Sunday 8th August 2010

It was not the best of start: dull and only three at North Cheam; soon two when Ed "mechanicaled" at Hinchley Wood. I could think of no satisfactory route from Cheam to Guildford so it was Esher, Cobham, and the A3 cyclepath where we were spared the indignity of being overtaken by more of cycling's fledgings. We arrived under clear and warm skies and in good time swelling the group to ten (or so we thought). After many a Wetherspoons' breakfast, we arose only to be accosted by mufti Jake proclaiming that Jeff lurked in some deep recess and thus had missed the comings and our soon to be going. Swilling a fraction of his recent purchase, he joined for a detour into Littleton and Godalming's backstreets. The steepness of Holloway Hill surprised even the leader but there was no dropping the bunch as we climbed towards Hascombe via Enton Green. At the turnoff, glances at watches confirmed time to spare so more down and up meaning we reached Hascombe via Loxhill.

Our punctuality had its reward with a near empty pub and several feasts were soon landing on our tables. Within ten minutes of our arrival and courtesy of SWT, Ed appeared differently mounted quickly followed by Keith who'd came via the Greensand Way. A more direct return took in the pump, Thornecombe Street, Wonersh and, for the exercise, Blackheath. In Chilworth a mistaken right missed the llamas in Halfpenny Lane; instead there was the steeper Guildford Lane. Even diehard roadies managed the tracks to the Barn Cafe and a final scoff. Re the website discussion, can you spot any difference(s)? Around 70 miles door to door.

Author: Anonymous

Sunday, 1 August

Lullingstone - Plaxtol - Tatsfield

After a sudden outbreak of 'who's the leader?', I wondered if this might be a solo ride, with nobody to half-wheel except myself. In fact, Carshalton Ponds spawned a brace of riders looking for a leader - Janice and Keith. After a chat about the merits of glucosamine sulphate, we set off apace, with J &K chasing my tail like a pair of playful Jack Russells - a pattern that was to persist all day. They would not get tired.

The way to Lullingstone was urban at first and mostly uprising. We passed the Croydon Flyover and West Wickham library, where my SERC clubmates were long gone after their 9am start. After Jackass Lane it was past High Elms and up to Chelsfield and Well Hill, to arrive at Lullingstone GC well before 11am. There were no additions to the family, but ample time for a very filling bacon sandwich. Off again, keeping to the tarmac, not the fairway, en route to Plaxtol. No risk of J or K half-wheeling me, so long as I kept turning left and right, as I was the only one who knew the way.

We passed through Shoreham (why are there always so many cars?), Twitton, Otford; followed the Pilgrim's Way awhile, then Seale, Stone Street, Ivy Hatch, Plaxtol and the Papermaker's Arms. Maybe the pace had been too easy, as our appetites were not that keen, blunted perhaps by the earlier intake, so it was straight into desserts. Janice was introduced to greengage pie. We ate outside, the skies still pretty overcast.

Well before the Plaxtol parish church tolled two, we were off again, our tea-time target changed from Downe to Tatsfield. After Stone Street it was south of Sevenoaks, along Gracious Lane to Ide Hill, where Janice was disappointed not to clock up 40 mph on the descent to Brasted. After a further stretch of Pilgrims Way, we were struggling to make double figures on the ascent to Tatsfield Church. Tea and cake in the churchyard were followed by the helter-skelter down to Warlingham and Purley X. The heavy, aromatic fragrance of the lavender fields of Croydon Lane saw the parting of our ways. It had been a day of Kentish ups and downs with just under three score miles and ten recorded on the Cateye.

Jeff

Author: Jeff

Sunday, 25 July

Fairoaks - Puttenham - West Horsley

Assembly point was Fairoaks Airport, with Dave Ward as captain on the flight-deck. My knowledge of the route is sketchy, to say the least, but with destination Puttenham, our flight path ghosted some of the previous Wednesday's ride to Wood Street. We passed Chobham and the lanes of Warbury and Clews, to come under heavy fire again beside the Bisley rifle ranges. Dawnay Hill led us to Pirbright, after which we followed the A323 to Normandy. A southerly tack took us to Wanborough and the chance to mount the Hog's Back (I remember that), before descending half way down Puttenham Hill. Most braked for the right turn into The Street and Puttenham, though an enthusiastic few were already so intoxicated that they carried on awhile and had to climb back for a dressing down by the leader, to guide them to the Good Intent at Puttenham.

Paul at the top of Downs Lane

Food here, as ever, was first class and enjoyed in sunshine. However, when the time came to return, the leader allowed himself to be beguiled by siren voices. Instead of remaining faithful to his good intent, this pilgrim was seduced to abandon tarmac and the strait and narrow, to take the North Downs Way as far as Watts Gallery. A smooth climb up Downs Lane beside the A3 was followed by more chalk and flint before we regained the soft caress of tarmac into Guildford, where we dismounted to avoid the cobblestones.

