Sunday 10th September 2017 Stoke D’Abernon - Guildford King's Head - Painshill Park Cafe

Nine greeted Pam, Alan and myself when we arrived at Squires GC for 11s. It was quite a dull day so we anticipated getting wet!!!  After Alan, Bob, Margaret and Bill left, eight (Simon, Ed, Terry, Pam, Vic, Graham, Brian Bent and I) started our ride to Guildford turning right out of the garden centre, over the railway bridge then left into Station Road. A first right into Bray Road led to River Lane and offroad into Downside. We continued on Chilbrook Road and Ockham Lane and over Hungary Hill. After crossing the A246, Staple Lane was climbed and Coombe Bottom descended to Albury and Chilworth before a right turn into Hornhatch Lane and over the level crossing. After Shalford Lane a right turn into Tilehouse Road led us to the Pilgrims Way. We used the cyclepath alongside the A281 into Guildford town centre. Finally the lowest part of the High Street and a right turn into Quarry Street brought us to the King's Head. There to greet us were Ray Wren, Vic and Ed. Unusually they serve sandwiches and baguettes on Sundays.

 

On leaving we walked through the lovely castle gardens which are a picture throughout the year. They are on three levels, flower beds lead up through a lovely tunnel to a second level where bowls were in full flow and then up to the top level which has a bandstand. A brass band was playing; it would have been great to have stayed a bit longer. We continued to the High Street and its cobbles and rode on past Stoke Park, and down to the cycle route on the A3. After passing the Jovial Sailor we turned right into Grove Heath Road and continued to Painshill Park and its lovely tea shop which stays open until 5 on Sundays. Although threating all day , rain didn’t materialise until evening.

 

Thanks everyone for making it a trouble free day and thanks for the company.

 

Irene

Author: RaasayWarden

1 Comment:

Jeff 14 September 2017 at 19:09 BST

I'm intrigued to know how Vic and Ed shared elevenses at Squires in West Horsley and were still able to outstrip the peloton to be waiting for you at the King's Head for lunch.

Jeff

Sunday the 3rd September

Uxbridge-Seer Green-Cranford

I got to Hampton Court a tad early to find Ed already waiting with Graham arriving minutes later. Off through Hampton, Hamworth, Feltham  Bedfont and back roads to Colnbrook where Irene and Niall were waiting. Back roads again and Iver, Cowley and on to 11's the Rusty bike Cafe. Just after we arrived a friend of mine (John Hare) from Uxbridge arrived showing Mick (Furnival-Adams) the way to the cafe from Uxbridge station.

Tea-Toast, Coffee-Cake in the light Sun and off by 11. A nice little climb up to Iver Heath and past Pinewood studios. Fulmer, Stoke Common, Hedgerly and past the White Horse pub, a C&M favourite, and a loop round to Gerrard's Cross and back roads to Chalfont St Peter and a left turn into Welders lane and a brief stop outside Ossy Osbourne's estate and past Jordan's youth Hostel and onto lunch at the 3 Horse Shoes, Seer Green as the rain started to increase.

I had booked a table and we had a nice comfortable booth. Orders for drinks and food were taken quickly and arrived just as quick, 4 had the childrens roast (must be big children in Seer Green!) and 2 had soup. Off into the light drizzle to Chalfont Chllafont St Giles and into Bowstridge Lane back to Chalfont St Peter and the stiff little climb up Chiltern hill through a private estate. Then Denham lane down to Denham and past Sir John Mills old house and through the Golf coures back to Uxbridge. At this point Niall and Mick left us to take the direct route along the Uxbridge road to Isleworth and Kew receptively.

It was felt that Moniz cafe at Cranford was to far East for some so Vermeulens was the next choice. On reaching the cafe and finding it closed, it was only 3.50, Irene decided to head straight for home and Ed, Graham and myself headed for Ashford and a pub or cafe there. Graham left us just as we reached Ashford and Ed and myself found a Cafe Nero still open and settled in for coffee and cake. On leaving the drizzle still continued and me and Ed parted company, I headed for Bedfont and the Staines road nearly all the way home. In spite of the weather a pleasant day on the bike with a good crowd. 73 miles door to door.

Tony..

Author: Tony

Sunday August 27

It was August Bank Holiday weekend and I had expected most C&M members would either be away or else sitting indoors watching the rain fall, so imagine my surprise then when no fewer than 12 arrived at Guildford to savours the delights of Wetherspoons!   Eleven wanted to continue to lunch and our route took us around the towpaths, footbridges and back streets of Guildford to Wood Street Village, and from there to the lanes of Wyke and Tongham then by the easy route over the Hogs Back.

