Hookwood – Staplehurst (not Balcombe)
Dave reflated at the foot of Snower Hill
At the witching hour, six were sunning themselves at Walton
Pond, soon to be joined by Ray, legs sore from his exploits of the previous
day. We welcomed Carsten, photo to follow, on his first adventure with the
Cheam & Morden, and a welcome sunny visit from Angie. Soon it was a swoop
down Pebble Hill to cross the A25 and head for Hookwood via Betchworth. Come
Snower Hill, Dave punctured. We rallied round and then set off again at a
gentle pace. At Norwood Hill, Dave proved that the first puncture was not a
fluke, so we left him with instructions and a smile, to make our way to the
cycle stands of Hookwood Tesco, where two familiar bikes were already docked
Inside were Bob and Andy, soon to be joined by Lilian and
Graham, the latter having quietly slipped across the Caledonian border, to
escape the epidemic of referendum fever. Our elevenses were elongated as the
Half Moon Inn at Balcombe did not want
to feed us until 1.30pm. Also, with Crawley between us, we had to choose a
clock-or-anti- clockwise route and lanes familiar from recently followed rides.
Anti-clockwise won so our route took us at a leisurely pace via Charlwood,
Ifield, Lamb’s Green, Faygate, Colgate, Hammer Ponds and Slaugham up to
Handcross, just a sniff away from our target of Balcombe, with fifteen minutes
in hand. Now fate took a hand. High Beeches Lane presented a ‘Police – Road
Closed’ sign. What the heck, we can usually get through. Not this time. Soon we
faced a blue line that was NOT to be crossed. We understood that a motorcyclist
had been killed and a police investigation was in train. With time running out
we rang the Half Moon Inn to warn of delay and then again to advise of
cancellation – an inn too far, where Bob was stranded, wondering what had
happened to us.
Our improvised alternative was the Jolly Tanners at
Staplefield; best choice of beers for miles around and cyclists welcome. By the
time we had dined the hourglass was empty. Our planned return route was
scrapped, Graham headed for Dorking and the rest set off on a scramble to
Horley, then to find that Reigate GC café was already shuttered. Our ladies
opted for tea at Brockham; the gentlemen for Fanny’s, while I forked off after
Reigate. A day of contrasts and unintended consequences.
‘The best laid schemes o’ mice and men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!’
My apologies for disappointed joys and I hope not too much
grief and pain.
Jeff
