Sunday 11 November ride from the Silver Ball, A10

[Wapping]

Before the sun sinks permanently into the west until next April, I think it's worthwhile having an all day autumnal hurrah.... Destination, well let's see........

Probably up to Barton Mills or Red Lodge for a bacon sandwich lunch, something like that....

Back via Cambridge or Chelmsford, which (if nothing else) are convenient for the M11 and / or A12 . I will work something out and create a Garmin GPS route.

Meet at the Silver Ball cafe http://www.transportcafe.co.uk/silver_ball_transport_cafe_reed.html on the corner of the A10 and Blacksmith's Lane from 08:30. The cafe is open on Sunday morning.

It's a bit of a schlep for me from central London but I can't think of anywhere else (hopefully) convenient.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=SG8...=j0DJ7H41WtKBrTnbVdXREQ&cbp=12,78.61,,0,12.57

Full tank of petrol for everyone on departure, please.

Departing at 09:00 SHARP, please.

The light is starting to go (sunset is 16:15) so we can safely assume that it will be dark by the time we are back.

Richard

PS I will be going if it is raining. Thick fog in the morning or overnight frost? Forget it. I don't mind riding in either if I have to but a group is less safe.

 

[NeilDD]

Hi Richard,
Just down the road from me
Might see if I can make it, might even be on the old bike instead

 

[ChasMill]

I'm up for that.

 

[Wapping]

Excellent

 

[bakerlonglegs]

And another one please, I'm in!

 

[Wapping]

Hoorah

 

[dxtans]

Hello Richard,
I am on-call that day, but... I can get some one to cover me. So please put myself and Pauline down on this one. ( will confirm this week)

I look forward to a very crispy ( weather -wise) ride !
( Royston..ah where I done my Army basic training)

Thanks
dxtans

 

[Wapping]

Bassingbourn, Depot Queens Division.

Good to have you and the plastered one along

 

[brianmaslen]

Well given I live in Royston and there is never a start point near me it would be rude to not come along. Bassingbourn Army Camp used to be the 3rd Queens Regiment but more latterly the army training center for basic training, sadly just been announced it is closing completely. Spent a few days diving the lake to retrieve weapons that squaddies had managed to drop. In return we used to get invited to wherever the regiment was posted such as Gibralter and Cyprus, sadly we missed out on Belize when they couldn't guarantee our safety.
Oops back to the post, anything I can do to help let me know chaps.

 

[Wapping]

A plethora of past Wanderers. A toss of Tossers, I guess is the collective noun.

Well, I had better get on and sort something out.... Or pray for lots of fog

 

[Kev B]

Hi Richard, Pencil me in for this bimble.Lets hope the snow stays away!!

Kevin

 

[NeilDD]

Trivia

Some useless trivia about Bassingbourn;

Was an RAF base before the army got it
My father was the last RAF person off the base, who locked the main gates and handed over the keys to the Army

Ol' lug holes Prince Charles was nearly killed there, when he grabbed hold of the lower ejection seat handle on a Canberra to pull him self up into the plane, fortunately (or unfortunately depending upon your POV) my father had put the safety pins in.

The base commander was Wing Commander B'stard, and yes he named his son Robin

 

[brianmaslen]

Local rumour has it that the underground storage areas still hold large amounts of explosives from teh 2nd WW though somehow I doubt this.
Also the base has been used for filiming a number of movies over the years, last recollection was when they converted part of the base into a jungle scene complete with huge palms that were delivered in skips. Not sure what film that was.
It will be a shame to see it close as they have a small but decent ski slope that is run as a ski club.

 

[MikeP]

Will you be finding a suitable place to stop for two minutes at 11.00 am?

Bassingbourn, DQD in my time (which I finished there as a Skill-at-arms instructor).

 

[tommymoto]

Stick me down for this one please Richard!

I was at Bassingbourne in from Oct '83 in Tobruk Platoon. All I remember is how cold it was that winter especially doing a 'Mess tin parade'.

 

[brianmaslen]

Not sure if you were planning on going via Newmarket Richard but that could be a good area for 11:00 am Remembrance stop?

 

[NeilDD]

Just checked with the girls at the Silver Ball, and they are open from 0830 for breakfasts, so I'll see you all there subject to downpours

Neil

 

[Backmarker]

Also the base has been used for filiming a number of movies over the years, last recollection was when they converted part of the base into a jungle scene complete with huge palms that were delivered in skips. Not sure what film that was.

Full Metal Jacket.

 

[Wapping]

All systems go

I'll lob the suggested route up sometime before Friday.

Sunset is apparently at 16:15, so it would be good if we can be at our day's final destination by then. Not least as it is not the world's safest occupation to be riding around in a group in the dark.

Richard.

 

[Wapping]

DEPARTURE TIME CHANGE, NOW 09:30

I have altered my intended routes, which means we can depart a bit later. Not least it should give the sun a bit of a chance to warm things up if we have a touch of frost overnight.

I will still have breakfast at the Silver Ball and would now like to get going (wheels rolling) at 09:30, please.

Mapsource routes attached.

In plotting the routes I have given some thought to it being Remembrance Day. Finding somewhere sensible to stop at or about 11:00 is not easy. But, I think I have come up with something.

If we go across, via Royston, Saffron Walden and Haverhill, we will pass by the old Stradishall airbase. From memory, there is a memorial at the former gates and / or the church in Stradishall village has a memorial, assuming the church is even open! I haven't been there for a while but I guess we'll find something.... even if it's only the prison! If not, at least we have tried.

I would guess that it's about 45 minutes across to Haverhill. If we stop at the Hard Times cafe for a tea or coffee we can take our bearings and see what's what. It's the green route in the attached Mapsource file. The red route is our suggested return route, finishing near Chelmsford for the A12. The magenta route is an alternative way up to Walker's cafe, via Newmarket.

Cheers,

Richard