To(wards) the Coast!

Will the C & M finally make it to the seaside for the first time for several years?  We'll have a stab at it, anyway!    If you do the whole ride, we'll be heading south-west across the unfamiliar pine forests and sandy heathland of west Surrey and east Hampshire.  After a scenic detour around Petersfield lake, we'll climb the wooded slopes of the South Downs and pass through Queen Elizabeth Country Park before free-wheeling down the lovely dry valley to Rowlands Castle.  There'll be a few miles of urban grit to endure then through and around Havant before we cross Langstone bridge and take the Puffing Billy Trail to finally reach the sea!   There are flatter sections here and there, but the ride is fairly hilly as a whole, and the steepest climb (Kiln Lane, Buriton) is in the final (Liss to Hayling) section, so features in all the options!

Please note that pre-booking is required for this ride - see small print at the end.  If numbers exceed about 10 then I will be putting out a call for a volunteer sub-leader.

The main ride (59 mile option) will leave West Byfleet traffic lights (close to station) at 08.30 am sharp, and continue 18 miles to Tilford for a brief coffee stop.   At 10.30 am sharp the ride will set off again reaching Liss after 15 miles.   Late elevenses/early lunch will be taken here, aiming to leave by 12.30 pm, and then continuing for a further 21 miles to Hayling Island via Petersfield and Havant, arriving approx 2.30 pm.   It is then 6 miles back to Havant for a choice of trains home.

For a shorter ride (41 miles + 5 option), you can travel by train to Milford station, then ride 5 miles approx to the Tilford coffee stop, but ensuring you arrive by 10.30 am in order to join up with the main ride.

For an even shorter ride (27 miles +2 option), you can travel by train to Liss station and ride approx 2 miles to the elevenses/early lunch stop.

The route and details of the refreshment stops/meeting points will be sent to registered participants after the deadline.

Please let me know by e-mail (to cycledave23@gmail.com) by 5.00 pm on Friday 26 July at the very latest if you would like to join the ride, and tell me whether you are opting for the 59, 41, or 27 mile ride.  No bookings by WhatsApp, please.

Details for Pat Matthews' funeral

We have received the details for Pat Matthews' funeral from her son Kevin:

The funeral will take place at 2:20pm on Tuesday 6th August at

The Kingston Crematorium

Bonner Hill Road

Kingston on Thames

KT1 3EZ

After the service everyone will proceed to The Earl Beatty which is very close to Motspur Park Station.

365 West Barnes Lane

New Malden

KT3 6JF

We are welcome to join them there.

~ Tim C

 

Ride Report for Sunday 21 July - Ten (I think) go to Kent!

Everything has gone west these days, it seems to me, so I thought the C & M had better head east to buck the trend!   Brian, Steph, and Niall joined us for a very pleasant elevenses at Morden Hall Park and went their own ways from there, while, if I have it right,  Chris H, Andy, Simon, Lilian, Diane, Martina, Christina, Linda, Keith joined me and ducked and dived around the inner city of Croydon, before ploughing through the leafy, south-eastern outer surburbs of London.   At last at St Mary Cray, the semi's and retail parks magically gave way to fields of ripening wheat, fruit farms, and quaint villages!    Alas, the climbs became also more pronounced and the traffic became more congested!

We eventually made it into the picturesque Darent valley.   It is lovely, but a bit of sunshine might have made it lovelier still (and inspired a few photos)!    After meandering along dodging cars and walkers we arrived at Lullingstone Country Park and joined the meandering queue for food!

At length all did get their lunch orders.   The plan was to return by train but Andy gamely offered to lead a ride home, resurrecting an old C & M route back to Croydon.   Talk of a flat route persuaded all but me to join him!   They stopped for tea at Coombe Wood, once a regular C & M haunt, but these days no longer run by the 'abacus man'!

Thanks to all for your company and for putting up with it all, and particularly to Andy without whom it wouldn't have been possible.

Pat Matthews in Scotland

 https://www.rsf.org.uk/uk-routes-archive/scotland-loch-builg-revisited.html

Plenty more adventures if you can find copies of the RSF journals.  

NOTE - CHANGES TO PLANNED RIDE FOR SUNDAY 21 JULY

The ride originally planned for 21 July was swapped and took place on 30 June.    The ride on 21 July was then intended to be from Morden Hall Park to Downe with a train-assisted return.

