Independence Day - 4 July

Beare Green - Warninglid - Capel

The weather was fine, some cloud and a cooling breeze from somewhere in the South for an independent ride to 11's at the Blu-Moon Café, Beare Green. Glimpsed en route two damsels cycling through the woods, too timid to allow me to accompany them, so I went on to warn our leader Ed of their approach. Time for a mug of tea and bacon sandwich (full English stoutly resisted) and some idle chat. We took due note of the polite invocation to users of the WC, before the assembled group split into two, one following Ed to Warninglid, the other accompanying the ladies to I'm not sure where.

Ed set off at a pace and took us through Newdigate, Rusper, Faygate and up Tower Rd. Then undaunted, the whoosh down Grouse Rd to be followed by the heave up Hammerpond Rd, before crossing the B2110 for the final rise along Slaugham Lane to Warnignlid. Here we lunched at the rather pretentious Half Moon Inn, no snacks, the limited menu somewhat overpriced, though the fried fish was greatly in demand. However, the greatest treasure of the pub is a cider-press, used once a year and manned, we were told, by the Bald-Headed Club of Horsham. Some 150 gallons are fomenting now, but not for tasting before October. Our cider expert, Terry, was disappointed.

With Horsham in the way, our return for tea at Capel retraced our outward route. At the church, the two groups became one again, where the flower of Capel womanhood regaled us as always with the tempting richness of their fare. There were even some familiar faces, recognised from the Dieppe Raid. After tea and cake shared in mid-afternoon sunshine, the group remounted to set off home, for some a goodly distance still to ride, for me no more than 60 miles in total.

Our thanks to Ed as always for his good-natured guidance.

Jeff