Oh, it’s a mystery….

Somewhere in the distance
Hidden from the view
Suspended in the atmosphere
Waiting to come through
Sometimes it’s so far away
Sometimes it’s very near
A sound being carried by the wind
Just loud enough to hear
I feel its power within me
Bells ringing in my head
So often I have heard its cry
But forgotten what it said

It’s a mystery, oh, it’s a mystery
I’m still searching for a clue
It’s a mystery to me
A shot in the dark
The big question mark in history
Is it a mystery to you?

Wherever it is, it’s where the Tea Ride is going to go tomorrow!  No set plans, no agenda. Other than Tea, Cake, Friendly Company and a Chat.  What else matters?????

See you at the Rose and Crown, Ivinghoe, ready to leave at 10am.  Bring a bike (and a helmet and a few pennies for a cuppa somewhere) and we will go on another Magical Mystery Tour!

But we will be back at the pub for around 12.30… so not that far….

… but the Tea Ride will go on regardless!

There’s no such thing as the wrong weather – just the wrong clothing – and the forecast is reasonable until ermmm about the time we should all be back in the pub!

So… wrap up a little bit warmer than in previous weeks, drag your steed out of the shed, dust off the cobwebs (be that you or your bike!), rustle up a few pennies for a cup of tea/coffee and join us at the Rose and Crown, Ivinghoe, for a 10am departure.

It looks like rain and it’s been comin’ on for hours
It looks like rain I hear the rumble of thunder showers
Pretty soon the rain will play its sweet refrain
While we listen from inside
And until it stops, we’ll hear the drips and drops
From beside the fireside

So let it rain (pitter patter, pitter patter of the rain) (goin’ drip
Drop drip drop)
Yeah and we’ll be happy when it stops (pitter patter, pitter patter of
The rain) (goin’ drip drop drip drop)
‘Cause when it rains (pitter patter, pitter patter of the rain) (goin’
Drip drop drip drop)
The ways of love rise in my heart (pitter patter, pitter patter of the
Rain) (goin’ drip drop drip drop)
We won’t be sad when there is a storm (ooooo)
And we can be glad (ooooo)
‘Cause we can keep warm, yeah, yeah

Listen to the rain
Pitter patter, pitter patter of the rain (goin’ drip drop drip drop)
Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter (goin’ drip drop drip drop)
Pitter patter oooo

Except this is The Tea Ride…. it’s called the wrong clothing, not the wrong weather!

Whatever the weather, all year round, 10am, the Rose and Crown, Ivinghoe.

As for The Beach Boys, we’ll just leave them at home by the fireside whilst we go out and play in the puddles…..

This Saturday sees the annual Ride & Stride  in aid of our local, historic churches.  It’s free to take part but they ask that you raise a little sponsorship if you can (or make a donation).  As ever, marvellous Mary has planned us a route.  Most of the churches will provide a drink and some of them have eats as well. The ride might therefore take a little bit longer than is usual for a tea ride.

The plan is:-
Leave Ivinghoe 10.00 as sharp as poss!
Marsworth ( church)
Long Marston (church)
Wingrave (church)
Aston Abbots (church)
Cubblington ( church)
Wing (church) – planned official Tea Stop for us

At this point Tea Riders wanting to make their way home can head off,  down Wing Park hill to the crossroads and then left to Ledburn, take the next right, then the next left, go under Bridego Bridge and then turn right at the T-junction, heading back home through Great Gap and up into Ivinghoe.  Those wishing to do the Full Mary can continue with her, off to Mursley, Stewkley, Mentmore, Slapton, Cheddington and home.

Details of how to donate can be found here, on the Historic Churches Trust website.

Please assemble at the Rose and Crown by 10am for a prompt departure – Mary is in charge!

… I go where the in crowd goes
I’m in with the in crowd and I know what the in crowd knows
Anytime of the year, don’t you hear? Dressing fine, making time
We breeze up and down the street, we get respect from the people we meet
They make way day or night, they know the in crowd is out of sight
I’m in with the in crowd, I know they’re so astute
When you’re in with the in crowd, it’s so easy to find a route
Any time of the year, don’t you hear? If it’s square, we ain’t there
We make every minute count, our share is always the biggest come out
Other guys imitate us, but the original is still the greatest, in crowd!
Any time of the year, don’t you hear? Spendin’ cash, talkin’ trash
I’ll show you a real good time, come on with me, leave your troubles
behind
I don’t care where you’ve been, you ain’t been nowhere til you’ve been
in
With the in crowd, with the in crowd, in crowd!

And there’s no in crowd better than the Tea Ride crowd.

Any time of year? Yep, but always 10am on a Saturday at the Rose & Crown.  Be there or be somewhere square.

This Saturday’s tea ride will take us to Ashridge Monument where Mr Hegs will meet us – with Pimms & Cake!

It will be a gentle ride, as fast as the slowest rider, heading out via Aldbury, Dudswell, Berko and to Ashridge.  As ever, all riders and bikes welcome.

See you at the Rose & Crown, 10am.

Sally’s gone off cycling to the mountain tops
Elke’s stuck at home with all the kids
Big Dave’s going out for a big slap up lunch
So Jenny is in charge – no counter bids!

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la the Tea Ride goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la the Tea Ride goes on

Mary often finds us a nice new, friendly church
Sally likes it at The Cog in Tring
Big Dave’s happy as long as there is cake
But a favourite has to be the church in Wing

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la the Tea Ride goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la the Tea Ride goes on

Happy ever after on our Tea Ride trail
Sally tries to keep us all in line
Doesn’t matter who is out she’s rarely seen to fail
And Aussie Jenny, we know you’re gonna do just fine!

The Tea Ride.  Saturday, 10am, The Rose & Crown.  Battling on regardless……

And now the Tea Ride vow is very sacred
Sal B has put us together
Now you oughta come and ride together
Come on, come on and stick together

You know we made a vow
To leave one another never

But now you never lose your friends even if they go by
Come on now cyclists give our ride a try
We stick together
Come on, come on please ride together

You know we made a vow
To leave one another never

Now if you’re stuck for a while consider our ride
It’s always happy with its tea and cake
We stick together
Come on, come on let’s stick together

You made a Tea Ride vow
To leave one another never

The Tea Ride.  As fast as the slowest rider and We Stick Together.
10am, Saturdays, The Rose & Crown.

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moone’s sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green:
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours,
In those freckles live their savours:
I must go seek some dew-drops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.

The Tea Ride.  Every cyclist’s midsummer dream.
(As long as it’s the countryside, tea and cake anyway).

10am, The Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe.

Every Sat’day at the pub you could see him arrive
He stood six foot six and weighed two forty five
Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip
And everybody knew ya didn’t give no lip to Big Dave.
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Everyone seemed to know where Dave called home
He drifted into town and he’s never seen alone
He didn’t say much, kinda quiet and shy
(yeah right!)
And when he speaks to you, you should at least say “Hi” to Big Dave.
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Then came the day at the back of the ride
When a inner tube cracked and they all pulled aside
Riders were prayin’ and hearts beat fast
Everybody thought that patch wouldn’t last-‘cept Dave
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Through the dust and the dirt of this man-made hell
Walked a giant of a man that the riders knew well
Grabbed a set of levers, not a mobile phone
And like a great mechanic he just fixed it alone – Big Dave
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Now they never went back to that pot holed road
Just headed back to the pub for “one for the toad”
These few words are written ‘bout that day that
At the head of this ride is a big, big man – Big Dave
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Saturday, 10am, The Rose & Crown
where Tea & Cake is the talk of the town…..