Unfortunately, 'planned improvements' on the line from Orpington to Charing Cross have necessitated a further change!

Sunday's ride will still start from the Stableyard Cafe, Morden Hall Park but lunch will now be at the visitor centre, Lullingstone Park, an old C & M haunt!   

We'll traverse a few unfamiliar Kentish lanes, and see a delightful stretch of the Darent valley.   There might even be some lavender fields, a castle gatehouse, an impressive viaduct, a ford, and a Roman villa!

The official return will be train-assisted from Eynsford to Blackfriars, with a short, fast and quiet back-road ride from there to Waterloo for onward connections.

Sunday 14th July from Stoke d'Abernon, Cafe Barbara

I have enjoyed many Cheam and Morden rides over the years so decided I d better step up and lead one. Carolyn and I reccied a route that we thought might be enough to keep people happy. There was a good crowd at 11s, good to see Dawn, Geoff Gregory, Carolyn,Tony Hopkins, and Diane who got their 1 point apiece for 11s attendance. We set off at 11, being 10 - Terry, Colin, Eric, Simon, Dave W, Andy, Lillian, Madelaine,Chris and myself. The route was direct, we didnt turn at the Drift as it would have brought us out at West Horsley with the slightly more difficult part of Shere Road. Instead we passed the attractive brickwork of the houses at East Horsley and took Green Dene onto Chalk Lane, joining Shere Rd higher up. at the top 3 decided to take the North Downs Way direct to Newlands Corner. The remaining 6 descended to Shere and took first right to the ford. It was here that the differing opinions of the group resulted in a three way split. I had hoped that the whole rambling community would be in front of the TV as the footpath we took has an excellent surface and no gradient and avoids the traffic climbing out of Shere. Eric on a mountain bike took the bridleway that exited in the same place as us but had involved a tree rooty uphill narrow path through woods and which he reported not suitable for our bikes. Dave W sensibly backtracked to the usual route through Shere and met us. Perhaps on a Sunday the best option. New Road, Blacksmith Lane and the delightful ascent of Ha'penny Lane (Llamas lurking almost out of sight on the upper slopes of Chilworth Manor) brought us to lunch. The tables were in the shade and well chosen . There was a plea from Maddie over lunch for an extra point for wearing a dress but Andy's notebook remained firmly closed. After lunch all returned to the top of Staple Lane via the North Downs Way, apart from Lillian who went home direct and Eric who went to join his family for lunch.. A further split sent the majority Leatherwards with Terry, leaving a trio of Steph, Chris and Simon to legitimately claim their point for being at tea in Esher. A very pleasant day out in sunshine and good company.

Sunday 7th July 2024

 The three riders that signalled their intention to join my ride were indeed the only riders that joined me today on this beautiful Summer's day.

Except it wasn't.....I don't normally wear merino wool in July.

Picking up Diane at Banstead, we arrived at 10.15 to be shortly joined by Brian who was pleased to find the A25 closed to vehicular traffic due emergency works between Buckland & Reigate.....bliss.

Dave made the quartet & we sat by the window in Morrisons enjoying our free doughnut/free drink refills but it really wasn't a day to sit by the window.

All we wished for was the rain to stop.

Just after 11, the rain stopped....but for how long?

Erm, not long at all & for the next 45 minutes it was either raining or raining heavily & I thought at some point somebody would holla out " I'm done...see ya later".

But no, this quartet was made of made of strong stuff & onwards we rode through the river that was our road.

At Parkgate, hurtling towards us was the annual Addiscombe Cycle Club Race.

Starting from Newdigate, these hardy souls with no mudguards or rain gear seemed to lap it up (no pun intended).

By a strange coincidence, whilst researching refreshment places, I found myself on their website which gave me the idea for today's lunch spot.....true story I kid you not.

https://addiscombe.org/cafes/cafes-in-west-sussex/

It was drying up a little when we passed the Frog and Nightgown pub (mains only on Sundays but tea/cakes pretty much anytime during opening hours).

Quieter than a normal Sunday I suspect, the drying up continued at the Strawberry Fields café.

As I tap the keyboard, the email alert goes off.

Diane reminds me of the danger that bungee cords can cause if left unattended.

The busy & frankly dangerous crossing of the A264 again but further east to a bridleway crossing the railway where an unclosed gate could cost you £1000, to emerge at Sunnybrook Farm.

We just about got to Denbies when the heavens opened again.

But we cared little.

