Sunday, 27th July 2014

Newbridge - Smock Alley - Capel

Eight Bikers at Ryka's

Stooks Café at Newbridge Garden Centre

Ryka's bikers' café at the foot of Boxhill was Sunday's novel congregation point. This provided a relaxed downhill for the leader, not quite the last to arrive, closely followed by Neil, sporting a new brilliant orange shirt, with glowing cheeks to match. After allowing a decent five minute margin of error for possible late arrivals, we turned our backs on the temptation of the zigzags and headed  along the cycle path for Punchbowl Lane and a steady southward spin to Newdigate and Rusper, then crossing the rail-tracks at Warnham for Broadbridge Heath and the new bricks and tarmac of Newbridge, absent from older O.S maps. There may be a hint in the name. Newbridge Garden Centre, beside the River Arun, contains an unsuspected pearl, a gastronomic hybrid tea named Stooks. Add it to your tea-stop database; you may cycle far to match it.

A light shower did ruffle our late breakfast but soon passed. Graham arrived for tea but departed with Ed and Terry, while the rest of the group set off via Bashurst Hill and West Chiltington Lane along many a mile of undulating lanes to arrive at the village of W. Chiltington and soon thereafter at the minimalist Smock Alley and the Five Bells. We arrived early; the pub was not busy but the eccentric 'patron' still found serving an almost insuperable challenge. This is the only pub that I know that serves sardine sandwiches, bravo! When Pete (TFB) F was asked which cider he wanted, he asked for the one which came out fastest! Daniel ordered a plowman's, appropriate for Smock Alley, not his usual roast, but could not resist the challenge of a 7% cider, which fortunately did not leave him legless for the return. We dined in tranquility in the secluded garden with no climbing frames or children, though Neil said 'no' to food in anticipation of a 2pm BBQ in Guildford. We hope that he arrived in time for more than a burnt offering.

Church of St Nicholas Itchingfield

Our pretty direct route back was via Coolham, Brook's Green, Barn's Green and  Itchingfield, with no takers to visit the Parish Church of St Nicholas. We then retraced our route from Newbridge through Warnham and up Friday St. to the cake-laden tables of the Church of St John the Baptist at Capel. Who there should we meet but the trio of morning escapees: Ed, Graham and Terry, already rather cake-bound. Soon refuelled and refreshed, with eyes half-closed, we made Godspeed through Newdigate to Dorking, where from the Friends Provident building, each set his own compass bearing for home and hearth. Apart from a few drops of rain in the morning tea, the weather had been warm and clement with roads dry for a pleasant 70+mile  Sunday canter, which I hope the frisky group found as enjoyable as I did.

Jeff