Interesting ride to end the year!

We encountered the first flood at the Airplane Roundabout; easily avoided by diverting onto the cycle path. Denchworth Road, well known now for its water features provided more challenging floods but was relatively easily passable but the overflowing brook on the approach to Denchworth necessitated a lengthy deliberation (procrastination?) to determine the optimum route through. Pete and Libby decided this was not good enough and set off to find a better way to get to Faringdon. The remaining trio got through without too much difficulty.

After a tough headwind between Bampton and Clanfield and some "minor" flooding near Radcot we were stopped by a police road block at the start of the ramp up to Faringdon where a crash had occurred. Light rain started as we headed back to Bampton but a tailwind helped us arrive at Lynwood's Cafe just ahead of the entire population of the town. We returned to Wantage via Stanford in the Vale and Childrey in rather heavier rain thankful for the mild temperature. Phil dropped off at the top of Windmill Hill and the two Nicks stopped off at Alfie's for a quick coffee in front of the log fire. Quarter of an hour later Pete and Libby arrived, having reached Faringdon (Costa) via the Springline road and a flooded Uffington, and having somehow avoided the heavy rain showers.

Thank you all for your company (Pete and Libby you are forgiven for mutinying). Best of luck for many sunny dry rides on smooth roads in 2024 - may be some months away!).

I've just checked on Strava the entry for 1st Jan 2023, a Corallian ride to Hermitage: "Mild, windy, floods" was my comment!