We were inside, it was warm & looking up at the vast glass roof witnessing a torrent of water with thunder & lightning thrown in for good measure.

Thankfully, the ride home was in warm sunshine.

Thanks to Dave, Diane & Brian for your company.

Avenue Verte Day 3 Beauville to Chantilly

 Wednesday dawned bright and sunny but unfortunately it was to be the worst day for many.  Over half the party rose itching terribly with raised spots and had had an extremely uncomfortable night.  Bedbugs were the cause though the reception staff looked blank and in denial.  The bedbugs became a secondary issue when it was discovered Helen's bag had been stolen with her passport, money, phone and other stuff.  She was distraught and plans were made to backtrack to the police station in Beauvais to begin the slow process of getting a temporary passport to enable her to travel home.   WE REALISED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING YOUR PASSPORT NUMBER WRITTEN DOWN SOMEWHERE OR A PHOTO OF IT ON YOUR PHONE .

This was the day with two ride options, a long and a short.  The majority had opted for a shorter day and this enabled them to support Helen in Beauvais but still ride in the afternoon to reach Chantilly.

Lillian, Christina and I set off in very hot weather but did have a great day on the Avenue Verte route, visiting  Bresles, Clermont, Sacy le Grand (where we lunched at a traditional restaurant) , Senlis and finally climbing up to an area of national forest with many footpaths running through it.  We descended to the magnificence of Chantilly with its extensive parkland, stabling and chateau.  A memorable day for many reasons.  We were pleased to learn that Helen now had an online form to complete however it was difficult for her to access her mail accounts on someone else's phone so she would not easily be able to receive the document they wanted to send her.  (In the end a visit to the Embassy in Paris on Friday secured the temporary passport at the very last minute and she caught the train with us to Dieppe.)

Accommodation at Le Avenue in the centre of Chantilly provided us with comfortable rooms, a garage for the bikes and good dinner. 

Day 4 - Chantilly to Pontoise

The group set off together to view Chantilly chateau before joining the route to Pontoise.

A lovely day on small roads that followed the River Oise and the small villages along it.  A lovely lunch was had at Beaumont-sur-Oise with supplies from an award winning boulangerie and drinks at a bar opposite.  More gentle meanderings, at one point on a narrow track by the edge of a field of sweetcorn until we climbed to the significant village of Auverrs sur Oise where Vincent van Gogh and his brother are buried and where he painted some of his most famous paintings.   It was a very relaxing afternoon in glorious sunshine.  At Pontoise Lillian, Paul and Maggie stayed at L'Hermitage, Tim and Pat said their goodbyes and headed off for further adventures, and the remainder lodged in Le Petite Reine, apartments a little too close to Pontoise Station, but very bike friendly with bike parking on the ground floor below the apartments. The 3 storey town house was tradionally shuttered and charmingly decorated with a bike mounted on one wall and 3 wheels on another.  We felt at home until the hourly express trains made themselves felt in the rooms at the front !

Day 5 -Pontoise to Paris

Helen got an early train to get to Paris first and obtain the vital temporary passport.  Pinky's cousin who lives in Paris was a huge help at this point.  The remainder of the party were ably led by Paul and Maggie in an impressive debut partnership to get us directly to Gare Lazare for the 3.45 train to Dieppe.  There was no time for anything but the briefest of photos and we were so glad we'd left time to negotiate the lifts, the platforms, the carriages (we were looking at the wrong numbers ...1 and 2 being first and second class).  Eventually on carriage 3  - some had there allotted bike spaces others just had to stack them and help bemused Parisians lift their suitcases over us to find their seats.   Helen arrived in the nick of time.  Madelaine was staying on in Paris.  With a combined sigh of relief we departed to raid Dieppe.

Avenue Verte - Day 2 Forges les Eaux to Beauville

Fortified by a better than expected breakfast we wheeled forth into brilliant sunshine, crossed the purpose-built cycle path over the railway and entered the green rolling hills of the open country towards Gournay en Bray. 

Having pushed the pedals over flat terrain the previous day the pleasures of rolling downhill were enjoyed and the party was in good form knowing we had a full day to do our mileage rather than the mid afternoon start from Dieppe the previous day.  Gourney en Bray has a market on Tuesdays so the town was pleasantly busy and we lingered in the sunshine over various provisions from the local bakeries.

