Ride and Stride

With thanks to all who supported us, we are delighted to report that the 2017 Ride and Stride went like a breeze and we raised over £800 for the Hampshire Historic Churches Trust, with half of that coming to the Shalfleet Church Fabric Trust. The weather was beautiful as Claire and I set off in the morning, and with one church down, we headed for Off the Rails for breakfast.

Then it was down to business, and one by one we ticked off the churches, trying not to spend too long looking around and/or eating the cakes on offer. The morning session took in our local churches, and then we drove to Bembridge for lunch with Ben Collins, who took over from Claire for the afternoon session.

Altogether we cycled 47 miles and visited 23 churches:

St Swithin,Thorley: 9.13

St James,Yarmouth: 10.06

All Saints, Freshwater: 10.25

St Michael the Archangel: Shalfleet     11.35

Holy Spirit, Newtown: 11.50

Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge: 14.45

St Mary the Virgin, Brading: 15.15

St John The Evangelist, Sandown: 15.30

Christ Church, Sandown: 15.34

St Paul, Shanklin: 15.55

St Blasius, Shanklin: 16.10

St Boniface, Bonchurch: 16.30

St Boniface Old Church, Bonchurch: 16.35

Holy Trinity, Ventnor: 16.42

St Catherine, Ventnor: 16.47

St Alban, Ventnor: 17.00

St Mary & St Rhadegund, Whitwell: 17.20

St John the Baptist, Niton: 17.31

St Andrew, Chale: 17.46

St Peter, Shorwell: 18.09

St Mary the Virgin, Brighstone: 18.19

St Peter and St Paul, Mottistone: 18.30

St Mary, Brook: 18.41

 

And to prove it, here they are, I hope in the right order…

And as we arrived at Brook a storm of Biblical proportions broke, with thunder and lightning and torrential rain. Thankfully Claire arrived in the car to scoop us up, and we headed for hot baths and a welcome supper in Cowes.

Many thanks to all who sponsored us, and if there is anyone out there who would like to top up our total, here is the link: Ride and Stride