Thursday 6th December 2018. Christmas lunch at the Old Royal Ship, Luckington. From Bill Balchin: Another year almost finished and another excellent Christmas meal enjoyed in good company at one of our favourite pubs. The ORS always does us proud and this year was no different. My policy is always to drive, or be driven, to this event so I missed the cycle ride to the pub but I did not miss the fine lunchtime and certainly did not miss the ride home in the drizzle while stuffed full of turkey and Christmas pudding. We don't go in for formal speeches but there were some kind words spoken by Pete Campbell, Peter Ralph and Shirley to thank those who make this apparently unplanned group function with the runs list, ride leaders, pub stops, lunch orders and website. You all know who they are - and a big thanks to everybody. There are a few photos from the day below, thanks to Peter Metelerkamp, but first a report on the ride from Shirley. Thursday 6th December. Report from Shirley Hume: December already – where has 2018 gone? A drizzly morning did not deter 25 cyclists from assembling at station for the annual Christmas lunch ride to Luckington. Not too much tinsel in evidence apart from on Martyn’s fixie, which was decked out for the occasion to match its rider. Mike Sennett was on leading duty and all we really had to do was follow the Santa hat – how hard could that be? We set off along the cycle path which follows the ring road north before dipping under the ring road and continuing towards the road. However at the familiar exit point we continued on the extension of the path heading towards . Here the danger of not staying behind the Santa Hat became apparent as Andy was clearly seen having turned right towards only to watch Mike sail past, under the railway bridge towards .

For me Yate is the sort of place that you enter at your own peril, somewhere between the Bermuda Triangle and the orbit of a Black Hole. I tend to assume that I won’t emerge unscathed in this lifetime so prefer to avoid it. Luckily Mike had a firm grasp of place and direction and I blindly followed, hence no further narrative until we arrived at and on to Sodbury Common. Relieved to find I was still on planet earth, Mike was soon organising us in small groups to navigate the A432 safely uphill to the A46 crossing. We were soon back on quieter roads to reach Badminton, Little Badminton and then through the delightful estate road which always feels like someone’s private drive. A few groups missed a turn on this section, but we regrouped at the Sopworth crossroads to ride in to Luckington together, arriving at the Old Royal Ship at about 11.45am. [This may all be completely fictitious - despite not having any alcohol at lunch I am a bit hazy about the exact route as I was enjoying chatting in the group too much to take a lot of notice. I also hadn’t put two and two together to register that Bill was driving to the pub and that somebody needed to write a report]!

Lunch started to appear at about 12.30pm and was of the usual standard – high! We were a smaller group than in previous years, 25 riders plus 7 regulars who arrived in more comfort, but as Pete rightly said in his obligatory announcements it was very much core BTOTC there and everyone certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves – until the moment when we all realised that we had to get back out into the dank and drizzly weather to get home. A group photo and we were off, staying together as far as before different routes were taken by various smaller groups to get them home as soon as possible. The weather did deteriorate on the way home and it was almost pitch black before the street lights came on, but that probably can’t be blamed on Brexit – can it?

Finally, on behalf of all the riders, can I just reiterate our thanks to the ‘Three Musketeers’ [Bill, Phil and Pete] who keep the show on the road without any need for committees, rules, subs etc. Everything you do really is appreciated by the rest of the group.

Thursday 13th December 2018. Amcor to Slimbridge. Report from Bill Balchin: This trip had the makings for a disaster in the week leading up to Thursday. First with plummeting temperatures in a stiff easterly wind bringing the threat of ice. And second when our planned leader, Pete Campbell twisted his back and was forced to drop out. The second threat was easily sorted as I like to think of the route to the Tudor Arms using Elstub Lane to by-pass most of Cam as one of mine so I offered to step in. The weather, now that is another matter entirely.

As it turned out the day started bitterly cold but bone dry and sunny. The predicted wind was hardly noticeable and the roads were perfectly clean. So once you had put on as many tops, gloves, caps and scarves as you could manage it was time to enjoy the best day on a bike you are ever likely to get in the middle of December. Promising to set a moderate pace we all agreed to ride as one group today.

