Sunday April 29 2018

I think I'm catching the English disease as this long cold lonely winter reappeared in the form of single digit temperatures, strengthening northerlies and overcast skies. Definitely it was no day for distant Dunsfold. Bob and I arrived at Elm Nursery around ten, Alan, David, Ed, Lilian, Pam, Terry, Tony, Vic followed if but slowly. I'd disinterred my winter gear; others had chosen less wisely and "frozen" featured heavily in conversations.

To avoid embarrassment, I'll gloss over our late departure around 1130. Alan headed home. Guildford was crowded with cars and shoppers but we were soon on the cycle path heading South before turning down traffic-less East Shalford Lane.

Backmarkers had to scurry across the crossing to avoid a close encounter with a speeding eastbound train. Wonersh came next then the Downslink. Fearful of mud we turn right where NCN22 turns left. The A281 features high in my list of least loved roads but being Sunday the constant traffic was devoid of commercial vehicles. One mile ahead starts my favourite set of Surrey lanes (Brookwell Lane, Gate and  Thorncombe Streets, and Snowdenham Lane) - five and half miles and just two vehicles! One was a massive horsebox but luckily(?) Pam chose to puncture minutes before its arrival.

This gave Ed yet other chance to display his powerful thumbs whilst others admired a horse in an nearby field (not a patch on Falkirk's Kelpies). Now heading north the headwind was numbing. A second dose of the Downslink led us to the A281 and a final scamper along the cycle path brought a reunion with Bob in a very crowded Wetherspoons.

There's little reason to describe the seven miles to Pinnocks. On the cobbles Terry's dexterity  with Allen keys cured Pam's sinking seatpost syndrome. Tony claimed the Ripley prime but were we racing?

Once again we tarried long before heading home around 1630; 25 miles from 11s to tea.