Festive Drive (28 Dec 2003)

On the third day of Christmas a convoy of 7 MX5's and one RX8 moved off from the meeting place near Marlow for a run in the Chilterns. The RX8 had been delivered on Christmas Eve so the owner was still enjoying his Xmas treat and for some of the group it was the first time they had seen one.

My faith in our leader and co-ordinator, Robert Pain, was tested after a couple of miles when he pulled into a parking space for toilets where there was only room for one car and he frantically waved us on. It turned out that there was a car park a further hundred yards down the road where he had intended to stop to regroup.

After this slight hiccup there were no further glitches and he led us through the narrow lanes of the Chilterns without hesitation. The wake of the cars sent up flurries of leaves on both sides of the road giving a great feeling of being part of the countryside.

I wish this had been true of cyclists. Robert followed a pair riding side by side for about a mile. I was following him and was considering a blasting crescendo on my horn, knowing they would blame Robert, when the outside rider turned his head, saw Robert, and let him past. Unbelievably, he then resumed riding along-side his friend. A gentle toot on my horn fortunately had the desired effect.

It had been brilliant sunshine when we set off but at Christmas Common it clouded over and started to snow. We stopped to put up hoods and were commenting how appropriately it was named when there was further excitement as a Red Kite floated slowly over our heads.

We had a convivial but (almost) turkey-free lunch at the Dog at Peppard, where the ladies moaned about having to go to the outside loo in the cold, surprising because it was not brass monkey weather.

The sun came out again and it was tops down to the end of the drive at Chieveley.

Robert Monk