April 14th - a gentle meander to Guildford

Tony with his green Ken Ryall

We like spring, but we prefer the warm variety which appeared very briefly in February.   Today was cold and windy, but at least it was dry with some sunshine.  Twelve for elevenses at Walton's Riverhouse Barn.  David Ward sent apologies as 11s was too close to home.

Maureen was heading home from Walton, and Bob made his own way to lunch, so nine set off, or nearly set off, delayed by a sticking derailleur on Tony's rather nice Ken Ryall.  Soon fixed, and we made our way along Walton Lane & up to Weybridge station, with a trip past the sewage works (well, it's becoming traditional isn't it David?) to see Concorde and plenty of gleaming Mercedes cars at Mercedes World.   We turned right at the second smaller Concorde, for a close-up view of the banked Brooklands track, now in rather poor state (the track, not the Concorde).   Unfortunately we came to a locked gate 1/4 mile along the base of the track so we had to retrace our steps.

You want us to ride on this???

After Byfleet we joined one of the Planetary cycle trails in the orbit of Woking - the Venus trail took us along the Wey Navigation before we popped out the other side and cycled around through Pyrford, then back to Old Woking and White Rose Lane before plummeting southwards towards Guildford, detouring along Robin Hood Lane at Sutton Green.  After a short section alongside very busy roads, relaxing for the last mile along the canal into Guildford and its cathedral.   Not the famous one, but the cathedral to beer - Wetherspoons at The Rodboro Buildings.   We arrived around 1.30pm and Bob was on his fourth pint*, wondering where we were.

An hour later, after enjoying excellent service, company, and beer, we re-emerged into the cold with a cunning plan to escape the Guildford one-way system by a devious route and head to Ripley.   Bob and Ed opted for the simpler option of a train home, and Niall left to explore the castle, leaving Ann, Pam,  Robert Tolley, Vic, Tony, Graham, Terry and myself to plot our exit, avoiding the High Street but still encountering a hill at Nightingale Lane before joining the London Road and the A3 cycleway.  Straightforward to Ripley, where we enjoyed tea and cake huddled round the only free table in Pinnocks.   Thank you to Terry for back-marking and to all for your company.

*Not really.  Is it too late to claim April Fool?