Sunday 8th January saw the first PECAM social ride of the calendar year. Twelve PECAM members, one with a pillion passenger, met at Haddon Services for a 10am start. The weather had been hit and miss over the previous few days, and so it was a great relief that the temperature was above the group’s cut-off of 4 degC and the roads, although damp, were drying quite nicely.
Eleven riders and one pillion met early enough for a full briefing, some with coffee and even breakfast. One returning member who passed their test in 2008, but had not ridden with the group for a while asked us ‘to be gentle’ and a so we included a full explanation of the drop-off system.
Setting off into a low watery sunshine we headed out Westwards along the Elton Road, before turning off at the golf course and into the country highways and byways. We soon made our way through Sawtry, across the A1 and out through the winding roads through the Raveleys to Huntingdon. Heading back on the return section of the loop, we took in a number of well used advanced riding test roads through to Alconbury Weston and then on across the A605 to Oundle.
Our destination was a new cafe, which only opened in October, at Warmington. The staff at Rectory Farm Kitchen were incredibly welcoming to a group of 13 who descended upon them with no notice. The food and drinks and especially (so I am told) the cake were excellent.
As is usual we stayed and chatted for much longer than we expected, and then independently made our way home, now on dry roads with sunshine and warming temperatures. This nice 90 minute ‘short’ made an excellent start to the year for the group. The next ride, as usual, will be on the 4th Sunday of the month.