Sunday 30th August 2015

There were eleven of us at Rusper Golf Club on Sunday morning: Bob, Terry, Angie , Jeff, Neil, Lillian, Janice, Peter, Paul, Ken and me.  When Angie arrived she said she had just passed Janice on a hill approaching Newdigate.  We thought it was surprising for anyone to pass Janice on a hill until Angie explained she was in her car because of a recent back op.

We spent a few minutes choosing the most favourable weather forecast and selected one that didn’t have showers on our route. It was warmer than some of us had planned for so those that could adjusted their clothing for the temperature. Bacon sandwiches were very popular.  Once everyone had eaten nine left Bob and Angie and headed south towards our destination.

At Rusper we turned southwesterly in the direction of Horsham then right on Green Lane to aim for Warnham.  After Warnham we arrived at Broadbridge Heath where Neil suggested a cycle path to avoid the stretch I had planned on the A264.   We rejoined the planned route at Weston’s Hill, turning onto Christ’s Hospital Road before the hill itself.  We skirted Christ’s Hospital heading for Southwater, passed through Southwater and crossed the A24 bridge just before Newfoundout.  From there it was south to Copsale turning towards Maplehurst where we joined the road to take us to the Windmill.

We elected to eat outside with most having sandwiches, Lillian a ploughman’s and Jeff soup.  Jeff’s wasp arrived as we were at the table but this time didn’t invite any friends.   Janice couldn’t face lunch after her bacon sandwich so helped Peter with his chips.  It was a very pleasant pub but we couldn’t find the windmill it was named after.  Apparently it was almost certainly named after Jolesfield Windmill, an eight-sided tarred smock mill that stood in the village until the early 1960s.

The return route was more direct, starting northwards towards Mannings Heath.  I had a slight mishap while waiting after the first T junction.  I unclipped my left foot but the bike decided to lean right.  Luckily Peter had a first aid kit so we were able to patch everything up and continue on our way.  And as Janice pointed out it was lucky it was just me I landed on so didn’t damage my kit.

So we eventually passed through Mannings Heath then right on Hammerpond Road and along Grouse Road.  A couple of turns took us to Colgate where we descended towards Faygate then up to Rusper.  Another historical snippet - the Gates around Crawley, e.g Faygate, Colgate, were usually gates to medieval deer parks that the king had given his nobles permission to keep. Janice, Ken, Peter and Lillian left us on this leg so five of us arrived at Capel for cakes.

I narrowed my choice down to three cakes.  The others went for one or two.  Soon after I left Capel I realised I probably should have eaten less.  For me 75 miles door to door.

The weather stayed dry all day so we must have chosen the right forecast.

Dave S.