The Abingdon Freewheeling Cycle Festival took place today, on a cool Sunday in April. There was a road closure, on High Street, to allow more stalls than ever before.

Cycle rides, free for everyone, were setting off from Abingdon Market Place at regular intervals from 9am to 1:30pm – with about thirty rides in total. They ranged from 5 mile family rides …

to 40 mile fast rides, or 50 mile off road orienteering courses.

The last ride was a 10-15 mile Retro Fun Ride.

New this year was a Shoretrax woodern track for the BMXers and Mountain Bikers.

The Abingdon-on-Thames Town Crier was both Master of Ceremonies – calling riders to order at the start of rides, and festival mascot – he appears on the cycle festival leaflets and fliers.

There were many cycle related stalls, food wagons, live groups playing music, and massages.

Spring must be here. There are both the Abingdon Cycling Festival and the Abingdon Artist’s Exhibition this week …

The Abingdon Cycling Festival cleaned the windows of the community shop. Tom sent me a picture of Mark Utting (Festival Project Manager) buffing the glass.

The drop-bar handlebar daffodil display is so much clearer as a result. More about The upcoming Abingdon cycling festival is at https://www.facebook.com/cycleabingdon.

Also Diana emailed me to say “the Abingdon Artists Spring Exhibition is in St Nicolas Church this week, open 10-5 every day and runs until Saturday. They have a great selection of original work in a range of media and styles, and most of the paintings are for sale.”

The Abingdon Spring Head of the River rowing event took place today. It involved about 400 boats rowing a 2000 meter time trial from Culham Reach to Abingdon, and made a fine spectacle.

I would guess that the majority of spectators, however, come from rowing clubs, and were there to cheer on their team mates.

The results are worked out after everybody has rowed. So there is no way for an idle spectator to see who has done well – even if two boats finish close together.

We were asked by one club steward, why we had came, and what might attract more local people. I said more stalls, and some oddball fun events.

This weekend, at Abingdon Rugby Club, the Oxfordshire Scooter Alliance had organised an Oddballs Rally. Money raised went to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

People were having fun in various oddball ways, including the Space Hopper Grand National seen on their facebook page, .

Thanks to Ray from the Vineyard Church, who meet in South Abingdon, for this report on the annual Easter Egg Hunt in the Albert Park (on Saturday).

It was a bit of a wet and windy day but there was a good turnout. We had just under 100 children registered for the ‘Bunny Hunt’ and all got a boxed Easter Egg for finding the three bunnies (photo). There was the usual games of Egg & Spoon, Three Legged, Wheelbarrow etc.

The Tug-O-War was its usual success with boys against girls, and family rounds.

For the less energetic there was face painting and (temporary) Easter tattooing, cookie decorating and Easter craft.

For the even less energetic there was tea, coffee and cakes.

The whole event was free to all. They gave away over 100 Easter Eggs and other prizes.