We were then on another long straight stretch of off road cycle path beautifully surfaced and through attractive woodland towards Beauvais.  The highlight of this town is the magnificent towering cathedral with its astronomical clock.  More time for refreshments and chat.  We sorted out the glaces from the glasses and the iced coffee from the coffee ice cream at a cafe opposite the cathedral.  

Onwards, led valiantly by Tim through the rush hour traffic into the out of town supermarket zone where our beds for the night awaited.   KFC sufficed for some , others went on a tour of the huge supermarket opposite finding enough to picnic on on the outdoor tables.  Forty miles in fantastic weather.

Ride Report - Sunday 30 June

 

Well, it wasn't exactly 'flaming June' this morning, rather unexpectedly cool, windy and damp!  But his did not deter Tony H, Simon, Niall, Dave and Jennie J, Pam, Liz, Brenda, Keith, Eric, Graham and Geoff from joining me at The Pheasantry for a hastily rearranged elevenses!

All chose to set off with me on the ride to lunch (taken al fresco, at the Botwell Inn, Hayes), and, as well as featuring a Wetherspoons lunch, today's ride followed the typical Cheam & Morden pattern with a sewage works, various narrow and gloomy footpaths, a rugby stadium, a stately home, a canal, an international airport, and a giant dog sculpture all thrown in for good measure!   How cliched!

Thanks for your company, everyone, and thanks for putting up with it all!   Special thanks to Geoff for back-marking all day, to the sun for putting in an appearance in the afternoon, and to the wind for helping blow us back to tea at Shepperton lock!

IMPORTANT - Changes to Ride on Sunday 30 June

The advertised ride from Morden Hall Park to Downe is postponed until July (date to be confirmed).

We will be meeting instead at The Pheasantry, Bushy Park and riding to lunch at The Vine, Uxbridge.

Please pass this information on to anyone without blog or WhatsApp access.

Thank you.

Sou'westers Avenue Verte to Paris - Day 1 Dieppe to Forges les Eaux

 Ten fully refreshed and enthusiastic Sou'westers (Tim and Pat, Paul and Maggie, Helen, Christina, Steph, Madelaine, Pinky and Lillian) rolled off the ferry on Monday afternoon into glorious sunshine with the French countryside waiting to embrace them.  The closure of the blue metal bridge into Dieppe town meant a crowd of passengers off the ferry were waiting to file through the footbridge.  Our destination that evening was Forges les Eaux so we bypassed the town and cut through the side streets to the beginning of the route as it was running alongside the railway out of town.   Very soon we were passing lakes, cows, allotments, fields of flax not yet in flower and views across pleasant countryside scenes.  We made good progress on the wonderful surface, stopping for regular drinks.  Just before Neufchatel (our hoped for tea stop) we stopped for photos and to admire the chateau at Mesenieres, a welcome rest off the saddle with jellybabies on offer.  At Neufchatel we knew we d be too late for the creperie on the route so we diverted into town and found a bar one side of the road and a bakery the other.  Christina managed to take advantage of both facilities buying beautiful quiches and then joining us for tea/Ruby leffe at the bar.  The back room was cool and the adjoining toilet provided amusement as the lock didn't quite catch.  Only a few miles to Forges les Eaux the route becoming more interesting as it wound round and through woodland as it approached this pretty little spa town.  It was 8 pm and we d cycled 34 miles. 

Quick showers and out to eat massive plates of food at the local kebab cafe where we sat outside nattering and watching swallows/swifts (Maddie knew and now I ve forgotten which ones).  Helen and I accompanied Lillian back to her accomodation where she showed us round a beautiful period town house with high railings and curved stone steps each side of the impressive front door.  We watched a few bats fluttering at speed then returned to our less impressive but equally welcoming hotel du Colvert for a good night's sleep.

Sunday 23rd June - Bagshot

When the draft Rides List came around, I opted for the Ripley elevenses as I know a few routes through the Surrey lanes to the East. And yet....for some unknown reason Bagshot was calling to me. And so I devised a route to take us out West, but avoiding busy roads, travelling along (actually slightly up) the Basingstoke Canal to Deepcut, then North to be the other side of the M3 and A30 London Road and coming into Bagshot from the West. The ride was deemed to be "very scenic and exciting" - hopefully in a good way! 

Ripley is a hike for most people, and with a few packing or leaving for the Dieppe to Paris tour it was lovely to see twelve out for elevenses - Daves V and W, Simon, Geoff, Terry, Liz, Carolyn, Ann, Andy, Graham, Niall and myself. Quite a queue had formed at Pinnock's to order, but the food and drinks came out quickly enough if they had got your name down right and by 11 o'clock we were ready to go. 

