Blog by Tim Helstrip
Tuesday 20th May saw the start of the PECAM summer social calendar which means that during the 3rd week of the month there is an evening group ride. This ride was a large circle around Stamford, before entering he town from the East and making our way down to the riverside to the aptly names Riverside fish and Chips.
Eight of us met as usual at Haddon services, just off the A1, on the patio between the services and the hotel just before 6:15pm for the briefing. Mike M donned the Pink Vest for his voluntary tail-end duties, and as the group was a nice manageable size, I decided to use the Intelligent Buddy System (https://pecam.org.uk/intelligent-buddy-system/), rather than the 2nd man Drop off. (https://pecam.org.uk/second-man-drop-off-system/). This usually leads to a sharper pace for the group as, hopefully, not many junctions need to be marked.
The weather had been bright and sunny all afternoon, but the clouds had now gathered blocking the evening glare, but it was still warm enough though, being in the very high teens Celsius.
We made our way north west from Peterborough through the Sibson ‘S’ bends to Wansford and then on to Ketton. We then skirted Rutland water to the south, before cutting through Empingham village and through Great Casterton. We carried on past the college to Ryhall and then along to Carlby, before turning right down to the A6121. As time was on our side – just – extended the ride slightly to take in Greatford, before going through Uffington and into Stamford from the East. The town was very quiet and we quickly ride as a tight(ish) group through St Georges Square and down to the Sheep market, before heading down to the river to the very handy Motorcycle Parking.
We all made it into the Fish and Chip shop a few minutes before last orders, and happily took our excellent fish and chips out onto the picnic benches.