5th September 2013 Barby Bash

A trip out of the county today with the Emergency Services Cycling Club. We met at Andy's house in Southam and he had planned a route that would take us into Northampton to Barby Garden Centre where there is a cafe. Sounds like a plan to me. Five of us started and we picked up Dave at Long Itchington on the way.  We had left Southam and went south west through Bishops Itchington and Harbury before Long Itchington. Then out through Birdingbury, Leamington Hastings,  Hill, Grandborough and Willoughby.

Leamington Hastings.

Went through here the other week and and I made a mental note to take this picture if we returned during the summer. A really well kept village, the locals have taken the time and trouble to deck out this carriage with a really nice display of flowers. The village itself is about 7 miles south west of Rugby and is near to Draycote Reservoir. The name of the village derives from it being near to the River Leam and the Hastings part is from previous medieval lords of the manor, the Hastang family. Curiously, the Christopher Saxton map of 1637 names this village as Leamington Priors and what is now called Leamington Spa was called Leamington Hastings. Over time, the names have become transposed somehow.

Barby Garden Centre

What a find this was. After Willoughby was a long, nearly 1.8 mile, climb up Navigation Hill. There was a slight relief in the middle when it levelled out a bit, but it was a 260 foot slog of a climb.  Just around the corner, at the top, was the Barby Garden Centre where we sat down for tea and a snack. Very welcome indeed. Another place that can be recommended, really nice food and the staff were very friendly. Not too many wasps either. You can see the ESCC in the background. When we left, somebody, I forget who, insisted I stand in the group picture and also, it would be a chance to show our club colours which some of us have ordered. Mr Brainbox (you know who you are) did not press the shutter properly so that picture did not come out.  Grrrr.

The Nelson Club Stockton

Not too far to go now although there is a 1 in 10 hill to negotiate yet. The Nelson Club, at the bottom of the hill, is a non profit making private members club. All very patriotically decked out its good to see.  Probably because England are playing Moldovia in the World Cup Football qualifiers tomorrow.

A couple or so miles later we were back at Andy's after a, hilly at times, 35+ miles route. Andy had made some Lardy Cake which went down very well as we supped our tea in his back garden.