Guy Fawkes Run (November 2022)

Guy Fawkes Run (November 2022)

Sunday 6th November, Cheddar Garden Centre (now Hillers), 11:00

The sunshine credits have finally expired – the run started wet and stayed wet for some time, but thankfully not cold! Twenty intrepid souls signed on, including two guests from Northern Ireland who had proper bikes with them! A pretty good turn-out considering the poor weather.

The run itself – along into Cheddar, with the hilltops shrouded in low cloud. Up the long, steep drag to Shipham – a test that even the belt-drive Triumph passed with flying colours – then down Broadway, negotiate the muddy, wet but very pretty track that is Shipham Lane (maybe this is why the run organiser is riding a trailie!) to Winscombe. Turn north through Sandford, cross the main road and out past Nye and Puxton, navigating the lanes around Puxton Moor to meet the A370 for a few yards before turning back through Woolvers Hill, across the A371 to Knightcott and another testing climb up Banwell Hill ‘the back way’.

The rain was easing by now, but there was still plenty of water about along the back of the hill, where the road has pleasant views south towards the moors, if you can take time from concentrating on the wet surface ahead… Down to the imaginatively(!) named Christon Road, which surprisingly(!) takes us through Christon and Loxton (along the way becoming Loxton Road!) – another very pretty route with some nice ups and downs and views across the valley to Crook Peak.

After Loxton, swinging east across the motorway and along the side of Crook Peak (more fine views over the moors to the south, if you can afford to look) to Cross. Then turning south-east to Lower Weare and up Allerton Hill (another nice little climb) to run along the top, past the windmill. Down into Wedmore to the B3139 (the roads just damp by now), almost (but not quite) to Wells – turning off at Wookey to head back north, up Doctors Hill to join the A371 and return towards Cheddar, the Garden Centre and hot food and drinks!

30-odd scenic miles, no casualties, everyone got back in good time and enjoyed themselves despite the unusual (by this year’s standards) weather.

Thanks to Richard for organising, and keeping at least one of us on course!

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