We turned up at Thorneyford Farm just before 10am for a club ride, and found there were just two takers for a slow group - Anna and Graham. Once settled on a cafe stop at Capheaton we agreed on a route heading out through Ogle, Whalton, Dyke Neuk and Hartburn to Cambo. Austin and Susie set off just ahead of us and we caught them in Whalton, riding together for a few miles before they put in an extra loop via Netherwitton.
As we rode I realised that we could call in for the checkpoint at Cambo en route, and Anna and Graham were happy to do so. Cambo is another checkpoint for which I was given credit but hadn't actually visited, and it was a new one for Charlotte to collect. Whilst I have ridden through Cambo on many occasions I had never ridden through the centre of the small village just off the main roads. The checkpoint was easy to find (no prizes for guessing what the answer was going to be!) and the other feature of note is the drinking fountain sculpted as a dolphin.
Capheaton is a lovely cyclists cafe in a room that is part of the village hall building that is only open at the weekend. It is mostly used by cyclists and can get very busy. It is highly recommended to anyone, but don't sit too close to the fire in winter or you could melt!
After lunch we all rode back to Ponteland via Black Heddon before heading our separate ways.