I counted twenty one well wrapped cyclists at the start outside the Winter Stream Farm – that must be a sign, a number divisible by three. With Phil Warry volunteering for back marker and Alan Partridge and Jeff Mountain for sub group leaders we were set to go. Sub group leaders? What is this, the apprentice? No. It's the busy road protocol. The Old Gloucester Road to Tytherington is narrow in places and often busy so we split into three equal groups, leaving an overtaking gap between each group and cycled the six miles to Tytherington without raising the blood pressure of passing motorists. We then turned left and right in Tytherington for the climb of New Road, past the solar farm and into Cromall. Sun still bright, roads still clean, temperature still arctic, we continued on small mostly traffic-free lanes through the delight that is Damery, past the bare trees of Michael Wood and climbed up Stinchcombe Hill to regroup at the Yew Tree pub (now up for sale). Passing by Cam Woodfield Junior School we had super views to our left before we took the twisty narrow descent of Elstub Lane. I would not want to do it when wet or icy but it was no problem today. A short hop along the main road to Slimbridge and then we turned right to pass Cam and Dursley station before a sharp left turn onto another small lane brought us into Cambridge on the A38.

Ten to twelve now so the timing is looking good. Just a couple of flat miles to go now. It was noticeable how the pace picked up in the later stages. You know how on the Tour de France the commentators remark on the sprinters teams getting lined up? Well like that but at a fraction of the speed. And then we rolled up right on noon and took our seats in the conservatory reserved for our exclusive use. Despite being busy with non-cycling customers the meals arrived swiftly – pre ordering does have one advantage. Alan bought Chris Hume's lunch after Chris did not feel up to the ride, Guido had cancelled Nisha's earlier by phone so we were all straight with the food. Unlike Hinton Charterhouse recently where the no-shows were obliged to pay anyway.

Before we departed there was a reminder to pre order meals for next week at the Bird in Hand when there will be single group ride again, this time calling in for mince pies and mulled wine at Peter's. Peter also reported that Alf is progressing nicely after his recent op. OK, Right, back out into the arctic sunshine for a generally flat ride home via Lightenbrook Lane which was like a goat track a few years ago but is now the most perfect strip of tarmac you could wish for. Maybe if we all wish for more like that some of our other favourite lanes will get the same treatment. Or then again, maybe not. See the route to Slimbridge here, no return route.

Thursday 20th December 2018. to Saltford with a double loop. Report from Bill Balchin: After a dry, bright ride last week, today was expected to be a lot wetter for our annual Peter Ralph special. The overnight rain had given the roads a soaking but it was fairly clear and bright on the way to the Bitton start – until a few miles to go when the showers started. Well we can do without that nonsense as we set off along the railway path in the direction of Bristol then exited through Common and wriggled through some newish houses and after a good two miles stopped at Chez Ralph for the now traditional treat of home-made mince pies and mulled wine. Luckily this coincided with one of the dry spells so we did not traipse into the house and drip water everywhere. Thanks Peter, this is very kind of you. And thanks to Peter M for the photo, one of those rare ones which I am in. Now ready for a bit of real cycling we got back onto the A420 at to start a loop around the county lanes starting with Lodge Road – now open again after the road works have finished. The rain did not want to leave us alone as it came and went while we made a clockwise circuit taking in and before returning to the A420 via Bury Lane, a road that we have cycled many times in the opposite direction but a first for me in this direction.