Behind the smiles some are already plotting their escape

Carolyn, Geoff and Dave V were unable to join the ride, so we were down to 9, heading through Send and Mayford to join the Basingstoke Canal at Lock 14, except for Dave W who peeled off (but it was great to have him back with us) and Graham who had a different route to lunch in mind. We continued along the quiet canal paths (apart from the occasional group of mountain bikers gleefully hurtling in the opposite direction) until we got to Lock 28, where we crossed back over and carried on through some new housing in Mindenhurst. That was the first off road stretch done with no mishap and no real complaints, so all was going well. Terry departed - but I noticed later he had nevertheless completed a round trip of some 54 miles! 

Primarily a tree photo with coincidental cyclists

 

Heading up The Maultway would have been a bit dull so we took on the second stretch of off-road - a wide dirt track beside the barbed wire fence of the Bisley and Pirbright Ranges - where we had an excellent view of London in the far distance. All survived despite my diving onto the exit path too early - some followed, some looked surprised, but still none complained.

In my attempt to avoid the A30 and reassured by how game the group were, I had everyone cycle through a lovely wooded area on the edge of Swinley Forest and down a steep track behind Pennyhill Park Hotel - lunch was almost in sight and the following slight descent into Bagshot on tarmac got us there exactly on time.

The Kings Arms is a Hungry Horse pub and was ok, it has a large menu, a large garden and large chips, but did seem a bit tired and sticky in places. 

  

Atten-tion!

After lunch the 7 of us followed a much more obvious and undulating route through Windlesham, Longcross and Lyne, discovering a new café on the way (but closed on Sundays) and coming into Chertsey after the final bit of apparently-not-so-easy-to-find off-road by The Bourne. A short hop from there and we were at The Ferry Café in Shepperton, where Tony had come out to have tea with us. 

With thanks to Andy for back-marking, to Andy and Simon for the photos and to everyone for bringing their adventurous selves.

 

This Sunday - 23rd June to Bagshot

This Sunday's ride will take us from Pinnock's in Ripley along quiet leafy lanes, towpaths, cycle paths and dirt tracks to lunch at The Kings Arms in Bagshot after some 18 miles. I promise you scenic canals, panoramic views and at least one picturesque church as we travel. There is approx.2 miles of canal path which becomes stony in the second half, and three 1 mile sections of off road, all passed by me as being cyclable (parallel roads do exist as an alternative if anyone has a strong aversion - but you'll miss the promised views)!    

After lunch we'll use the quieter roads through Windlesham, Longcross and Lyne to sneak up on Chertsey and thereafter to tea (or ice cream) at The Ferry Café in Shepperton - approx. 13.5 miles. 

The pub has asked for a booking so please PM me by Friday evening if you will be lunching. They are a Hungry Horse pub - no need to pre-order but you can check the menu here. There is also the option of a Co-op just opposite.

Approx. 31.5 miles in total - route is here (opens in Komoot).

Hope you can join me! 

Diane         

Sunday 16th June 2024

With Summer Solstice a few days away

A chill in the air, I was on my way

Old Clunker full inside

Outside I sat, looking forward to the ride

Simon appeared, then Brian & Terry

Eric was the last, our small group set off

Logmore beckoned, up it we rode

We split at the top, au revoir mes amis

Down Tanhurst, cautious we were

On through Surrey, scenery a blur

Into Sussex & the Apple Tree café

Sunny & warm, we'd reached halfway

My watch said two, it was time to go

Northwards we went, our trio in flow

Brockham was busy, Cubs pouring tea

A fine job they did, I think you'd agree

Spotted today in Weare Street

 

This Sunday the 9th of June

11's at Windsor farm shop, lunch at Hurley lock cafe or the Rising Sun Hurley. Tea, TBD

Sunday 2 June - all the hills and more

Ahhh!   Summer riding, at last.   The magic ingredient that our rides have been mostly missing for so long.  It was warm, it was sunny, it was dry, there were light winds.  It was wonderful.

