Only Lilian and I met at Banstead, but we were joined at elevenses, at Purley Wetherspoons, by Richard, Keith and Ray Wren. The five of us set off through the quieter backroads of Purley Bury and Riddlesdown, but the North Downs were always looming! There was no postponing the inevitable and Mitchley Hill eventually had to be tackled! After Warlingham Richard decided to turn for home, and at Titsey Hill, Keith, armed with his mountain bike, decided to take the track down to Oxted, while the remaining three of us set off east down the gentler slope towards Westerham, eventually turning back west to head for Limpsfield and Oxted via the Pilgrims Way. We paused for a while to watch paragliders attempting to take off from the hillside in the rather blustery wind.
At lunch at the Oxted Inn we were rejoined by Keith and also by Bob, who had ridden from East Grinstead. Not the fastest lunch service we have ever had, and, choosing to sit outside, we were also plagued by wasps. Apart from that it was fine!
After lunch Lilian and Bob headed for home by train, Oxted station being right next to the pub, leaving Keith, Ray and I to loop back to the A25, Flower Lane and Woldingham School, by way of Barrow Green Road. At Marden Park Keith went his own way home leaving Ray and I to whisk downhill to Purley. I had planned to take the train from there, but Ray persuaded me to continue and we ended up at Squires, Long Ditton.
It was nice to refresh our knowledge of this part of Surrey, and thanks to all for your company.
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