Sunday 24 June 2018 - Petts Wood & Cudham

On paper I wouldn’t have expected many to turn out for this ride which was out of our (recent) normal area and also clashed with the Dieppe Raids and an England World Cup match, so I was very pleased to see Ed, Lilian, Keith and Graham at the experimental meeting place.   It was lovely morning which made the ride through Morden, Mitcham Common, Croydon North End, Addiscombe, Shirley, West Wickham and Norman Park a little more palatable.  We had a good elevenses at Petts Wood Wetherspoons and were joined there by Bob and Richard.   All continued to lunch at Cudham, Bob taking his own route.   The rest of us rose and fell (but mainly rose) through some lovely, quiet lanes via St Mary Cray, Chelsfield, Pratts Bottom, Halsted and Knockholt.   There were some steady climbs but there was also plenty of shade.   I was introduced to the Blacksmiths Arms at Cudham several years ago by Andy Coxhill and was impressed then by the efficient service and beautiful gardens.   I am pleased to report there has been no change, but we should probably have devoted more attention to the Little Titch memorabilia in the bar!   After lunch some opted to ride back home but I felt it my duty as leader to show Ed and Lilian the way to Orpington station, a gruelling downhill ride of at least three miles, and to accompany them to Waterloo to ensure their safe passage!  No train problems today!    Many thanks to all for your company and for what I hope was an enjoyable visit to what were old haunts for some of us and new territory for others!

Sunday 24 June 2018

Sunday's ride will be to Petts Wood for elevenses.   The ride from Petts Wood to lunch at Cudham will take us along main quiet lanes and is fairly short, but there is a steady uphill theme!    Lunch will be at the Blacksmith's Arms, a delightful pub with a large garden and menu choices to suit all.   From lunch it is but a short, straight (and almost all downhill) ride of about 4 miles to Orpington station, where, even on a Sunday, there is a very good train service to London Waterloo East (about 20 mins by fast train).  Depending on demand, I will either lead a ride back from lunch via Botley Hill, Warlingham and Purley, or else return by train myself.   Optional meet at Raynes Park Waitrose (Coombe Lane side) leaving 9.00 am sharp.

17 June: The Pilgrims' Way to Guildford

Something a little different this week:  After a long dry spell I planned to ride along the top of the Downs to Guildford.  Off road for about five miles on a decent track that can become slippery and muddy after rain.   At Elevenses with me were Vic.  Ed. David W, Keith, Lilian, Ian Appleton, Steph, Terry, and we were very pleased to be joined by a new cyclist, Yasmin, who had found us on the web.

Despite a few showers before elevenses, everyone was keen to do the ride, so we set off from Effingham, up Green Dene to the summit, and then along the North Downs Way, also the Pilgrim's Way at this point, through woodland to Newlands Corner.  Terry left us at the top of Green Dene as he was leaving for France later that day, and Steph left at Newlands.  Continuing along the track, which is very gently downhill all the way, we reached Pewley Down, stopping for a few minutes to admire the view and inspect the monument recording the gift of Pewley Down to the people of Guildford.

This was partly a time-wasting exercise by me, as with only 10 miles to lunch, we were a little early.   From the wilds of Pewley Down there is a sudden transition into urban Guildford, with a steep hill down to the King's Head, where we enjoyed lunch outdoors, and since we were under an umbrella, we also enjoyed a small shower that passed by.   Just as we were leaving, Ray Wren phoned to say he'd missed us at elevenses, and gone by a rather circuitous route to the top of Green Dene, but was still some way from Guildford, so we agreed to meet him for tea.

After lunch we rode along the Wey for a bit to avoid the centre of Guildford, then headed through Jacob's Well towards Old Woking before turning south again through Pyrford and Wisley to Ockham Bites, where Ray found us just after we arrived.   Thanks all for your company and welcome to Yasmin!   Special thanks to David W for back marking, and also to Mark Gladwyn who showed the Wayfarers the Pilgrims' Way route.

STOLEN WAYFARERS BIKE

Van Nicholas model Yukon frame size 50cm Serial No. S1402134

Stolen on 3rd June between 12.30 and 13.30 in Kingston across the road from TK Max John Lewis side. Police and Bike Register informed.

Please contact Cliff or Maureen if you come across any information regarding this bike.

Sun 17 June - ride to Guildford (off road warning)

Something a bit different this Sunday: we will follow the Pilgrims' Way along the top of the North Downs to Guildford - a route pioneered with the Wayfarers by Mark Gladwyn.     A gentle ascent up Green Dene from Effingham to the top of Combe Lane, and then it's level or gently downhill all the way to Guildford.    It's a lovely ride, and it's nearly all off road.   The surface is generally good but there are tree roots to avoid, and a few big muddy patches which you can generally cycle round.  It's less than ten miles to lunch so we can take it gently and act like pilgrims, if the desire takes us.   After lunch, a bit along the Wey Navigation before we get back on tarmac to head to tea at Ockham Bites.

If there's significant rain before then, we will be taking a different route to avoid the Pilgrims' Way.

PS.  When parking your bike at Effingham Vineries, please could you either park behind the cafe (but not obstructing the access path) or against the fence in the car park.   Now the Vineries have an outdoor seating area, these are the best places to avoid getting in the way.  Thanks.

South Bucks Joint Ride Report.

Sunday 13th May: Joint Ride with South West London CTC. 

This year, it was the turn of our friends at SW London to organize our annual get together and what an excellent event it was.

