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Immediately following the Mayday holiday weekend, 22 of our cycling clan headed to North Wootton for four days of riding in the glorious Somerset countryside.

The first and fourth days consisted of 30-mile rides on Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning, taking in lots of lovely quiet lanes.  We also took the time to visit a 13th century tithe barn in Pilton, cycled past Worthy Farm where the Glastonbury Festival is held, slithered our way through a ford and enjoyed a welcome cup of coffee and cake in Castle Cary.

Hilary leads from the front

Discussing metaphysics at a ford

Marion And The Peleton

The first full day (Wednesday) was a relaxed affair riding through the Somerset Levels and pondering the devastation caused by floods in recent years, however the area is now calm consisting of water meadows, nature reserves and peat beds.  Coffee (obligatory) was taken in the city of Wells with time to visit the Cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and wander around the market listening to buskers playing Bristol shanties on violins and flutes.

Heading off across the Levels to Glastonbury lunch was taken at a roadside vegetarian cafe.  The solitary attendant/cook stood firm and managed to cater for 18 hungry riders, the relaxed nature of the ride and a juggling act with a couple of plates of food where gravity won over skill lead to a prolonged stop.  Glastonbury was its longstanding weird self with shops and residents having not changed since the 60’s (other than being 50 years older).  Kaftans, healing crystals, long hair and dream catchers adding to the unique “appeal” of the place.  Afternoon tea and back to the hotel for dinner.

Glastonbury Tor (from hotel)

The Group at the Bishops Palace

Wells Cathedral, the choir’s medieval accommodation

Wells Cathedral (interior detail)

Sculpture on Cycle Route 3

Second day dawned slightly misty and cool.  A different ride to the day before as we headed North to the Mendips.  The intended coffee at Wookey Hole failed to happen as we climbed up the 1:7 route taken by National Cycle Route 3.  Put to shame by a lone cyclist laden with full panniers and apparently doing the End to End we, to a man/woman, walked whilst he ground out the climb in a gear not far short of going backwards.

Up into the mist and low cloud, a pause to take breath and appreciate the view back down to the Levels.  Having invested the effort in the climb, the 2.5 mile run down through Cheddar Gorge made up for the pain.  Taking the sweeping turns and avoiding the sheep (or are they goats?) which were unbothered by cyclists buzzing past (I topped at 36mph), we headed to the village for lunch.

Slight confusion as to which gorge cafe we were heading to some of us found an outlet called Cafe Gorge and set about devouring lovely cheese and roast pepper tarts.  Following discussions at lunch, the groups split into three bunches, one heading back up the gorge, and the other two making their way down to the Levels before heading to Wookey Hole for ice creams and tea.  Having regrouped, a short run back to our hotel for a shower and dinner where we were already considering what to do next year.

Riders in Cheddar Gorge

Liz and Ann demonstarting the challenging climb onto the Mendips…..

…. and the profile

Dinner at the hotel

Peter Fennemore

It is with great sadness that I have to advise members that Geoff Smith passed away recently.  Geoff was a true stalwart of the Club, being a tireless editor of the magazine, and an enthusiast in all that he did – whether that was  cycling, swimming, or indeed anything else to which he turned his hand.  He was very much his own man, and after he moved down to Devon we missed his cheerful presence on our rides, and now we shall miss him even more.

A personal recollection from Rico Signore is attached, together with some wonderful photographs of Geoff

John Murdoch

Rico Signore writes:

I was very sorry to hear of the death of my good friend Geoff Smith. Having heard of his illness (leukemia) I spoke to him on the phone not that long ago and he seemed very cheerful and upbeat. So it came as quite a shock to hear he had died.

Most of our members remember him as the very capable editor of our West Surrey CTC magazine, a post which he held for several years, until he moved to the Exmouth area.

Together we organised three trips abroad which, luckily, were very successful and are apparently fondly remembered by those who took part, many of whom were Geoffs friends who attended his cycling weekends:

– June 2001 to Switzerland to Morat/Murten – Meiringen – Andermatt
– June/July 2003: Buriet (Lake Constance) – Lavin (Engadine Valley)
– 04 to 15 June 2005: Twinning trip to Rastatt And Freiburg (Woking & Guildford)

This was our most ambitious and daring trip, by chartering the Bike Express double-decker coach and trailer for the bikes – 3 nights in Bouillon (Belgian Ardennes), 4 nights in Rastatt (Woking) and 4 nights in Freiburg (Guildford). We had over 40 participants – not all cyclists, some were members of the Twinning Associations.

Returning from this last trip Geoff and I were asked: “Where are we going next year?” We just looked at each other, shook our heads and declared that we were lucky enough to have organised three successful trips  – so anybody else was welcome to carry on – which sadly never happened.

Geoff’s other great passion was of course “Jazz”. He was lucky enough, as a young journalist, to be granted an interview with Duke Ellington and became one of the great admirers of this Giant of Jazz.

These are just some of my personal and fond memories I have of Geoff.

Our thoughts are of course with Debbie and Geoff’s family at this very sad time.
Christine & Rico Signore, Jeff Banks, Bob & Pauline Mcleod, John Murdoch and all members of CTC West Surrey.