Michelle’s Birthday Ride for the Taunton Tandem Group saw 8 tandems and 4 solos (including Ed on his recumbent) meet at Torre Cider Farm, Washford on a cold and rather dreary February morning – but at least it stayed dry for us!  The Cider Farm opened especially for us, so we were fuelled with coffee before tackling our first steep hill.  Our ride took us through the quiet village of Monksilver, at the foot of the long and steady climb up to Elworthy Cross.  From Elworthy it is a long run most of the way down to our lunch stop at The New Inn, a community run pub and cafe in the village of Halse.  We were joined at The New Inn by another 8 members of our group.  Any reservations that we may have had as to whether the pub would be able to cope with such a large group were quickly dispelled as plates of roast beef, bowls of soup and other dishes were efficiently served to our long table.
Our return journey took us through the sprawling village of Fitzhead before joining the B road (known to us as the Wivey road) which took us most of the way back to the cider farm, where Michelle had laid on a splendid array of home-baked cakes and scones.
It was a short ride of a little under 25 miles but with more than 2000 feet of climbing – quite enough, it was generally agreed, for the time of year! 
Thanks to Dave Jones for Michelle’s Birthday Card