One Brian was pretty sure the café at Fowlmere was closed on Mondays - whereas our other Brian was equally sure it was open. Turns out, first Brian was right; El Cafecito, excellent in all other respects, is indeed now shut on Mondays. The prospect of 23 hilly miles, with little sustenance other than fine views and fresh air provoked some harrumphing from the rear of the peloton.
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| Fording the stream at Hinxton |
We considered our options; whether to head for Hot Numbers at Shepreth or the Granary at Stapleford? But in the end agreed the safest bet, not to mention the shortest ride, would be Brunch Base, back home in Shelford.
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| Cresting the hill near Elmdon |
And there we spent a very pleasant 45 minutes: Hilary, Jane, Ann, Alan, Chris, Paul and two Brians, sipping coffee and generally putting the world to rights.
Café crisis aside, it was an excellent ride; 23 miles in glorious early spring sunshine and plenty of snowdrops to see along the way.
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| 23 miles clockwise: Shelford - Whittlesford - Duxford - Hinxton - Ickleton - Elmdon - Chrishall Grange - Fowlmere - Newton - Shelford |