Sunday, 8 March 2015

Hookwood - Markbeech - Fanny's

Seen on a wall in Merstham

Seven gathered in bright sunlight to watch the gulls and ducks on a chilly Walton pond. After a decent wait for late arrivals, the last having a ride of several hundred yards, we set off southwards down a pock-marked Chequers Lane, to savour once again the joy of swooping down a now reopened Pebble Hill. A sprightly jaunt through familiar flatlands took us through Brockham, Leigh, and the slight incline of Norwood Hill to the A217 and the Temple of Tesco at Hookwood. We locked up our bikes under the observant gaze of two jovial Romanians with a blacked out people carrier. Bob and a reincarnated Andy were there to greet us and Ian soon joined us as we broke our fast. Our number then fell by two as Angie left, sharing a wheel with Mike, to tend her garden.

Once out of Horley, our pace quickened with a chuff easterly wind to speed us through the billiard table fields of Smallfield and Newchapel to Lingfield. The angle of inclination then tilted through Dormansland up to the delightful Smithy's Lane. We dallied at Furnace Lake, then continued past the Winged Wheel at Cowden's Fountain Inn and on up the aptly named Blowers Hill, where Cow Lane led us to the Kentish Horse.

 Our reservation was wise, as the pub was soon humming and tables full. Good food and drink before a remount to discover that blue skies had turned to grey. Our tea stop was revised from Godstone Green to Fanny's. Those of little faith were shocked to find that my promise of a long downhill to Edenbridge proved true. Thereafter the ride was flattish via Staffhurst to Tilburstow, where who knows what strange substances impelled a supercharged Andy nearly into orbit. There was a price to pay. A steward's enquiry at the top of Tilburstow revealed no mechanical ill, but the climb into Bletchingley took its toll of Andy's chain, no longer able to take the strain. Paul stopped to give encouragement while the rest rode on for a conference at the top of the hill. Mobile technology failed and the consensus was to carry on, one group via high road, the other via low road, to meet again in Merstham, for a final haul up Markedge Lane to Fanny's. Concern about the light, or lack of it, had reduced our number, but a final luminous four refreshed themselves with tea and cake. Neil weighed in the balance the competing claims of tea and light; tea won. I trust that all made landfall safely and enjoyed a pleasant foray into Kent.

Jeff