We spent the weekend in Somerset. Not too windy, and a bit grey, but it was at least dry for two days.
Because of logistics, we got a train saturday morning to Crewkerne, where we stopped at the most useless cafe ever. they didn't do breakfasts after 1130, OK, but had just stopped doing chips, jacket potatoes etc at lunchtime. I asked for a Ploughmans instead, but they couldn't do that either
No problem, there's a great cafe on the main street, we found - Bilby's, I think it's called. Well worth a visit, and TGL recommends the goats cheese pie. I was very fond of the West Country Rarebit, with mustard and cider.
Fuelled up, we set off up and down the hills which took us as far as the A303 crossing. Butterfly had devised a clever route which was almost entirely quiet roads, yet reasonably direct. Great ride, and we had plenty of time to pitch and natter, before having fajitas for tea.
Nice site at Muchelney. Flat, not stony, well sheltered, with hedges round generous individual pitches. Facilities are great, and include washing machines and a barn to shelter/meet/pass the time in.
Unfortunately, we are given to understand that the owner of the site has recently passed away, and his daughter has taken on the running of the site, and will honour existing bookings, but she has a full time job, and is waiting to see how business is before deciding what to do. Sad to think that such a good site might be closing soon.
When we arrived, there were some folk putting up a nylon mansion. We chatted, pitched, mashed a brew and noticed that they were still pitching for quite a long time after us. I couldn't bear to have a tent which took so long to put up. When I get to a site, I want my brew asap.
It was an ALC meet, and there was an excellent turnout. As well as the three of us on bikes, there were three Tricers, who arrived as a pair and a solo, but left yesterday as a convoy, Steve Oxley on his Ti bike, and, among the motor lightweighters, there were a couple of bikes brought. The Levels is, as the name suggests, not a bad place for cycling.
Last time we were down there, at a nearby site, we drove, leaving the bikes behind. We immediately regretted that, and, the first day of the week, we walked to Langport, and hired a tandem and a hybrid from the Visitor Centre. Said centre has a decent range of bikes, including several which have adaptations for people with disabilities. They also have a lot of leaflets, including one giving a range of bike rides from the basic to the one we did.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Sunday I had a short lie in, but, when Butterfly suggested a ride into Langport, I was up & sorted pretty quickly. We rode up the old railway path, which was rather stonier than might have been preferred. A firm surface, but a definite NSTN Nono. We popped into the slightly inadequate One Stop, had a look for cafes (of course), of which one (which we visited last time we were up and knew to be good, if quirky) seemed set to open at ten, and the other less likely. We waited for the incongruous Tescos to open, by riding round the car park, looking at all the people sat in their cars, and wondering if we were like them.
No visible cycle parking onsite, and the staff didn't know of any, which was poor, but we managed. Picked up some basics, then rode back - along the road.
TGL had been up and talking to folk, which was a surprise, but had retired to his tent. We couldn't entice him with the idea of a ride, which was OK. He'd had a tough week of exams, and wanted a rest.
As we were hanging around, an old chap of indeterminate but great age turned up on a Giant electric bike. He introduced himself (sort of) as a member of the ALC who hadn't been out to a meet in a few years. It must have been a very long time, as there were some longstanding members who had never seen him. Eccentric but jolly, he was good company till he decided to get off back home, as, sadly, he wasn't able to stay.
We set off into Langport again, and headed to the cafe we knew. Yes, it had been open, but only for a couple of hours, and so we optimistically checked out the Parrett Cafe. That's not a typo - the local river is the Parrett. But the Parrot theme was throughout, including a list of parrot jokes on the back of the toilet wall. So that's two quirky cafes in one small town. The service was slow, but the veggie breakfast was excellent, and too big, which isn't always the case. Their carrot & lentil burgers were fab.
Gosh, this is getting to be a long post. I'll break it here, then come back to the rest of the weekend.
