Fun at Fordingbridge

Youth Club Cycling weekend in the New Forest.

The forecast had been dire all week and Sunday threatened solid rain and high winds. Not exactly the best time to pay our annual visit to Fordingbridge on our cycling weekend. However it has traditionally taken place over the late May Bank holiday as it runs nicely into half term. This year however we were delayed by 24 hours as Fordingbridge church had an alternative use for their hall on the Saturday.

20 of us (14 children and six adults) set off with cars packed to the gunwales with food, games, sleeping bags and pillows, etc. A small advance party had set off half an hour earlier to prepare the hall for a birthday celebration for Fleur’s 15th. We all arrived by 7.30 and entered to find the hall decorated with balloons and tinsel. There were quite a few Fordingbridge first timers so we had to explain just who slept where and the general rules of living cheek by jowl for 2 days. We unloaded the cars (no small feat!) and very soon had some party games under way. On sighting this, the fathers who had volunteered their services for the weekend, explained that they had to undertake a small walk to investigate the countryside! Whether the George Pub constitutes countryside I will leave to your conclusion!

By 11.30pm everyone was in bed (*sleeping bag) and we began the usual difficult process of getting everyone to sleep. By 3 am it had been achieved!

The threatened weather for the Sunday was no lie. It rained the whole day non-stop and any thought of cycling across the forest was quickly abandoned. We went to St Mary's to church where the service and setting were identical to our own. It was Pentecost so we were sermonised about the benefit of comforters (of the baby kind – blanky bears etc!)

The decision to forego cycling led to our taking a trip to Romsey and an afternoon at Romsey Rapids. Unfortunately several thousand folk who were also camping out that weekend had decided on the same escape and the queue was so long as to lead outside the door and into the rain. However we waited patiently and eventually got into the pool for an hour’s water fun and frolics. Sunday evening saw us wrestling with a damp barbecue in an effort to cook burgers and sausages for 20. Once this operation had been successfully completed (2 hours later!) it was time for the talent show. Each group put on a display of their talents ranging from dancing to acting. A great time was had by performers and audience alike. After a few more games it was bedtime with a much earlier drop off time than last night.

The weather had improved a fraction on the Monday although heavy and frequent showers continued. After a massive pack up we set off for Moors Valley where we got the first chance to ride. Everyone took to the various trails until lunchtime when the previously prepared picnic went down well. The afternoon was free to all to do as they wanted; some spent it on the Play Trail, some with some more biking and others in the children’s play area.

By 3 o’clock we were all ready for home and set off in the 6 cars to be home by about 5 o’clock.

It was not the easiest Fordingbridge we have ever undertaken but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Thank goodness for Jane Cook’s timely reminder to take swimming costumes just in case.
Those who braved the weekend were:

Tony R-O, Ian Carden, Andy Emery, Jane Cook, Paul Read and Candy Williams (to whom many thanks for giving up their weekend to help), James and Emily Arnold, Georgina Laming, Gabi Read, Claire Levers, Billie Goodall, Liz and Cat Emery, Matt Shier, Fred Austin, Fleur Williams, Katie Wood, Sarah Carden and Stuart Cook.