The Barley Mow at The Sands has a very pleasant garden and it was the ideal day to enjoy it!   The menu and prices are somewhat quirky but most of us found something to satisfy.   After lingering over lunch we set off back towards Shackleford with Brian and Keith soon peeling off to make their own ways home.    The main group first took the pretty roads along the foot of the Hogs Back, then the cycle route to Compton which was reasonably passable given the recent rainfall.  After the stiff climb up to Guildford there was another parting of the ways.   Jeff, Paul and I continued to Ripley after traversing yet more of Guildford's footbridges and alleyways, with the rest following by another route.

Thanks to all for a very enjoyable day.

11's - Don Clarke, Vic White, Paul Day, Keith Rook, Graham Hill, Irene North, Ed Sharpe, Rachel, Bob Eberhard, Brian Greenwood, Jeff Tollerman, David Ward

Lunch - Vic White, Paul Day, Keith Rook, Graham Hill, Irene North, Ed Sharpe, Rachel, Bob Eberhard, Brian Greenwood, Jeff Tollerman, David Ward

Author: RaasayWarden

Lunch Venue Change for Sunday the 27th August

The lunch venue has now changed to The Barley Mow at The Sands GU10 1NE

Dave.

Author: Tony

20th August - Runnymede-Bourne End-Windsor

It was a tale of four tea stops: but more of that later.   A lucky 13 met for elevenses at a sunny Runnymede, including new riders Michiko and Niall, friends of Tony & mine through another cycling group.   Bill & Margaret, Alan and Bob were heading home after elevenses, so nine set off towards Bourne End, through Datchet, crossing Slough via a couple of parks and a cycleway with several chicanes to make life interesting.   A few short sharp hills, through Burnham Beeches and some quiet lanes on the way to Hedsor with a steep downhill into Bourne End.  

At the Cinnamon Café.  Niall and Michiko in foreground.

The Bounty at Bourne End is not reachable by road, so bikes had to be carried across the railway bridge, down & up steps before a short walk along the towpath to reach it.   The situation, right on the river bank, and the eccentric nature of the pub, is worth the extra effort, although when we reached the pub and found it full to overflowing, I was worried whether we'd get served before sundown.    I needn't have worried - we found a table outside and the service was very efficient.    The original plan for tea had been Vermeulens, but the route developed in a different way so was changed to Savill Gardens: then there was a prospect of late afternoon rain so we shortened it to Windsor Farm Shop, but finally Tony came up with the idea of the Cinnamon Café in Windsor, where we ended up.  Only about 30 miles in all but a good day out with good company.   Thank you to Niall and Michiko for offering to back-mark and we hope you will join us again on a Sunday.

1 Comment:

Tony 21 August 2017 at 20:21 BST

Nice ride and great to see newcomers Michiko and Niall. Thank you Simon.

20 Aug - Change of tea stop

The Bounty

Just to let you know that the tea stop after our ride to Bourne End will be Saville Gardens, rather than Vermulens as previously advertised.   In the morning I plan to visit Burnham Beeches on the way to the rather eccentric but beautifully sited Bounty pub at Bourne End, with a couple of short off-road stretches along the Millenium river.  There is no road access to the Bounty - it's reached over a pedestrian bridge across the Thames, but I'm sure help with lifting bikes up the steps will be on hand, if needed.

1 Comment:

Tony 17 August 2017 at 20:32 BST

I take you mean the Jubilee river?

Sunday 13th August 2017 Dorney Court - Green Man Hurst - North’s Cafe Staines

 

It was a lovely warm day for the ride to Hurst. Alan and I were first to arrive at Dorney Court soon followed in by Ed & Graham which turned out to be the full group as most had been on the Birthday Rides last week and/or V.C.C. rides this week and/or holidays. Chris turned up at 11.30 am but was too late!!  

 

Undaunted by the size of the group, Alan returned home so three turned left on leaving and continued on NCN 4 over river Thames to Monkey Island. There we turned left and went straight over the very busy A308 through Fifield and right on to B3024. After a left to Touchen End and a right fork through Paley Street, we took a left just before the M4 bridge. Through Beenham and Shurlock Row led to Hurst.  As usual the food was first class. All three tucked into child size roasts (goodness knows how big the adult size must be) 

 

On leaving pub we turned left, left and left again wending our way back through Billingbear to Moss End then across Ascot racecourse and into Windsor Great Park., down Tite Hill through Egham and home to Staines where we had tea and cakes.

 

Thank you Ed (who had a very long day but I gave him cake to help him on his way) and Graham.

Author: RaasayWarden