Sunday August 26 2007

As I passed, the (new to me) Ivy Tea Rooms at the back of The Old Plough in Stoke D'abernon were open; seating alfresco (something warmer in winter?) Meanwhile Deputy Ed was leading from North Cheam via Malden Rushett, Cobham and The Hautboy to West Horsley where a decent crowd(19) was enjoying the long delayed summer. Half were out for the morning only. So it was the other half which witnessed Jake's distress at losing her lock key. However a blunt hacksaw and lusty efforts from Ed and Steve cured that. Belatedly ten (Ed, Ann, Daphne, Graham, Jake, Keith, Paul, Pete, Steve and Terry) headed off towards Guildford.

Unusually we rode Staple Lane to the top of Coombe Bottom; the rest was obvious: Shalford, first left after the crematorium, second left after the level crossing and we were in the garden of The Cricketers at Farncombe. Barbecued fare was to be had at around £3 and we bathed long in the sunshine before heading back on a slightly devious route. Backroads took us to Wonersh then Chilworth and up Halfpenny Lane; Terry and I stopping to admire alpacas in Chilworth Manor. In normal years the track from White Lane to Newlands is rutted concrete but 2007 is very different. Most walked and those with mudguards had gardening to do when they reached tarmac. The waitress service at The Barn was in some confusion and we ended up with an extra pot of tea - it could have been more if we said "we're number 28". Noboby fancied more of the NDW so it was down to the Epsom Road and a split at East Clandon.

Author: Anonymous