Sunday, 18 January 2015

Horley - Dormansland - Reigate

For Sunday the scribblers and twitterers of press and TV promised flood and permafrost, with birds falling out of the sky. Handicapped by their micro-memory-span, by midnight they had forgotten  their dire prognostications and stumbled on to their next mega-melodrama. In fact, the weather was normal; a faint drizzle with Walton-on-the-Hill  pond carrying a light glaze of ice in the centre and supporting a flock of water fowl. Dave Stott observed with interest. No Scott or Amundsen or Ranulph Fiennes appeared to join us. As Pebble Hill was closed again, we set off via the A217 and decided to forego a circuit of the lanes surrounding Reigate, in favour of a shortened trip to the supermarket. Lonesome Lane soon led us to the bad-lands of Horley and the misty minarets of Waitrose.

We settled in for tea and soon were joined by Terry. Our unanimous decision was: press on. So we did, but not before a swift hail and farewell by the cycle stand with Graham, who had cycled nearly thirty miles to pay his respects, before returning home, no doubt first fortified by a cup of tea on the house, thanks to his Waitrose Card. Beneath grey skies we passed through Smallfield to Effingham Park, through Crawley Down to Felbridge, downhill to Newchapel and N.E. to Lingfield. On the evidence of an earlier recce, however, our destination had been changed. The Cage Inn was boarded up and the Greyhound fodderless, the regulars clearly preferring it that way, with outsiders best kept outside. We therefore continued on to the familiar staging post of the Old House at Home.

We struggled to clear our plates, if not our tankards, and made a prompt departure as the Sunday deadline for last orders at Reigate Garden Centre café is 3.30pm. Do not believe the website. The sky now turned blue and a low sun demanded sunglasses as we rattled along through Blindley Heath and Horne, Outwood and Salfords, to arrive for tea with time in hand. Tea for all, cake for one and a departure still in dwindling sunshine as we made our separate ways home, mileage for the leader falling short of a half century. My thanks to stalwarts Dave and Terry for their welcome company.

Jeff