An Anniversary Circumnavigation - 9 June

In 1519, Magellan set out on the first circumnavigation of the globe.   Only 500 years later, a brave crew of Cheam and Morden riders set out to mark this occasion by successfully circumnavigating Woking.   Well, that's how it worked out anyway.   We were originally planning an even more ambitious journey to The Sun - the one at Windlesham - but a rather stressed landlady told me that she couldn't accommodate us because she had no staff.

In fact the Cheam and Morden crew were suffering staff shortages too - Pam and Vic were away at a Veteran Cycle Club rally, and Tony was away on holiday.   So the regulars at 11s comprised just Bob, Ed, Graham, Lena. and Ray, along with myself.   Only Ray and Graham were planning to ride, but the day was saved by a group of riders from the Ealing Friday Riders, mostly new to the C&M,  who joined us for the day:   Niall, who has been before, Ruth, Jan, Guy and Roger.

Arthur's Bridge:
Ray, Guy, Graham, Roger, Niall, Ruth and Jan

It was a good day for a sailing voyage: bright and breezy, just like us as we set off via Addlestone and Ottershaw to Stonehill Road, bound towards Chobham.   Tacking south along Philpot Lane brought us to Horsell, where we turned right to cross the Basingstoke Canal at Arthur's Bridge.   Then it was plain sailing down White Rose Lane, across Woking Park and through to The Saddlers' Arms at Send Marsh, where we took on victuals for the return journey, this time with the wind behind us.

Leaving via Pyrford, again we sailed dangerously close to Woking itself, in order to get on to the Basingstoke Canal, which led us to New Haw and then on familiar roads to Addlestone and Chertsey.    We had kept dry up to now but the sky was filling with threatening clouds, and Niall and Guy made a dash for home.  Graham left us around this point too, leaving five who decided that outdoors tea at Shepperton Lock was unwise, so we went to the nearby Nauticalia cafe for tea and cake, just as a long spell of rain started.    It was still raining when we finished, but there were promises of "it's brightening up over there" so we lingered, and indeed it did stop raining for our triumphant journey home after our massive achievement.   Well done all and thank you for your company, especially to Graham who back-marked.

Let's hope The Sun at Windlesham is back to it's normal hospitable self soon.

Incidentally, it took Magellan's crew almost three years to complete the circumnavigation.   Magellan himself died in 1521 in the Phillipines and the journey was completed under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, but only after the two joint captains elected to replace Magellan were captured and murdered.  They set out with five ships and 270 men, and returned with one ship and 19 men, so we should count ourselves lucky.