2024-11-10 51 -1

Location

Barnard Gate, where the A40 cycleway briefly diverges from the main road.

Participants

Dan Q

Plans

After brunch, I reckon I can get to and from this hashpoint... Tron-style!

Expedition

I planned a slightly circuitous route to this hashpoint in order to make a Tron achievement possible. I got my ~~bike~~ lightcycle out of the garage, checked the brakes and tyres, and set off in the opposite direction of the hashpoint! My thinking was I could cut up Tar Lakes Road to Cogges Farm, join the A40 cyclepath at Witney, follow it all the way to Barnard Gate, and - after passing through the hamlet and hopefully the hashpoint - turn _back_ along the opposite side of A40 (for the section that doesn't have a cyclepath) and then cut through South Leigh to get back home.

My first hazard came just three minutes out of my door, where a motorist failed to give way to me at Stanton Harcourt Roundabout, entering the junction even though I was already half-way across it from the other direction. They had to slam on their brakes to avoid smashing into the side of me, and I'll admit I may have sworn at them at least a little as they pulled guiltily away.

The Tar Lakes road remains a delightful route from Stanton Harcourt to Witney, which I've enjoyed cycling many times. It was a little busier than usual, perhaps because it's Sunday and folks were off to and from the fishing lakes along its path to do some angling or to walk their dogs, but it was still a fast and easy journey. Reaching Cogges, I turned back towards the hashpoint and joined the A40 cyclepath which, I hoped, would bring me right through it.

Approaching the hashpoint, I was concerned to see that the road was closed ahead, but a sign reassured me that it was still open to pedestrians, so I dismounted my bike. This also provided an excuse for me to slow down and pay attention to my GPSr as I counted down the metres. I got within the circle of uncertainty at ~3m away, as I leaned over the dyke that separates Pear Tree Cottage's garden from the byway. I snapped the regulation silly grin selfie at 14:44.

Photo taken, I then had to continue to push my bike all the way through the roadworks: the fastest way home would have been to turn around, at this point, but I didn't want to be robbed of my shot at the Tron achievement, so I pressed on. At the far end of Barnard Gate I determined that cycling back along the A40 without the benefit of a cyclepath was perhaps a little too dangerous (especially after my scare earlier), so I adapted my route to instead head East towards Eynsham, crossing the main road at the Evenlode pub to get onto Old Witney Road, through Eynsham, and back onto the road home.

Returning home, I made sure to cut the corner short as I turned into my driveway so I didn't cross the path I'd taken as I'd initially exited, an hour earlier. A successful trip, and a fresh achievement!