29th May 2013 Kineton Kick

A ride today with Andy and Graham. Some more members of the Emergenct Services Cycling Club were expected but it was down to us three today. We met at Andy's house in Southam, Graham cycled there from Leamington,  but I have to admit, I took the easy option and took my bike there by car.  A rotten day, weatherwise, overcast, rain was threatening and a cold (for the time of year) wind was blowing. Nevertheless, onwards and upwards. The plan was a circuit of Kineton and the Pillertons.

The Milepost

Midway between Southam and Harbury is Deppers Bridge. A short way after Deppers is this milestone. Quite why it is headed Harbury Station I am not sure, Harbury has never had a station!  Used all over the world, mileposts are used to indicate to travellers the distance travelled between places and to ensure that they are on the right track. This one is cast iron, very well maintained, but why Harbury Station?

St Peter's Church Kineton

Through Harbury, Chesterton, Wellesbourne and Walton, we carried on through the small villages of Pillerton Priors and Pillerton Hersey (The Pillertons) before reaching Kineton.   Near the centre of the village stands the church of St Peter's.  The church was first built in the 13th Century and consecrated in 1315. Only the fine tower remains of the original.  Over the years the rest of the building has been rebuilt and remodelled.

Kineton rest stop

Now for the important part of our journey. A rest at the cafe in the centre of Kineton.  This place looks exactly like the one in Wellesbourne and is probably owned by the same people. Andy and Graham had cream teas, I had to force some cheese on toast down, followed by tea. A pleasant stop on our trip. This was 2/3 the way round the circuit so only about 10 miles to go. The road from here back to Southam was very rural, once we crossed the B4100 we hardly saw another vehicle until we got back to Southam.

Hard to believe that it will be June in a couple of days. The weather was not too kind at all although the rain did keep off. We clocked 32.7 miles in all with Graham doing more than that with his trip to and from Leamington.  He left us prior to Andy's house, leaving the two of us to replenish ourselves on tea and home made fruit cake.