St Swithin's Day

West Horsley - Witley - Guildford

 

 Parish Church of All Saints Witley (11th century)

Then (c.1823) and now

Author: Jeff

Sunday 15th July 2012

On the first completely dry Sunday in living memory, 11 of us left elevenses and took Blakes Lane to East Clandon and climbed Staples Lane. On the descent towards the A25, Dave punctured with a loud bang. He said we should go on without him and that he would catch up and re-join us at lunch, but that alas is the last we saw of him.

From the A249 at Chilworth Station we turned left uphill to Blackheath, then thru Wonersh and Bramley to Thorncombe Street. Here we turned right up the very steep Alldens Hill-only two of us felt the need to dismount and walk. We then took the Hambledon Road to Hydestile and passed Milford Station to reach the White Hart at Witley sharp at 1 p.m.

After lunch we rode South and then South East along the A283 for a couple of miles before turning North East thru’ Hambledon and then North thru’ Hydestile. At Munstead Heath we stopped to admire the two lavatories mounted high on pillars at each side of the entrance to a house designed by Lutyens! We were engaged in lengthy conversation by the owner of a neighbouring house (also designed by Lutyens) who made some highly colourful allegations about his neighbour and regaled us with lengthy stories about his own cycling and mountaineering exploits many years ago. Escaping in mid-sentence, we took Munstead Heath Road, Unstead Lane, Trunley Heath Road and then the main A281 into Guildford. We took tea at Weatherspoons, with many taking advantage of the special offer of a cup of tea and two toasted tea cakes with butter and jam for £1.95.

John Gould

Author: Lisa

Sunday 8th July (no really!) 2012

Erm..........guess the "deposit" on Jeff's computer.

Author: Tartan Socks(long)

Sunday July 8

Despite a very wet ride and a discouraging forecast, Andy, Graham, Jeff and Ray (11s only), joined me at Shere for refreshments. The rain had stopped by the time we left but 'waterproofs on' seemed the sensible choice. I used plan B, the most direct route to Rudgwick, which meant the climb out of Shere plus Hound House Road before descending to Ewhurst, after which it was fairly flat via Ellen's Green and Cox Green to the Italian styled King's Head. Jeff and I had a huge pannini each - we did wonder if we would be able to manage Capel church cakes later - but it didn't present a problem. The roads were quite wet with large puddles - some the width of the road.

The weather was fine when we left the pub, but still considered it advisable to use the shortest route to Capel. We returned to Ellen's Green, then along wet, empty roads via Okewood Hill and Weare Street to reach the church at 14.57 - good timing ! Graham's excuse for THREE pieces of cake was he had furthest to go. After a lengthy discussion on the complications of wardening in Scotland, we rode off into the sunshine, having removed waterproofs, only to experience approximately 2 1/2 drops of rain each, returning via Newdigate, Henfold and Dorking. 

Terry

Author: Terry

Sunday 1 July 2012

Laleham - Hedgerley - Savill Gardens

 Welcome to Bob McDonald

After lunch at the White Horse Hedgerley

 At lunch - some broke bread at the church. Before tea some broke ranks!

Author: Jeff

Sunday July 1

Winds easing and sunny....  they said. So when eleven of us emerged from Nottcuts at Laleham we were met with a grey sky and sufficient drizzle to don waterproofs. Fortunately they weren't needed for long and after a gentle run along the Thames we stopped at Staines to remove them. Then out to Wraysbury where we went straight on for a change and through Horton to Colnbrook. After a short detour along Hollow Hill and Billet lanes we rejoined the long straight north through Iver Heath to Pinewood. After a rough descent of Alderbourne Lane we crossed the ford and climbed Hawkswood Lane over the M40. A large hole in St Huberts Lane diverts the cars but there's enough room for bikes. From here we cut through Dukeswood Drive on the edge of Gerrards Cross and into Hedgerley Lane arriving at the White Horse from the north ( unsusually it seemed). Here Daniel joined us after missing us at Laleham. After a good lunch and the usual interesting choice of ales we headed off up Kiln Lane. It was leader's luck rather than planning that our long run down Park and Green Lanes through Burnham Beeches meant we barely noticed that this was our stretch into the wind. And so to Dorney where we took the Jubilee River path emerging across the playing fields of  Eton onto the Datchet road. Then came what can only be described as the Old Windsor roundabout mutiny! Now an amicable discussion at lunch or even a regrouping halt about the proposed tea stop is fair enough but to be abandoned by half your flock in mid roundabout is a bit much. There was muttering about it being two hours home .... and this from a group that had tea in Southwater last week! Still, five of us tackled Crimp Hill without fuss and enjoyed a sunny tea in Savill Gardens,  36 miles from elevenses. Away at 4.30 I was home in Ashtead at 6. The joy of a tailwind!

Author: Brian

Sunday 24 June

Punchbowl Lane

I planned an early shower today, rather than a dip in the briny at Shoreham, but my ablutions were  delayed by a real road closure. A massive tree had fallen near the top of Punchbowl Lane south of Dorking. Might have been caused by the shock wave as the North Cheam brigade passed that way earlier in the day on the way to Horsham. I stayed to see the tree dismembered. The lumberjacks said that it was their sixteenth call-out that weekend in Surrey.

Jeff

Author: Jeff