Destination: Charlton Horethorne and Maperton
Distance: AK 19.59 miles
JC 16.59 miles
Duration: 4 hours and 9 minutes
Date: 1st April 2021
Temperature: 13°C to 15°C partly cloudy, sunny intervals
Record breaking temperatures of 24°C were recorded in the UK on 30th March, however by 1st April we had temperatures much closer to average for our ride to Maperton via Milborne Port, Milborne Wick and Charlton Horethorne.
Our journey started in a westerly direction through Templecombe Recreation Ground and onto Bowden Road. The top of "The Rec" affords views across the Blackmore Vale to King Alfred's Tower and Duncliffe Woods. The following photo was taken earlier in the week, whilst we were experiencing unusually high temperatures.
We cycled through the small hamlet of Bowden and a little while later paused at the top of Wheathill Lane to look down on Milborne Port. A landlocked village, the name "port" was added in 1249 and refers to its important status as a "mint town" rather than to any connections with the sea.
We cycled over Station Road, into Cold Harbour and along Pope's Lane then turned right into Paddock Walk. At the end of Paddock Walk the road forks into two: Wick Road and Higher Kingsbury. We took the right fork through Kingsbury, noting the presence of a royal crown on a farm sign. Milborne Manor (Kingsbury Regis Manor) was a royal demesne for 500 years from 1066 until it passed into private hands in the sixteenth century. British History - Milborne Port
At the end of Higher Kingsbury we turned right and cycled over the River Gascoigne on Lower Kingsbury and then rejoined Station Road further along from where we had originally crossed it.
Out of the three roads that travel northwards from Milborne Port, Station Road is by far the busiest. Keen to travel on a quieter road I decided on a detour to Milborne Wick, taking in the mill pond which is very popular with ducks and further downstream an old water mill.
Before heading up Wick Hill out of the village, I cycled around the centre triangle in the middle of Milborne Wick at least twice to ensure I captured a video clip without a local car pulling into a drive. JC following me at the time wondered which direction I was intending to go and decided after the first pass to wait for me to finish my circumnavigations around the island.
Along North Road we came across an Easter display housed in a Victorian Water House.
At the fork we turned right onto Maperton Road. We enjoyed cycling along this quiet, undulating, picturesque road for just over two miles. Arriving at Maperton we paused at a disused water fountain located in a wall surrounding Maperton House and grounds. Had we known beforehand that Maperton had gained a reputation in the mid 18th Century for being a Somerset version of Gretna Green, we'd have made the effort to visit St Peter & St Paul's Church, the local church located behind the Manor House. Britain Express - Maperton
On our way to North Cheriton we couldn't resist stopping to look at some new born lambs and their mothers. Their owner was in the process of treating one of the lambs and when she had finished she came over to chat to us. A practising vet, she hopes to also start spinning and selling wool from her own sheep.
We crossed over the B3145 and cycled through North Cheriton and onto the A357. We decided to stop at North Cheriton Cemetery Chapel on Blackacre Hill. I've driven past this Grade II Listed building many times over the last 25 plus years but have never actually taken the time to stop and look around.
The graveyard is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a soldier who fought at the Battle of Sedgemoor near Bridgewater. One of Monmouth's supporters, he escaped capture but was run to earth by Royalists and killed where the cemetery now stands. North Cheriton Cemetery Ghost - GeoCache At 4pm in the afternoon we did not hear of or see any ghostly apparition, between midnight and dawn is reportedly the "optimum" time!
After cycling along a small section of the A357 we turned left and coasted downhill through South Cheriton and onto Batchpool Lane.
With just under five miles from Templecombe I heard a loud bang just behind me. In quick succession: I looked over my right shoulder, shouted out to see if JC was okay and quickly stopped at the side of the road. Although April Fool's Day this was no joke. JC had had a blow out. Fortunately there weren't any cars passing us at the time and JC had managed to stay upright.
JC's rear tyre was completely flat. For years I have kept a canister of instant repair spray in my saddle bag and a small pump. It was time to put the canister to good use.
I read the instructions, noted that it was only suitable for sealing small holes and hoped for the best. Application was straightforward. I screwed the end onto the tyre valve and depressed a button. The contents of the canister were then emptied into the inner tube. We rotated the wheel round to evenly spread the sealant and then proceeded to pump the tyre up. It seemed to be taking some time but was gradually filling up with air albeit very slowly. Then we noticed sealant leaking from the tyre and on closer inspection discovered a large tear.
Unable to repair a large tear, JC arranged to be picked up. In the meantime we started walking back to Templecombe. A passing VW shouted out asking if we were okay. We shouted out an affirmative reply. I had visions of us and our bikes being transported back to Templecombe in the back of a pick up as not one but two pick up trucks sped by. Unfortunately neither of them stopped.
One and a half miles later the cavalry arrived. Transport sorted for JC, I remounted my bike and pedalled the last three miles back to Templecombe on my own. A little further down Temple Lane a smiling JC whizzed by, waving heartily from a car window.
Recently an idiom from American golfer Walter Hagen's 1960's Autobiography came to mind, which aptly sums up our bike rides. "Don't hurry. Don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way." JC and I always find time to "smell the roses". Nothing fazes us and if either of us ever finds anything remotely interesting we nearly always stop to investigate.
Particularly interesting links, ta muchly.
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