Sunday 18th November 2012

I would stick up for Kent in any conversation about the most attractive areas to ride a bike locally.
Today of all days with the low sun creating beautiful light and quite delightful lanes predictably some going up but with the wonderful freewheel down........it's a joy to be on a bike.

The 9.15am start on paper became the 9.17am start in reality as we rode sun in our eyes toward the tower blocks of Croydon then
Shirley,West Wickham and the silence of Jackass Lane,Keston.........just a few birds twittering.
High Elms Visitor Centre was busy and Bob had secured a table where all 11 of us could sit around.

After 40 mins or so,most were keen to get going so we climbed up to Downe where the natural choice of road was a 1 in 4 ascent to Cudham.
A late change of route took us to Knockholt via Shelleys Lane and the descent of the North Downs at Sundridge Hill.
Then it was easy peasy along the Pilgrims Way to lunch at Westerham.
Jeff,Geoff and Daniel headed for the "General Wolfe" whilst Graham,Ed,Paul Steff and myself found some empty seats adjacent to Winston Churchill's statue.

Later we spent some time helping Steff and her wind up cycle lights............a purchase from the normally excellent Lidl but she may of dropped a clanger with these.
After the drag of Westerham Hill it was downhill all the way to the Dene cafe at Knights Garden Centre,Woldingham.

If you're puzzled why I took a picture of a pot of tea..............


So there we were Daniel and myself......he'd polished off his Orange cake (did order Carrot but the Secretary failed to spot the difference and scoffed it before he could switch)...........I said "teas taking along time".
Off to see the waitress........"Excuse me but we haven't had our teas yet.............erm any sign of them?"
To which she replied "sure..........they were all put on the other table".
"ohhhhh ok thanks"
Erm............hang on but there's nothing left.

The nameless had drunk the pots for two dry.

"Ooops said the waitress...........we'll make some more"

To whom it may concern............if a pot of tea contains two teabags it normally is for two people ;-)


Thanks to the riders who joined me today on the less popular jaunt eastwards.