Sunday 27th November 2011

At the rear of the Bricklayers Arms,some fine specimens soaking up the November sunshine.



The comical signpost in Blackheath village............normally,according to a passing resident,removed for the winter months.

Sunday November 27 2011

Improbable when I awoke, this turned out to be another glorious day of a glorious month - I couldn't go wrong just had to let the colours do the talking. A trio headed south through Ewell and Stamford Green to Leatherhead then turned north-west to Stoke D'Abernon where Bob and Andy were settling in. In ones and twos they came until there we were in double figures; Paul and Colin Q being the last just as we were leaving.

After sliding over the Tilt and past the growing alp of the nascent M25 Service Station we heard but met no dogs on Dirtham Lane. The noticeable wind disappeared as we hit the trees and hills of Surrey. Mike and Paul were waiting at the top of Coombe Bottom, on fixed so unwilling to tackle roughstuff. For a change we went via Albury Heath - no Irvingites (as expected), the  landfill ever taller. Farley Heath where Daniel of Guildford joined us was a final obstacle before lunch at the Bricklayers Arms.

Because it's there, Lordshill Road lead us back across the main road towards Blackheath. In Chilworth a left in front of the  still under wraps Percy Arms then right up past the alpacas (for those who knew where to look!) got us to the top of  misnamed One Tree Hill. Just four galloped to the second Squires of the day in West Horsley. Be warned, roadworks before the Newlands turn-off means for a while you'll be mixing it with  the A25 speedsters! Under 60 miles door to door and home in semi-light.

Andy's Swansong?

Photo from TerryAndy playing chicken with a swan. Who'll quack first?

Sunday 20th November 2011

Basingstoke Canal beyond Woking.



Sandwiches consumed,the group is in a happy mood :-)



"The BEST bacon sandwiches in Surrey" according to a Facebook post................better not tell Jeff ;-)


Thanks to Picasa's tuning & effects because the original suffered a strange green tinge :-(



Some of the artwork at Ockham Bites.I spot a Grey Heron,Mallards,a Moorhen or is it a Coot?
Shelduck,Mute Swan & Great Crested Grebe ..................... oh and a Coca Cola sign.

Sunday, 20 November 2011

By the Way

On Sunday, Andy was our Tracy Emin of the camera. His photographic record will follow. In the meantime, I should perhaps note that something or someone did cause Graham some very considerable distress. We do hope that he is now himself again.

***

Despite Pam assiduously avoiding the black stuff, some agricultural digging was required at lunch to remove the combination of mulch and towpath that created the usual leverless brake inside my mudguard.

Tim's route / Kingston-Staines-Wood St.Village-Ockham

Sunday 20th November 2011

Notcutt's Garden Centre, Staines was our venue for 11s's and eight cyclists left there, only minutes after 11am, for their ride to Wood Street Village for lunch. Don and Alan joined us for part of the route and we left Bob, Dave, Bill and Margaret at the centre to continue chatting!

It had taken me a while to decide on route to lunch but all was well on the day! We started off by going through Laleham and Chertsey. To Ottershaw via the lanes, cycle path along side A320 to 5roads roundabout, and then to Horsell to join the Basingstoke Canal to Hermitage Road/Blackhorse Lane, then more lanes to arrive at The Royal Oak in plenty of time for our 1pm booking! The pub only serves roasts on a Sunday, but by prior arrangement the landlady had prepared a tray of sandwiches for our hungry group! Graham and Jeff incited a lively chat, mostly about the CTC, with Irene, Terry, Tim, Andy, Brian and myself!

Our return journey was not very imaginative....via A3 cycle path! One always has to be aware of the early closures of cafes etc. on a Sunday, especially now the days are so much shorter - hence we took tea at Ockham Bites, a most convenient place from which folks can make their own way home. It was one of those rare occasions when all those at lunch were also there for tea!

My thanks to Irene for offering to be back marker and my thanks to Tim for the route maps.

Pity it was so dull...but we cannot change the weather!!! I had a great day - regardless!

Cheers all Pam :) :)

Sunday 13th November 2011

En route to Addlestone,we call on Ed convalescing after his tumble 2 weeks ago.






A matching toe-clip is currently unavailable.






Ready for the off..............

Sunday, 13 November 2011

Addlestone - Callow Hill - Hersham

Welcome to Nancy
with grateful thanks for rescuing me from the mud!

Sunday 13 November 2011

Having been introduced to new lady Nancy (welcome Nancy, hope you can join us on a regular basis) and sampled Addlestone Tesco's culinary offerings (the coffee was awful) I led westwards through Rowtown and Ottershaw. All was quiet at Fairoaks as we passed before turning north into Old Chertsey Road, then via imaginatively named Accommodation Road (not a b and b or Travelodge in sight) and Kitsmead Lane leading shortly to Virginia Water. Turning right into Gorse Hill Road led to this morning's mildly challenging off-road section, Hollow Lane, after which it was a short stretch of road to lunch at The Rose and Olive Branch, Callow Hill. Here there was a very good choice on the menu and our orders appeared quickly.

After lunch a quick descent of Prune Hill led to Thorpe Lea and soon the cycletrack alongside the A320. A quiet ride through Penton Hook led to the somewhat more challenging Ferry Lane after which we headed for Chertsey Bridge, but turned onto N4 across the Meads. Through Weybridge on quiet sideroads we approached Squires Hersham Garden Centre (via Grotto Road and Burwood Park), where after refreshments we went our separate ways. An amazingly mild November day for cycling, with plenty of autumn colours to be admired.

Good to see photo of Ed, taken this morning, and later to get his text enthusing over JDW lunch.

Terry

Sunday, 6 November 2011

On the way from Woodcote to the DA AGM at Walton on the Hill

Sunday 30th October 2011

Hoping Ed makes a speedy recovery.I'll just mention a few points as raised at the AGM.
1.It looks like the Annual Lunch will be on 5th February 2012 at the usual place (Horton CP GC) but this is not definate and more info will become available in due course.
2.Easter Tour 2012 will be in the Bournemouth area and is likely to be Hotel Collingwood.
Tripadvisor reviewers seem to like their stay with most rating it either excellent or very good,you can see the report here:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186262-d193335-Reviews-Hotel_Collingwood-Bournemouth_Dorset_England
3.One member felt that 11's were becoming 12's with sometimes lengthy periods sipping tea.Whilst I would admit it may be the case occassionally,I don't consider it to impact on the rest of the day's ride.Suffice to say if you are a leader,please consider others and leave refreshment venues promptly,thankyou!
4.There was a request for the annual ride to the seaside to return after a short absence.Destination likely to be Shoreham although Ferring,Climping,Durrington & Worthing have all been achieved in years past.
5.Hilly 50 date is provisionally 10th March 2012.Graham has requested help as attendees continue to rise and previous helpers have moved on (Simon Legg).

See you at the renamed "Ashtead Garden Centre" for a disciplined 11's stop on Sunday.