Bad weather albeit of a warmer, calmer and drier variety has followed me South from Raasay. There were just three (Steph and John) to witness a dull start and by Epsom we'd stopped twice to improve our weatherproofing. A steady drizzle set in as we splashed our way to Oxshoot, Stoke D'Abernon and Ockham and past the Prison being overtaken (as is usual these days) by other cyclists relishing(?) the conditions. I'd forgotten just how steeply the A25 climbs to Newlands Corner where Jeff and Andy were seated.
Around noon Jeff stuck to the road whilst Andy and I slipped and slid along the NDW to greet the Chilworth Manor alpacas. We regrouped at the level crossing; (eventually) Jeff being confused by two Chilworth level crossings! Wonersh and Bramley led to the Munstead climb without traffic thanks to a "gas board" hole. The tardy restart meant the lunchstop was well out of reach so we sampled firstly Milford's Secretts Farmshop (cakes only) before settling into Secretts Garden Centre.
Tea was now but 3 miles away so a loop was needed to preserve respectability. Thus we rode near Elstead, Hurtmore and down Farncombe Hill to the Boat Centre which regular teapot refills kept us chattering for over an hour. After that it was each man for himself - the near deserted Guildford High Street summed the day up well. 72 miles door to door.
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