Next Sunday something completely different: Winter Wassail at Sea Cider
Join us for what is sure to become a Recreational Rides annual tradition - A visit to Sea Cider to celebrate the traditional ceremony of
"Wassailing":
In the cider-producing counties in the South West of England (primarily Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire) or South East England (Kent, Sussex and Essex, Suffolk) wassailing refers to a traditional ceremony that involves singing and drinking the health of trees in the hopes that they might better thrive. The purpose of wassailing is to awake the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the Autumn.
The outdoing 24K portion of the ride is through gently rolling countryside via the Galloping Goose/Interurban Trails and Wallace Road to the cidery.
From the Sea Cider website:
Join friends, family, and neighbours for this community celebration (free entrance)!
It’s another special Ciderhouse event: come celebrate the apple harvest and set good luck for the new year with this winter festivity.
Eat…
We will be offering delicious winter-inspired foodstuffs for your satiety.
Drink…
Keep warm with complimentary warm Silk Road cider cocktail on arrival.
For the teetotalers, designated drivers, and young’uns, we’ll have
non-alcoholic mulled cider. Beverage stations will be serving more
mulled ciders, coffee, tea, and our ciders!
Be merry!
Tours will be hosted every hour starting at noon, highlighting the history of cider as well as orcharding & cidermaking.
Entertainment throughout the day by Island Thyme Morris Dancers performing a traditional longsword dance, and Quicksbottom Morris Dancers performing a mid-winter Mummers play.
The Blessing of the Orchard & Community Wish Tree will be at 2:00 pm
Cider and food samples are $2 each.
We'll begin our return journey shortly after 2:00 p.m. on the Lochside Trail for the remaining easy (e.g. flat!) 20K back to the Switch Bridge.
So - join us for what is sure to be a memorable ride and a unique experience!
