good day for a ride. After Healaugh and Wighill we glided (glid?) down to the Thorp Arch Retail and industrial park, a slightly odd set up on an old airbase, with many buildings set into or behind earth bunkers - and home to one of Cyclesense's branches, and the Northern Wing of the British Library. Our destination was the Cafe and Bistro on the retail park, where I'd previously enjoyed the treacle sponge, and the scones came well recommended. We parked the bikes and trikes in a tangled heap against a bin - once they were locked together it would have taken a thief with a forklift truck to remove them, and anyway, we got a window seat overlooking them. It was late elevenses time, so CL and I opted for a cheese scone each, and I plumped for a treacle sponge and custard on top, on the understanding that CL would sample it too. Aidan went for the sponge and custard alone.
It was a popular spot with cyclists - we were soon admiring a ladyback (or even kiddieback?) tandem parked up outside the window - we later watched the captain of this set up giving my trike a good perusal - I dunno if he'd seen one before, he looked at it for a long time!
I forgot to get a 'before' picture of our feast, but did get an 'after':
Eventually we dragged ourselves away, and up the bike path towards Wetherby, although once we reached the road we did a U turn to get back through Thorp Arch village and Boston Spa, which involves a fine swoop down to the single track bridge - alas oncoming traffic meant I had to brake and lose a fair bit of momentum for the UP on the other side. Then it was on to Bramham, and a choice of the route I knew (and knew would be uphill), and the alternative I didn't, which would also be uphill. Experience won out, and we tackled the back road, up past the old mill. I warned the others that once we turned left at the T, the surface might get quite back, on my past experience - instead we were treated to a longish patch of rather nice new tarmac. A quick poll suggested that the preferred option was to blat on into Taddie, and call on Si for that tea, so we did that, via a slight diversion due to a very closed bit of road. calling Si once in Tadcaster raised only his answerphone, but he called back by the next set of lights and gave me his address and directions, oh and if you want milk, get some at the Coop...
Keen to make good time, with an eye on the light, we blasted (well, pootled) back along the remarkably good A64 bike path as far as the Copmanthorpe turn, and our directions (and the placing of the Coop) were spot on.
Well.
Sort of.
We found the house fine. And taking two knocks to get an answer, well, he's got a back back, he's perhaps a bit slow on his feet.
That's odd, he seems to be a lady. In a dressing gown.
I'd heard and written down the wrong house number....
A rather embarrassed, but to the others, hilarious, phone call set us right - five houses down the road, there he was waving....
After some very good cake and tea, and the usual discussion in which gear and tyre choices featured, we set off again, back to York via Bishopthorpe. Some rain tried to dampen our spirits and bodies, but gave up eventually, and we were soon heading across the racecourse, to go our separate ways. CL and I parted after the Millennium Bridge, where I spotted one of York's other trike owners and said hello. Then it was back to the lockup to put Midge away, and retrieve Monty, and back home, just in time, as I was just feeling the slight nausea I've got recently when it's time for a Little Something. (toast in this case)
37 miles registered on the trike computer, an ideal start to the season for me and enough to remind me that I do like cycling, and should do much more of it.
Thanks to CL and Aidan for company, and Si for tea and address hilarity.