Over the main road and into the Golden Valley area the lanes were absolutely running with water as we made our way away from Beach towards Bitton with an enormous rainbow to our right. Hang on! Bitton is straight on. Peter took us on the left turn of Mill Lane so we could include Upton Cheney. It is not true that I persuaded him to include this gratuitous climb just so I could get another photo – but I did take the opportunity while it was there. Come on. It's only short. Turning right on the Bath Road now we rode back into Bitton, under the cycle track which we had been on earlier this morning and then made a left for Keynsham to start our second loop. After a bit of urban stuff, now under a sunny sky, we made the quiet lanes of Keynsham Manor as we started our final approach to Saltford. But the weather tossed us a final shower to make sure that we would be dripping water on the floor of the Bird In Hand. The pre ordering worked out again although there was a slight worry when Catherine and Clive were delayed by a puncture. Arnold and Phil Hodgson made their own way as did Pete Campbell whose back was considered well enough for a steady ride, boosting the number up to twenty four. All the pubs we visit do good food (otherwise we would not go there) but I consider the Bird to be one of our top venues for food. And while we all enjoyed our meals the rain was slamming down outside. Soon after one o'clock the rain had stopped, everybody had finished their food and drink but nobody was in a great hurry to get back on the bike. Maybe because we were now only two miles away from this mornings start point. Almost the shortest day of the year but it was still bright for the last leg of the trip in the dry. Unless you made a fifteen mile journey into and got a final soaking within two miles of home. Click here to see the wet route from Bitton and back. Thanks to Steve H for the map

Thursday 27th December. Amcor to Portishead. Report from Shirley Hume: Having managed to escape Christmas cooking, family gatherings and other related horrors I was feeling fairly relaxed about today, assuming a small but perfectly formed group of cyclists would appear at Amcor. Faced with 21 eager faces, plus the promise of yet one more on route, I decided a backmarker would be a good [probably essential] addition to my original plan. Thanks to Julian for volunteering. A quick text to Jeff, who had kindly offered to provide mid-morning refreshments, to tell him to increase the mince pie count and 18 BTOTC plus 3 assorted friends and family, set off north from Amcor up the B4427 to Froglands Cross. Following our new system I got 3 groups organised to split the riders up, but the other leaders were obviously faster than me and more or less everyone was together by the turn. A left turn took us to the A38 for a short distance before diving down via the Scout camp to turn left under the motorway and into where we were joined by Steve and treated to mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas cake courtesy of Jeff, his son Chris and Jeff’s granddaughter Indie [Indy?] – who some of you might remember from our visit to Tintern at half term. Group photo taken, we continued along Townsend Lane, through Cattybrook farm and climbed Badgers Lane to eventually reach the outskirts of . On this section we passed the site of the new Bristol Surf Park – ‘The Wave’ – although currently it just looks like a large area of very wet mud surrounded by fencing. Watch this space as it is due to open in 2019. Along Spaniorum Lane to Hallen, we then followed the Sustrans route on the closed lane over the motorway to the industrial estate, which still appears to be closed for Christmas. Doubling back on ourselves at the police vehicle park we followed the traffic free lane under the M49 and the new bridge over the M5, where the long tail of crawling traffic heading north made us glad to be on our bikes. Next the Lawrence Weston Greenway to the Avonmouth bridge, where Steve punctured on the bridge itself. With Julian and Mark staying behind to help, the rest of us continued on Sustrans Route 33 weaving our way round the somewhat empty car parks to emerge on the Sheepway and what should have been an easy run down to the pub. Sadly one of our visitors punctured about 1km from the pub, so with 4 others to help him I led the remainder of the group to The Posset Cup, then headed back to guide the second puncture group into the pub. As a result we arrived in three groups, which actually made for easier service, and luckily we all found seats. There were already three people who had made their own way to the pub, plus Jeff and Indie who had driven over Typical Wetherspoons, speedy service and good value. Despite our staggered arrival we were all ready to leave by 13.15, our seats being occupied as soon as our backsides had left them!! Most of the group rode back together via Portbury, Failand, Beggar Bush Lane and the suspension bridge, with various individuals dropping off at strategic points on the way. So although our Christmas lunch ride is witnessing falling numbers, the post Boxing Day ride seems to be increasing in popularity – or maybe that was due to the weather - warm, dry and a bit of sunshine. Touch here to see today's route map.