Driving to Amesbury through torrential rain it didn't look to promising but, by the time came to start the ride, the sun had come out and the weather just got better from there on. We set off along the beautiful Avon valley to Wilton where we paused for a few minutes to enjoy the spectacle of a super car event. The Wylye valley led us westward before we turned south and bossed the significant climb up to Wylye Downs. Ken, having developed a taste for gravel riding during the Coate ride, took off on a solo mission down a dirt track into Grovely Wood and was having such fun that it took a bit of effort to reel him in. Back on route, we dropped down to Fovant and saw the regimental badges carved into the chalk hillside before tackling the stiff climb onto the ridge. From there a strong tail wind and quiet lanes had us buzzing along to the lunch stop at the Borough Cafe at Downton. We then wended our way back to Amesbury across the somewhat foreboding, but well surfaced, Porton Down road. We all chose to ride the optional byway route for the final 4km into Amesbury. This turned out to be slightly rougher than expected, so Ken was able to satiate his craving for adventure after all.

Thanks to all riders for making this an enjoyable day out - felt like a real team effort.