A cloudless day saw a good number of us assemble at the Bourne Valley Garden Centre, including long absent Rachel. A dozen of us set off for Farnborough and two dropped off en route still leaving a good quorum. Our route took us via Foxhills and Gracious Pond to Chobham, which we skirted to be able to sample the delights of Pennypot Ford. Well, I sampled it anyway - it was too deep for the tastes of everyone else! Then it was plain sailing via Bisley Church and Ranges, Gapemouth Road and Deepcut Bridge to The Hatches. From there it was but a short haul to Farnborough although we took the cycle path through Queen Elizabeth Park to enter the town the back way and avoid the rather daunting main roads leading to the centre. The Tilly Shilling wasn't too busy and had a distinctly continental flavour with with the front patio doors all wide open to the terrace. Our traditional large table adorned with a carved map of the British Isles miraculously became free as we arrived! After lunch we took residential back roads to North Camp and Mytchett, then climbed Tunnel Hill. It was here that one of those unavoidable misunderstandings happened! I had paused at the top but some riders, in their enthusiasm, sped past, thinking I was ahead, and overshot the turn for Pirbright, which is, admittedly, completely unsigned and very easy to miss. My core group continued on the planned route through Cemetery Pales, Knaphill and Chobham to Gracious Pond and Holloway Hill. We reached tea at 3.30. Luckily, it was the first day of the season at Great Cockcrow, and tea and cakes were at least as good as last year! For once though it was too hot to linger too long on the terrace watching the comings and goings of the miniature steam trains, and we set off for home at about 4.00 pm. As we left we met Pam, who had been one of the 'breakaway', who told us all was well. My thanks to Graham for back-marking, and to Vic and Pam for other help, but special thanks go to the weather for making it a brilliant day!
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