April 2010 Excursion
This route was ridden on Wednesday, 7th April. It is a clockwise circumnavigation of the Petersfield, Hampshire, area, and was clocked at 45.8 GPS miles. The participants, of whom there were eight, gathered at the start point, Ye Olde Tea Shoppe, Midhurst, a cycling friendly establishment, for the first leg to the Izaak Walton pub, East Meon, for lunch. Lunch was no disappointment, with a wide choice of two course 'Senior Citizens Lunches' for the sum of £4.50. We were not the only party taking advantage of this great offer!
The pub of course takes its name from the well known author of the Compleat Angler, who spent about thirty years compiling the book while fishing with various clergymen (these were many and with much spare time on their hands during that period) and other well known personalities of the time. No doubt Izaac, would have taken advantage of the fabled trout streams and rivers of Hampshire, including the Meon.
The author of this little summary will now take author's licence, in lieu of his inability to be in two places at once when the pictures were taken, to say that as a Winchester man, born and bred, it was a moving experience to make the connection between this area, East Meon, and Winchester, where Izaac died and is buried in the Cathedral there.
After lunch came a somewhat hillier second leg to the Country Gardens Centre, at Rake, just East of Liss, to enjoy afternoon tea.
The final leg of about ten miles back to Midhurst, was much easier going with only one medium climb to contend with.
Basic Stats:-
- Distance = 45.8 miles
- Maximum Elevation = 643ft
- Minimum Elevation = 53ft
- Total Ascents = 3095ft
- Average Ascent per mile = 78ft
Here is a map of the full route: Click on the image for an expanded version.
For ease of navigation here is an enlarged version of the route split into two parts: Click on either image for an expanded version.
Here is a profile for the ride. Click on the image for an expanded version.
And these are some pictures taken during the ride: Click on each for an expanded version.
