Maperton and Blowout

 

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.

Templecombe Recreation Ground.

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.

Milborne Port from Wheathill Lane

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.

Bridges over River Gascoigne,

 Higher Kingsbury, Milborne Port

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. 

Milborne Wick 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.

Cycling around the centre of Milborne Wick

We rejoined Station Road for a second time at the end of which we turned right onto B3145.  Cycling into Charlton Horethorne, we passed the Primary School, St Peter and Paul's Church and the King's Arms before turning left just before the village shop into North Road.

 

Cycling through the centre of Charlton Horethorne

Along North Road we came across an Easter display housed in a Victorian Water House.

Charlton Horethorne Easter Display

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

Disused Water Fountain, 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!

North Cheriton Cemetery Chapel

After cycling along a small section of the A357 we turned left and coasted downhill through South Cheriton and onto Batchpool Lane. 

Copse, 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.  

Bike Repair Sealant Canister

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.   

Sealant leaking out of flat tyre

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. 

Route 1st April 2021

Hail Stones and Big Stick

Date:                    18th February 2021

Weather:            9 °C  Hail  and Sunshine

Destination:     Circular route 

                            Templecombe, Milborne Port, Stourton Caundle, Stalbridge 

Duration:         4 hours very leisurely ride with lots of stops

Distance :         17 miles approx

                             (measured using a piece of  thread and a map)

One of the Girls!

 I thought I had allowed plenty of time to get ready for our trip today,  however I was about five to 10 minutes late meeting JC for the start of our ride due a lack of forward planning on my part.  With temperatures  10°C warmer than the previous week I wasn't wearing a hat,  so had to adjust my helmet straps; there was a quick last minute dash back upstairs to change my socks as  one of the pairs I'd chosen to wear were so thick I couldn't put my boots on;   I had remembered to pre-charge the action camera batteries, but I hadn't actually fitted the camera to my bike;  I had downloaded Map My Ride onto my new phone but hadn't thought about needing to log  in and although my bike was ready by the backdoor already loaded with bike pump, tyre repair kit, tangerines and a bottle of water,  where was I going to store my waterproof trousers for the forecasted hail showers? 

Apologising for being late, we started cycling out of Templecombe towards Bowden.  Infuriatingly and not surprisingly the combination of an uphill climb and changing down from front 2 to 1 gears, resulted in my chain coming off.  (This is becoming such a common occurrence that I really must get it sorted!) Not much further along Bowden Road it started to hail.  With my waterproof trousers stored in my saddle bag I stopped to  retrieve them and put them on, teetering around  as I  endeavoured to quickly get them on over my walking boots.  I was wearing cotton tracksuit bottoms and the prospect of cycling for the next few hours in wet trousers was not very appealing.  JC was more suitably attired in Gore-tex trousers, which are waterproof and breathable. 

Come sunshine or hail!

We cycled on through Bowden and down Wheathill Lane,  not dawdling  at the top of the lane to take in the views over Milborne Port, but instead stopping in the middle of the village to admire a fast flowing River Gascoigne rushing under Rosemary Street, on its way to join the River Yeo, just before Sherborne Lake.  The Yeo  eventually feeds into the River Parrett, which ultimately empties  into Bridgwater Bay and the Bristol Channel.

River Gascoigne, Milborne Port

We crossed over the A30 into Goathill Road, this time cycling over the River Yeo.  At the end of the following clip you can just see the river on the left.

Cycling into Goathill 

 

Fortuitously we found some good excuses to stop en route up the steep hill of Rue Lane .  Our first sighting of new born lambs in 2021 necessitated our first stop.  

Our first sighting of lambs in 2021

A little further up the hill we came across some unusual cattle sporting a white stripe along their backs, our second stop.  Comparing my photos with online images led me to deduce that they are Riggit Galloways, a Scottish breed of  cattle able to live outside all year round and renowned as beef cattle.  

Riggit Galloways

At the top of the hill and along the ridge we found a gap in the trees with a north facing aspect across to Purse Caundle in the distance, another stop.

Normally at the crossroads north of Stourton Caundle we turn left into Stalbridge Road, however my plan this time was to turn right for a quick cycle through the village. We only got as far as St Peter's Church where we stopped for our first refreshment break, sitting in the sun on a wall at the back of the church, before turning back and heading northwards towards Stalbridge. 

St Peter's Church Stourton Caundle

For our next refreshment break we sat on a bench located in a recess in  Stalbridge Park's surrounding wall, with views  towards Bulbarrow on the Dorset Downs.  

View from Barrow Hill over to Bulbarrow

We then cycled down Barrow Hill through Stalbridge crossing over the A357 into Station Road and on towards Gibbs Marsh industrial Estate.  

Cycling into Stalbridge down Barrow Hill

Normally we cut through Henstridge Airfield from Landshire Lane to avoid industrial traffic, but much to our consternation  our route was blocked by a recently erected fence, forcing us to rejoin Landshire Lane.  As we crossed the A30 into Park Lane we lamented the departure of "The Girls."  I tried to find a collective noun for group of alpacas and  somebody online brilliantly suggested  a spittoon of alpacas!   

The Girls

Further along Park Lane we negotiated a long large puddle, disturbing reflections of roadside hedges and a solitary tree.

Cycling through one long puddle Park Lane, Yenston

Approaching Whitchurch Lane  a tall man a little way ahead of us, reached down to hold onto one of his dogs, or so I thought.  Imagine my surprise and concern when he turned around with  a large stick held aloft in his right hand ready to throw in my direction!   Fortunately he spotted me and quickly lowered his arm before I took evasive action.

Our final section involved cycling along the A357 from Yenston to Templecombe,  timing the traffic lights correctly so that I could get some downhill speed  to propel me someway up the following steep incline.  I couldn't risk my chain coming off along a busy road so had to continue in front 2nd gear, knowing it would be difficult to get to the top.    I made it three quarters of the way up and nipped into a small drive where I jumped off my bike and manually changed the front gears down to 1 whilst stationary, then continued on my way. 

Arriving back in Templecombe

Numerous stops added to our journey time this week, but we would not have it another way.   We always like to take in and enjoy our surroundings rather than charging on by.  

Route