It was *almost* the perfect winter ride.

Roll out from Bath for a dash to Bristol and a meet at Baristas coffee shop. Quality coffee. Quality chat. Quality Street.

Out to Clevedon, the hilly way. Dodgy navigation and group riding skills mean for half the leg it's two rides of about six, rather than one of about a dozen. But two happy rides of about six.

Clevedon. Regroup and cafe. Hot chocolate with all the trimmings, massive slab of carrot cake. Chat. Chips in tiny deep fat fryer baskets.

Back to Bristol the flat way. Back roads, good quality cycle paths, through-and-off through Long Ashton and a cramp stop in Bedminster.

Back to Baristas – Dene from il soigneur excels with turkey rolls, pigs in blankets, stuffing and cranberry sauce. More coffee. More chat. More sweets.

Just the last leg back to Bath, then. In the gathering gloom the clouds gather.

Then it rains.

And it rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains.

And rains.

Still, at least my gloves got the wash they needed…