Summer.  The view from Peaslake Road

I had planned a ride with quite a few hills, attempting to visit a lot of hills using gentle slopes to get to them.  The advance publicity may have put off some people but a decent number turned out for elevenses at a surprisingly empty Queen Stage in Effingham.   We were pleased to be joined by new (to us) rider Eric - welcome Eric!  Terry and Niall were just riding to elevenses, and Graham rode with us to the summit of Combe Lane before departing to do his own thing.   David W was unable to join us due to a cold - get well soon David.

The Queen Stage

I very kindly, and accidentally, took a short cut after Shere so we missed out a mile or two through Farley Green and Winterfold, but still did all the climbing up Houndhouse Lane to Pitch Hill as our second summit after Green Dene & Combe Lane.   Down Pitch Hill and across on the very beautiful Peaslake Road to a picnic lunch at Peaslake.   It was crammed with cyclists!   Mostly mountain bikers - they were overflowing the bus stop, they were on the verges, they were in the pub.   It was great to see.   We eventually found a shady and sunny place for lunch in the churchyard, satisfying everyone's requirements.   Peaslake stores was doing a brisk trade in pasties, cheese straws, sandwiches, drinks, everything a hungry cyclist could want for.

Peaslake

Picnic spot at Peaslake Church

After lunch there were only two hills before Dorking: Holmbury Hill and Leith Hill, so we conquered those along gentle and not-so-gentle climbs, but with beautiful dappled sunlight through the woods to distract us, before zooming down to Dorking.   Terry had imparted a vital piece of information at elevenses:  Ranmore Church is doing Sunday teas starting today, every week until the end of August.   But Ranmore Church is up a hill, as was my planned bonus hill - Box Hill.   We all had tired legs by this stage, so by a process which was part democracy and part pot luck, we ended up at Ranmore, for some lovely cake, and tea with free refills.   On a sunny day, there was no better place to be.

Bonus hill

Tea at Ranmore church

The cake menu

A very enjoyable day out in great company.  Thank you to all who came along, to Andy for back marking,  to Terry for vital cake-related intelligence, and to Keith and Andy for photos.

Plans for Sunday 2nd June - a Gentle Tour of the Hills

This Sunday's ride will be visiting the hills around Leith Hill along some lovely roads that are mostly fairly gentle, with a few short steep bits.   Nothing worse than a B group ride.

Lunch will be a picnic at Peaslake.   You can either bring your own, order a sandwich from the village stores a couple of days before, or take your chances on the day.   They will have a selection of sandwiches and pastries available, but to be sure, please email your order to me by first thing Thursday.  The village stores has a good variety of sandwich fillings, but there's no menu, I'm afraid.

From 11s at Effingham, we will be visiting Shere, Winterdown & Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill and finally Leith Hill, with the option of continuing to Box Hill if you want a bonus hill.   I hope you can join us.

RIPLEY – WORLD FAMOUS AS THE ‘MECCA FOR ALL GOOD CYCLISTS’

 This upcoming exhibition needs to enthuse all the cyclists out there who may be surprised to know that Ripley was once the most famous place on the planet for cycling .

The exhibition is called RIPLEY – WORLD FAMOUS AS THE ‘MECCA FOR ALL GOOD CYCLISTS’. It traces the origin of the so called Ripley Road which was, in fact part of the Portsmouth Road between Ditton and Ripley. The cycling craze from 1870 -1900 which brought thousands of cyclists into Ripley and in particular to the Anchor Pub and the hospitality of the Dibble family. It features the memorials in Ripley church and the ‘spin offs’ of the craze such as the Anchor Visitor books, a Ripley board game featuring the Anchor. We are delighted that The Anchor are supporting the exhibition with a free draw for lunch for 2 in their restaurant. as the new village hall is being opened)

So please encourage your members to come along from the 8^th of June any Saturday morning  from 10-12 (the 22^nd might be worth avoiding as the new village hall is being opened)  – we can also open at other times by arrangement

Clare McCann -museum curator

Capel Church Teas 2024 (Sun & BH Mon)

 

Sunday 26th May 2024

A leisurely ride of new discoveries in leafy Surrey.

Is it safe to return to Squires, West Horsley?

Dave removed the café from his list of refreshment stops a number of years ago when they introduced a new system which slowed the ordering (& paying) process down considerably.

I thought it was time to revisit.

I arrived to find no queue, but a sign indicating to "wait" to be directed to a table.

Almost immediately, a waitress (electronic ordering device in hand) approached me " Hi, just a cappuccino please, nothing to eat, I'll be sitting with the cyclists" I said.