Tony Hopkins was in charge and he had planned two rides, 20+ and 12 miles in the Cobham/Ripley area of North West Surrey. The rides had attracted a large group of local members, probably 25+ from SWLondon, which stretches from Hillingdon to Croydon, including one lady who had recently moved to Kings Lynn and made the journey back especially to take part.South Bucks mustered about a dozen, of which five came from Chiltern Hills and the others from the Thames Valley group. No doubt, Anona or Robert will report on the outing from the Thames Valley perspective.Us old 'uns from Chiltern Hills, Barry, Brian, David W. Simone and JC had an easycar assist along the M40 and M25 to meet the others for coffee at the giant supermarket in Cobham. With the exception of super-fit Brian (who despite his 75 years has hardly aged since his days at Anfield he was chased round the pitch by the stewards after he crept under the turnstiles into a match without paying), we had opted for the shorterride, joining five SW Londoners.

We were somewhat delayed by David, who had snaffled an abandoned bike in the car park, but eventually we set off on a bridleway over the flood plain of the river Mole to Downside, then to Effingham and the Horsleys before turning north west to Ripley, where Tony had hired the Village Hall for lunch. The catering was superb and a collection was made for the Air Ambulance, which raised over £64.

Replete, the whole group set off to return to Cobham, passing the famous “Anchor Inn” on Ripley High Street, scene of some historic rides in the early days of cycling,when young bucks would ride out from London on the High Ordinaries, and then in Ockham, the infamous “Hautboy Hotel” which made the news in 1898 when it refused admission to the coffee room of a lady cyclist wearing “rational attire”. This was challenged by the Cyclists’ Touring Club who challenged the hotel proprietor’s right to refuse admission to part of a licensed establishment. Of less interest perhaps, we also rode by the abode of the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, before reaching Pains Hill Country Park for tea.This was a really enjoyable day out and many thanks are due to our friends at South West London CTC.

Sunday 10th June

Four people at Walliswood

Four horses at Capel

Terry

Don Clarke - funeral details

Pam has forwarded these details:

The funeral will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday 27th June at the Woking Crematorium, Hermitage Rd, Woking GU21 8TJ.

This will be followed by a wake at The Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking GU21 4XB.

Lena Clarke has requested that we indicate how many cyclists she should expect so please let me know as soon as possible, by email (timcourt50@gmail.com), if you intend to come.

Thank you

Tim

Sunday 10th June

After leaving Lilian, Maureen (sorry to hear about bike theft), Ed, Bob and Alan to 'do their own thing' I led Rachel, Graham, Simon and Ian southwards from Pinnocks. The effort required to ascend Staple Lane was worth it for the view. Quickly descending and crossing the A25 we were in Shere, then after  another couple of climbs and a descent we were in Ewhurst from where it was flattish to lunch at The Scarlett Arms, Walliswood. My original plan was to visit The Punchbowl,Okewood Hill but they only reopened a few days ago and don't expect service to be back to normal until July 1st.

After a pleasant, leisurely lunch we set off, via Standon Lane and Mole Street to Ockley for Brockham teencakes. However on approaching Capel a 'Teas at the church' sign was noticed so minds were quickly changed and we stopped there instead. Somehow various people managed to consume multiple portions of cake but  they did have further to go home than me. After another leisurely break we set off for Dorking keeping off the main roads and gradually peeled off for our various routes home.

Thanks all for company on a good day for cycling.

Terry

LONGACRES G.C. Shepperton - NEW LEATHERN BOTTLE, Jealotts Hill - EGHAM

3RD JUNE 2018

A beautiful morning and I, like Bob,  was at elevenses before the G.C. opened.   We were joined by Alan and Graham, Bill, Tony, Terry, Ed, Maureen, Christina...then Ian who arrived just as we were leaving!  Bob, Bill, Alan and Maureen went their own way, whilst the rest of us cycled off for lunch at Jealotts Hill.
To get to Warfield (Jealotts Hill) I went via Chertsey Bridge, Chertsey, Thorpe Green, Prune Hill and Englefield Green into Windsor Park at Bishopsgate; past the Village shop, leaving at Forest Gate.
Then the Peanut roundabout, down to Drift Road.  By now we were on a familiar route for our regular C+M'ers!   Into Winkfield Road, Bishops Lane, Wellers Lane to Jealotts Hill.    I had phoned the pub on Friday but as the weather forecast was so good, I said it was more a courtesy call and not to reserve any seats for us as we would no doubt be outside.  To our surprise we had a table reserved for us in the garden, under cover.  The pub was very busy and we were told a 30 minute wait for our food....OK...but it was 1 hour 30 minutes before the last meal arrived!   We got to the pub at 1.30, a little later than expected as there was a puncture at Thorpe, making it 3.30 when we left!

Our return was via Ascot race course, again, over familiar ground.   Back into Windsor Park via Watersplash Lane and this time we took the route past the Long Walk.  We did see a notice to say the Deer gate was not working but...as cyclist do...we carried on.  Well.......the gate was not working but luckily we were able to get our bikes through the pedestrian gate - even Ian's electric bike!
By now the time was pushing on and we realised that we would miss all the tea stops.  Graham and Christina had already said they would not be stopping so whilst  waiting to get together out side the park, I suggested they continued.....then on my way down Tite Hill I thought - oh well - I'll put the kettle on at my house.  Once there, Ed went across and bought buns whilst I made the tea.   So, it wasn't so bad but it did mean others had a late ride home and for me - my mileage was well reduced by early end to ride.
Thanks all for your company, for the chats, the buns, the photo - and I trust you all got home before dark!!
Cheers Pam :) :)