The final flourish was a scoot along the A246 to Squires at West Horsley, with a delightful diversion along Blake's Lane, parallel to the main road, to bring us to the garden centre, where our leader left us to take tea, before then heading home. A distance for me of three score miles.

Jeff

(Apologies for font size - it has a will of its own!)

Author: Jeff

Sunday 18th July 2010

As I left, it was overcast with unheralded spots of rain but soon improved. The last of surburbia were Fetcham and the Bookhams; next we rode up the once feared Dirtham Lane and down Combe Bottom to Shere's Lucky Duck where a baker's dozen sunbathed. The road from Farley Green up to Winterfold led us past an intrepid though timorous bunny squatting in the road. Cranleigh was reached just after noon. Here Irene and John G opted for a shortcut; the rest were made of sterner stuff. After Clarkson's Dunsfold, it was across the border at Durfold Wood and the descent to the Marie Celeste, actually the Ye Old Sun Inn in Plaistow. It was open but no staff(!), customers and "no food at weekends" meant our morning was not yet over. We sped past Iford, like Durfold Wood, a relict of the 30s when large estates could be sold off easily for weekend/holiday homes.
Lunch was beside the Wey & Arun at a crowded Onslow Arms in Loxwood. Industrial archaeology is not C&M's forte so the return was all tarmac. Rudgwick and Oakwoodhill led on to Weare Street where the dappled sunlight and a poor surface made for interesting riding. One final act was to rejoin Irene and John for Capel's legendary tea and cakes. Around 75 miles door to door.

Author: Anonymous

18 July

Sunday Colour Supplement to Graham's Report

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, interspersed with a dash of cycling

The Lucky Duck, Shere

Loxwood, beside the Wey & Arun Canal

Capel

Author: Jeff

Sunday July 11 2010

For a change the Kingston group were treated to Bushey Park deer, Feltham wheat, and amongst the Spelthorne sprawl, Europe's largest prison for women. As usual there was a sprint to the Luteyns teashop where in time our ranks swelled to fourteen including newcomer, David Leach. Three (and Bob) had other plans so the Irascible lead through the Great Park and then down the North road from Maidens Green to Moss End and Binfield where the Victoria Arms is a real find - a CAMRA boozer with doorstep sandwiches on Sundays with no pretensions to gastro. They even have bikestands (ok wheel benders) in the garden. We'll certainly come again.

Bob rejoined us and the meal was enlivened by Janice eating an oversized club sandwich whilst repairing a puncture - her first in over 15 years! She needed coaching but otherwise it was all her own work. Too soon we were off exploring the Bracknell sewage works on a track unsuited to narrow treadless tyres. But it brought us out near Moss End and a second North road running from Warfield Church through Chavey Down and Ascot Racecourse and back into the Park. Tea was taken leisurely at the village shop before we descended to Staines and went our various ways. Yet another skin-reddening day of around 60 miles.

Author: Anonymous

Independence Day - 4 July

Beare Green - Warninglid - Capel

The weather was fine, some cloud and a cooling breeze from somewhere in the South for an independent ride to 11's at the Blu-Moon Café, Beare Green. Glimpsed en route two damsels cycling through the woods, too timid to allow me to accompany them, so I went on to warn our leader Ed of their approach. Time for a mug of tea and bacon sandwich (full English stoutly resisted) and some idle chat. We took due note of the polite invocation to users of the WC, before the assembled group split into two, one following Ed to Warninglid, the other accompanying the ladies to I'm not sure where.

Ed set off at a pace and took us through Newdigate, Rusper, Faygate and up Tower Rd. Then undaunted, the whoosh down Grouse Rd to be followed by the heave up Hammerpond Rd, before crossing the B2110 for the final rise along Slaugham Lane to Warnignlid. Here we lunched at the rather pretentious Half Moon Inn, no snacks, the limited menu somewhat overpriced, though the fried fish was greatly in demand. However, the greatest treasure of the pub is a cider-press, used once a year and manned, we were told, by the Bald-Headed Club of Horsham. Some 150 gallons are fomenting now, but not for tasting before October. Our cider expert, Terry, was disappointed.

With Horsham in the way, our return for tea at Capel retraced our outward route. At the church, the two groups became one again, where the flower of Capel womanhood regaled us as always with the tempting richness of their fare. There were even some familiar faces, recognised from the Dieppe Raid. After tea and cake shared in mid-afternoon sunshine, the group remounted to set off home, for some a goodly distance still to ride, for me no more than 60 miles in total.

Our thanks to Ed as always for his good-natured guidance.

Jeff

Author: Jeff