6 December 09

Westerham and Bletchingley

Whatever weather forecast you chose, when you looked out of the window at 8.30am, it was raining with persistent intent. Gritted teeth and rusty resolution are what it took to don the wet-weather wear and head due north along the flooded A217 to 235 650. To my surprise, three equally determined figures were awaiting my arrival: Stephanie, Mike F and a welcome new face Tim, waiting for his call up papers.

Soon we cast off, stopping shortly for the leader to take off his shower cap. Then on through Cheam, Sutton, Wallington, S. Croydon, a climb up Coombe Lane beside the tram line, down Gravel Hill and the long climb up Featherbed Lane and Beddlestead Lane, with the floodwater gushing down on both sides and the occasional dead sheep floating past. The final swoop into Westerham brought more flooding, with gleeful motorists seeing how high a bow-wave they could raise and bringing out the more colourful side of Mike's vocabulary.

After scrambled egg and bacon sandwiches, the sun now shining, Steph headed west and the rest south up Hosey Hill for a circuit via Crockham Hill and watery lanes to Tilburstow and Bletchingley. Half way up the hill into Bletchingley a shout of welcome from Ed, taking a sandwich and watching the world go by on the A25. We met up and dried out a bit in the William IV, where some scrumptious bread pudding was on offer, made by one of the locals. Mike then headed home while we kept to the plan of tea at Fanny's. With the light still with us, it was the parting of the ways.

For me the distance nearly fifty, the altitude I know not, but a good deal of the mileage was under water.

Jeff