Pick-Your-Own Farm
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July 2009

Our trip out west to Copas pick-your-own farm has become a regular event in our calendar over the years. It’s just the right distance for a day trip, a very pleasant off-road route and some nice stops along the way there and back.

27 riders turned up, some regulars and lots of new faces, glad to see our publicity paying off. After introductions we headed towards the canal with Ben back stopping to keep to the large group together. We had an uneventful trip until we got to West Drayton to discover the Happy Café [open 7 days a week including bank holidays] was shut, luckily there’s a Spar just along the High Street so we descended on that for refreshments. On our return to the canal we heard what sounded like a rifle shot which turned out to be Adam’s inner puncturing in a spectacular fashion, alas it sounded beyond hope and the pair of them returned home via the train.

The group continued along the Slough arm cursing the motor bike gates but still maintaining a steady pace, that is until your humble narrator received a visitation from the puncture fairy and had to change the rear inner whilst being scrutinised by the entire group. Luckily it occurred before we hit the muddy stretches of the path which made changing it easier and also highlighted the need to carry a spare inner rather than rely on trying to patch one.

We arrived at the farm a little later than expected but as usual it was well worth it, the produce on offer was as broad as ever and after a quick picnic lunch we all dived into the fields to pick. Some had come very prepared and after a pleasant couple of hours we regrouped and set off home along the national cycle network to re-join the canal just south of Uxbridge.

We stopped at the Water’s Edge pub for an energy boost and to prepare ourselves for the numerous motor bikes gates on the return journey.

A grand day out – thanks to Ben for back stopping and to the rider whose name I’ve misplaced for leading the splinter group back to Ealing.

I didn’t manage many photographs – please feel free to email them in.