A big gathering of Christmas-shopping-refugees in the square, and as per usual most of them set off in the "brisker" group, leaving five of thinking "should get a good workout, then!"
We picked up RichT on the way out of town and fairly flew to Malton - passing the brisker group who appeared to be having a bit of a rest***. Things slowed a bit as the southerly became less helpful, and a rather green-looking AndyT peeled off at Coneysthorpe for a more direct route home. Rich, Jess, Nigel, me and a mudguardless but apologetic (and usefully large, given the headwind) Tom ground our way steadily homewards. Not too cold, plenty of sunshine and had a tan (Belgian) when I got home. 212W and just under 18mph for the out-of-town chunk of it, and good company. Happy Solstice, folks!
*** Hope all the fallen are okay - had assumed this was just a p******e as we hurried past with an impatient car up our backsides...