RIDE OUT: Watercress Line.  Meet at the Waterfront Cafe, A4074, Benson, OX10 6SJ on Sunday 13 September at 09.30 for a 10.00 start (ride leader Tim Bolderston 07588 713317).

It was originally billed as a mystery rideout, but since its cover has been blown a couple of issues ago in the Journal why not supply a few more details?

This is a rideout from the Waterfront Cafe (OX10 6SJ) along mostly minor roads to the station at New Alresford (SO24 9JG) with a stop for a quick coffee/tea at Wyevale Garden Centre (RG18 3AN) at the halfway point. It should be about two hours of riding which would see us arriving in Alresford at about 12:30 allowing for the coffee stop.

The Waterfront Cafe has a really good position at the side of the Thames and serves tea, coffee, snacks or even breakfast from 08:00 Sunday morning.  There is a petrol station just up the road towards Oxford should you be running low on fuel, and wish to top up before we leave at 10:00.

Parking at the station in Alresford is free on Sundays, and the station cafeteria is open to the public without the need to buy a railway ticket.  There are also pubs in the town centre offering real ale and food about two minutes walk from the car park.

The Watercress Line http://www.watercressline.co.uk will be running two steam engines on the day between their four stations.  The next station along the line is Ropley where you can see the restoration work carried out in their engineering sheds.  Ropley is accessible by road but parking may be difficult.  All day travel on the Watercress Line is £16 with no reduction for seniors.

Hope you can join us