Six tandems and two half bikes met to start the ride at the Fives Senses Cafe, a little bit of Portugal in Chard.  The weather was fair, with light wind and some sunshine. After navigating NCR33 through the town the group headed  up hill through the forestry to pass Avishays house, (a house dating back to the 1790’s) just visible through the hedge from the lane, through Chaffcombe Village, to skirt the reservoir and nature reserve to rejoin NCN 33. The group left the NCN route at Peasmarsh, uphill to Kingstone then down the lanes, narrowed by grass heavy with seed, picking up part of the Fosse Way to Dinnington. A climb to Hinton St. George, downhill to Merriot and a very welcome break at the Feed Station, a cycle themed cafe.

Refreshed, the group set off to Over Stratton, South Petherton, the via Stembridge to Burrow, a bit of a climb past the cidery and distillery, sadly it was closed!

Some of the group were ahead and had an extra hill to Shepton Beauchamp as the group leader, who was behind the first three, took a command decision to take the rest of the group off the planned route on a more gentle climb.  After a phone call between the two groups they met up again on a the bridge above the A303 then via Seavington St Mary, up a steep little hill back to Kingstone and onto Dowlish Wake for a very pleasant pub lunch.

After lunch the group decided they wanted a flatter and quicker route back to Chard. After leaving Dowlish we reached the hill below Cricket Malherbie, then DOWNHILL to Sea (not the sea, the hamlet of Sea) to pick up NCR33 back to Chard . We departed from Chard shortly after ten thirty and were back about four fifteen. Thirty-five miles, or thirty-five point five for the breakaway group with 2150 ft of climbing.. A pleasant rural route through country lanes and hamstone built houses, very Somerset!

David & Fiona