In my write up I should have made clear that I didn't actually take any of the photos. Credit for these must go as follows:
First photo Sabina
Second photo, I believe, Ruth
Third photo, I believe, Ruth or Niall...
Apologies for that and if I've still got it wrong I'm happy to correct if the photographer contacts me.
Bernard P
Sunday Ride to Leigh 29 March 2026
It’s a challenge having to come up with a route for a ride you’re leading, one that I like to meet by taking the Bull by the horns... unless of course there’s a way out. Who did I know that was a cyclist and knew the area like their own back yard. Just the person... someone who knows their sprockets from their chain rings. Call made, invitation accepted and off I was led (with ever loyal Garmi recording the ride); up and around the Surrey Hills with cows, sheep and deer lolloping about and waving us on our way. Job done... I had my route... no need for any ordnance survey (mis)reading trying to make sense of all those pesky dots, crosses, triangles and meaningless squiggly lines and nonsensical numbers spoiling the look of a good map.
Next, I had to ping the route onto the club’s blog. But how? There’s a lot of scaremongering about AI but I’m one of those who warmly embraces technological progress with open arms, lots of hugs and kisses. Al (short for Albert Einstein) as I’ve come to know my ever so clever assistant does all the research leaving me to enjoy that extra cup of coffee and cake with my feet up whiling away the day with aimless thoughts: LIfe is good. I can just about solve any of life’s problems with Al’s help. The request made and Al sees to the rest. The route link was impressively inserted into my invite post on the blog. The walnut and coffee cake tasted better than ever.
I arrived at elevenses in good time. Rather a lot of heads bobbing about I thought but hey I was now a seasoned subbie... I could handle this. The expected cheery response to my comment about the route being available on the blog failed to materialise; “There was nothing there when we clicked on the link!” Did I sense something... I’m not sure... something a little south of positive like when you can’t get your car to start on a cold frosty morning. It was then that I noticed a familiar face smiling at me... a Wednesday rider amongst the Sunday gang... HQ had no doubt decided I needed an eye kept on. The pressure was on, like a sack of potatoes on my back; I masked my jitters and smiled back against a background of steely eyed stares from the rest of the riders.
Over the years after many hours of therapy, counselling and reading self help books I have, I believe, mastered the art of stress control. I just block out all thought, just allow myself to imagine I’m relaxing on some sunny beach and whip the volume up on my headphones to maximum. And to the tunes of Mozart lullabies I led our group of riders on our way to lunch at the Plough Inn oblivious to any request for toilet stops, distance to lunch and hills to come queries, why this way when we always go the other way, requests to slow down, to speed up and so on and so forth.
Up some brutish hills we pedalled, not least Church Lane (I think that’s what its called... not sure... I’ll check once I’ve posted this write up). Near the top it was great to see the peaceful flock of fallow deer suddenly about turn and stampede out of sight over the horizon as we approached the gates of Wonham Manor for a photo shoot.
My catering skills paid off at the Ploughman Inn, Leigh, as we all munchelled our lunches (munchelled is not a word but it nevertheless comes closest to capturing our combined chomping sounds). With bellies nicely filled and thirsts quenched back on our bikes we got. We were all in a happy frame of mind for all of five minutes... I had made the mistake of confidently announcing that the ride to Leatherhead was flat when we suddenly found ourselves gasping for breath as we trugged (not an actual word but good sound) up some hellish inclines... It’s of no real interest to me (best forgotten) but I think they included Trumpets Hill and Punchbowl Lane. And for those who appreciate a weather report it was windy and nippy.
About half of us made it to Leatherhead. I had no idea what happened to the other riders... were they safe, had they made it home, were they lost... I don’t know... I hope they are ok. The important thing was that I was now nice and warm in a Leatherhead cafe with my remaining companions enjoying lovely hot tea, coffee and cake; it was then that I noticed the Wednesday rider, again smiling in my direction and making notes. And to my dismay I heard him whisper into a fellow rider’s ear, “Special measures I think!”
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Thanks to everyone who came on the ride and I hope very much it proved an enjoyable ride for everyone.
My fellow riders were:
Keith, Patrick, Jan, Ruth, Niall, Steph, Andy C, Simon, Tim G, Sabina, Terry, David W
Last seen leaving Elevenses mid afternoon; Helen, Diane and Lorraine, David and Audrey B.
We split the group into two and thanks to Jan for back marking my group, to Simon for leading the second group and for David W for back marking the second group.
The route was very kindly provided by David Bull.
In case anyone is interested I am going to try again to provide a link on the blog to the route and hope this time it works.
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Photos:
Notice the absence of any deer in the near vicinity.
The moment they saw I was trying to take a photo they all turned their backs to me pretending to look busy
My announcement after lunch that the ride to Leatherhead would be nice and flat brought out the smiles
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The route;
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53904069
Compliments of Al