Sunday morning and it seemed that El Nino had relented: the sky a clear, icy blue. However, several layers of thermal protection were needed before heading North to pick up Ed, John G and Graham H at the N. Cheam staging post. Then it was into the sharp-toothed Easterly wind that was to accompany us nearly all the way to Oxted. The route took us along what is probably the most benign incline to Botley Hill: Sutton, Carshalton, S. Croydon, Farleigh and Warlingham to the top of Titsey Hill. A short, wind-assisted freewheel along The Ridge brought us to the top of Chalkpit Lane for a brake-testing, white knuckle descent to Oxted Station and the superstore café at Morrisons.
With their teapots already half empty, Bob, Pete B and Pete F were waiting. There was still time for a hearty English breakfast before setting off, as Dormansland was fairly close and downhill, with no intervening outcrops. A pretty leisurely jaunt took us through Broadham Green, Staffhurst Wood, Crowhurst and Lingfield to The Old House at Home in Dormansland. After a leisurely lunch, sound food and service, we were off again on the way back to Redhill via Newchapel, Horne (which does have a bit of a hillette), Outwood, S. Nutfield and Philanthropic Road. Tea was planned for Fanny's but the Red Arrows did a sudden starburst and I had lost them. However, half-way along Rocky Lane I discovered the two Petes escorting me on my wing tips all the way to the fabulous Fanny, where we were very soon joined by Graham. Ed and John had plumped for Wetherspoons.
Pete B was greeted like a long lost lover by Fanny, as he had offered to provide her with some railway memorabilia - but he still had to pay for his coffee. We took our tea in the shelter of the Pagoda, tastefully walled with mattress springs, before heading back to base, still in bright but dazzling sunshine low in the sky. Pete B and I accompanied each other to Chipstead and the A217 before a final farewell wave.
We had enjoyed a day of sunshine, blue skies and not a drop of rain, sleet or snow all day, though in places there had been ice and slush on the road, the temperature barely rising above zero. For me the distance home to home some 54 miles.
Jeff
With their teapots already half empty, Bob, Pete B and Pete F were waiting. There was still time for a hearty English breakfast before setting off, as Dormansland was fairly close and downhill, with no intervening outcrops. A pretty leisurely jaunt took us through Broadham Green, Staffhurst Wood, Crowhurst and Lingfield to The Old House at Home in Dormansland. After a leisurely lunch, sound food and service, we were off again on the way back to Redhill via Newchapel, Horne (which does have a bit of a hillette), Outwood, S. Nutfield and Philanthropic Road. Tea was planned for Fanny's but the Red Arrows did a sudden starburst and I had lost them. However, half-way along Rocky Lane I discovered the two Petes escorting me on my wing tips all the way to the fabulous Fanny, where we were very soon joined by Graham. Ed and John had plumped for Wetherspoons.
Pete B was greeted like a long lost lover by Fanny, as he had offered to provide her with some railway memorabilia - but he still had to pay for his coffee. We took our tea in the shelter of the Pagoda, tastefully walled with mattress springs, before heading back to base, still in bright but dazzling sunshine low in the sky. Pete B and I accompanied each other to Chipstead and the A217 before a final farewell wave.
We had enjoyed a day of sunshine, blue skies and not a drop of rain, sleet or snow all day, though in places there had been ice and slush on the road, the temperature barely rising above zero. For me the distance home to home some 54 miles.
Jeff
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