Tandem Club -

The Event

This rally was located at two forts (Fort Purbrook and Fort Widley) situated on the top of Ports Down overlooking Portsmouth and with a view to the Isle of Wight.

Several ride routes were provided (long, medium, short and family routes) but were not associated with any given day. This made taking representative pictures difficult as riders were spread rather thinly across the countryside. We've done our best below...

After weeks of hot, sunny weather, forecasts for this week were dire with high winds and rain forecast. They turned out to be largely accurate although we did also have some very pleasant periods.

View over Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight from Fort Widley

Sunday, 27th May

The weather was showery and windy.

Some tandem teams from Fort Widley set off in a northerly direction heading for Queen Elizabeth Country Park where we knew there was a welcoming café.

Some of the Fort Widley contingent at Broadhalfpenny Down

In Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Monday, 28th May
The weather overnight had been very wet and very windy with at least one tent at Fort Purbrook being demolished by wind and rain and most of the caravan awnings at Widley, that were not taken down previously, were damaged by the wind. The following morning was wet and very windy and most people spent the day cowering at their bases rather than risk being blown off their tandems! However, despite the poor weather we did have a very pleasant social gathering in the evening in the fort. We did this each evening. Evening functions also took place at Fort Purbrook a Table Top Sale, slide shows by Mike Edwards and Keith Wileman, a quiz and Mike Edwards displayed his vintage bikes.	A typical picture as the rain poured and the wind blew - a forlorn looking tandem at Fort Widley
	Social gathering in the evening at Fort Widley
	At Fort Purbrook Mike Edwards demonstrates one of his vintage bikes and Keith Wileman demonstrates old bicycle lamps. photos: David Wilde Note: click here to see more from Mike and Keith's Vintage bicycle show.

Tuesday, 29th May

Tuesday dawned sunny and 8 tandem crews from Widley set off promptly at 9:30, heading in a northwesterly direction towards Brambridge with refreshment stops on the way out at Bishop's Waltham and another on the way back at Wickham.

The start, outside Fort Widley

Alan and Pauline

Mary and Alan leading the train

Martin and Jen

Ian and Jo

David and Annabelle

Afternoon tea stop at

Chesapeake Mill, Wickham

The Family ride from Purbrook went to Fishbourne Palace near Chichester.

Tandemists gather at Fort Purbrook

for the ride to Fishbourne Palace

photo: Mark Noble

En route to Fishbourne Palace

photo: Mark Noble

Refreshments stop

photo: Liz Noble

Wednesday, 30th May

Today was wet! Nevertheless we had a very good turnout comprised of teams from both forts for our ride to the north - stopping again at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

In the evening we had a very interesting and informative walking tour of Fort Widley.