High Elms - Heaverham - Downe
Carshalton War Memorial refurbished
Assembly point Carshalton Ponds,
so it must be Kent.
The ponds were not frozen, so it can’t have been too cold. However, the
cocktail of Kent
and a north-easterly wind chill deterred all but the most determined. Richard
thus had two penitent Canterbury
pilgrims to follow his lead and chastise the flesh.
Within a few hundred yards,
Richard had abandoned the main road and wove an intricate route through parks, cycle
tracks and quiet roads to the sleepy hamlet that is Croydon. We then rejoined
the combustion engine through West Wickham and Jackass Lane to our coffee stop at High
Elms, with Richard reluctantly escorted away from the Golf Club to the Country Park, where Bob awaited us. The pond was
frozen over, but the smiles from staff were warm and welcoming. After a natter
with Bob we set off to embrace some Kentish hillocks and occasional flurries of
snow via Shoreham, Otford and Kemsing to the modest yet impressive 15 century Chequers
Inn at Heaverham.
Outside, the dripping tap was a
three foot icicle; inside were roaring log fires, briefly steamed up spectacles
and a warm welcome. No sooner had we settled than I was approached by an
elderly stranger, asking if I were Graham Hill. It seems he has been in contact
with our Secretary and is keen to join us. However, at present he lacks a
bicycle. He had come from Wandsworth, I am not sure whether by car or train. On
the hour we departed and passed through Otford and Twitton, where Richard
introduced us to a novel route partly along an abandoned road to the top of
Polhill. After Knockholt Pound, our leader found another couple of chevrons to
keep us warm before tea and bread pudding in Downe.
Then it was all downhill, well
nearly, to West Wickham where we said farewell
to our leader and made our way home in fading light, with for me some 60 miles
on the clock and for Paul I would think quite a few more. Our thanks to Richard
for a bracing day on the bike!
Jeff
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