I joined Lilian, Simon & Terry later to be joined by Caroline.

Ten minutes later my drink arrived.

From memory, Terry's cake & hot chocolate arrived separately but other than that, we all received what we'd ordered.

Of course we still had to pay, slowing the process still further.

I think it works if you know what you want & order straight away rather than wait for a waitress to come to your table.

Also, there were plenty of staff on duty today.

I like the location because it was nice to climb Shere Road with "fresh" legs.....maybe nice is the wrong word but you know what I mean.

Caroline returned home to prepare the arrival of a new kitchen in the coming days whilst we crossed the Tillingbourne in Shere to pick up the lane going south called Hound House Road which slowly ascends passing Bentley Copse where I used to go on camping trips with the scouts.

A fork in the road and so to Barhatch Lane, with two arrows on my OS 187 indicating a steepness of greater than 1 in 5.

But of course we were descending and we were soon in Cranleigh where I had to ask directions to the Downs Link.

Copious amounts of mud for the next nearly 3 miles brought us to the restored Baynards station of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (1865 - 1965).

Lunch was at a busy Milk Churn just outside Rudgwick where it has appeared in the Guardian's (one of the) "best cafés in the countryside".

The route home included a stop at Holbrook Farm on Weare Street that had curious engraved names into a prominent rock formation beside the pond.

Church teas were imminent but not before checking out another new discovery, a wooden sculpture of a hook & chain beside the pond in Capel.

Our leisurely ride of new discoveries concluded with a brief visit to "hidden" St Mary Magdalene church at South Holmwood, built 1838.

Thanks to Simon for back marking & providing most of the photos & Lilian & Terry for your enjoyable company.

Change to Sunday 26th May 2024

11's - Squires, West Horsley

15 miles to lunch with a couple of hills...

Lunch - The Milk Churn, Rudgwick

10 miles to tea...

Tea - Church teas, Capel

Sunday the 19th May

 There was no early takers to lead this ride but Maddies stepped in to lead her first C&M ride. She knew the route was it was the same route I lead the B's to a few Wednesdays ago. It was a good turnout of Maddie ,Bob P ,Pam, Dawn ,Graham ,Bernard Sabina, Tony, Niall ,Andy, Martina, and Diana who just came to 11;s.

At the AGM Graham stepped down as club sec after many years in post, he was presented with an award, at 11's, as a thank you for his many years of service to the club.

We split into 2 groups to make life easier. Along the river Crane to Twickenham, and past the stately home of Simon, then varuious roads to Syon park, a loo stop and photo session. 

 

 

 

Syon Park Loo Stop

 

Then onto the Grand Union canal to Hanwell, then the river Brent to the Viaduct, throught edge of the Bunny park and another photo of the lovely thatched cottaage, then through Brent Valley golf course, a useful coffee stop for me in nthe past.

We were soon cycling through Perivale Park and past the memorial bench of Nicky Hopkins (no relation), a very famous session musician.  Then up the short climb of Horsendon Hill and onto lunch at the Greenwood hotel, a Wetherspoons, the weather was great, so we sat in the Sun to enjoy the delights of a microwaved  lunch. All good things come to and end, so off we set. Maddies group left first. 

 

Lunch in the Sun

We headed South to Northolt station, then across and down Northala fields and across the Ruislip road and then unmaiintained cycle paths to Willow Tree open space. Then across the foot bridge onto th Paddington arm of the Grand Union canal heading South. 

 

This section of the canal towpath is in very good order, we followed this to Bulls Bridge and then the spiral cycvle path to the Parkway, then the  cycle path to Cranford. We crossed the Bath road and round the back drive to tea at Restaurante Saloios rear seating area, a Portuguese restuarant. A place I often use for a coffee, the owner is very friendly, a few years ago he helped me mend a punture!

 

 

Tea Stop

Lovely sitting in the Sun, great coffee, and some even sampled the lovely cakes. At this point Maddie phoned me, she had ended up behind my group so then joined us for tea. Again, it was hard to tear ourselves away from the social sunny retreat. 

 

But alas we set off, agsain in 2 groups, my group left first and headed across Hounslow Heath andf then Powder Mill lane onto Fulwell, then through Hampton Hill where i turned right for home, leaved the rest to wend thier way home. A lovely days outing with a great group. Thank you to Maddie and to those who back marked.

Tony..

New Years Day 2012

 

Spring Tavern, Ewell

Where are they now?