Sunday July 12th 2009

Just four set off down my Ruxley Lane route. At St Ebba's, last of the "hospitals", I was startled by previously unseen brick mountains and an embryonic cyclepath heading towards Epsom. Jake caught us at the Wells and together we headed down into Leatherhead, along the Lower Road before finally climbing to a new teaspot at Polesden Lacey where numbers by ones and twos grew eventually to 16.

Wisely most declined an offroad sortie as extended gardening for Ed and Pam at High Barn was needed before battle could recommence with the black stuff. At the start of White Down we rendezvoused with those who had come more quickly via Bagden Lane and Ranmore Church. Sensing the mood I kept it short and sweet: The Volunteer, Hoe Lane, Albury Heath and a final swoop down to the Drummond Arms for lunch. As is becoming the norm, this was either roast or soup. Ed, Jeff and Terry holed up in a bus shelter complete with electronic indicator but no buses whilst Bob and I settled for a more salubrious spot by the church. My return to the pub prompted an mass but unexpected exodus by the rest of the C&M who had basked beside the Tilling Bourne.

Divers pressing appointments meant that only four tackled the resurfaced but already falling in disrepair Cote Du Fond De La Cuvette (Coombe Bottom for non-linguists). HMP and the Black Swan where Terry turned were familiar sights before we reached a revised and lengthy tea stop at Shoots (previously Seymours) Stoke D'Abernon. That was little more than 50 miles door to door on a fine warm day ended by a spit of rain around five.