Change Of 11s June 5 2022

Sunrise Cafe (0830-1430, TW17 8SE, TQ094682) in Upper Halliford. Roughly 1/4 mile N of Squires just beyond the Goat pub/restaurant.

Who knows what other changes the 2022 Jubilee will bring so we'll decide on the day. For me the 2002 Jubilee meant four days of more or less continuous rain in SW Scotland. 2022 must be better.

May 29 2022 - Frensham and Selborne

Surbiton station was busy with bikes heading for central London. In contrast I was "no mates" until Steph arrived for her first C&M ride in three years. At Bentley two became six as Simon was on Platform 2 with Lillian, Ed and Ray unloading in the car park; Ed seemingly unaffected when a bike landed on his head. Woeful navigation added 100 yards on the busy A325 to the short mileage to Alice Holt Visitor Centre/Cafe where amongst a sea of visitors we found Dave who'd cycled from home. 

East through Millbridge and Tilford we meet head-on the London (actually Brooklands!) to Brighton Classics Rally, Rural Life being their 11s stop. Before Rushmoor we turned west to Frensham Little Pond where Dave and Steph forded. Emptier roads now led to the faster flowing Lindford ford which only Dave braved - concrete base, around six inches deep. Beyond Bordon  was a climb past Temple, not particular hard but unexpectedly steepest at top where a portaloo was put to good use. 

In Selborne Dave headed for Alton railway station. In contrast we settled on the Gilbert White cafe. It was quiet until Simon's bottle of beer became a fountain on opening; he was more than happy to accept a two for one offer - the second being almost frothless. The leisurely lunch concluded with cakes for two gourmands and a loose toilet door handle.  

With two cars to rescue we headed back through the village taking quiet roads towards Blackmoor and Binsted. We paused only briefly to admire Oakhanger MOD "Balls", The double climb to Binsted was unwelcome - all seemed lost. But the downhill was fast and furious. And under ten minutes to wait at the station.  

A contribution from Gilbert White aka Ray

   

  

Sunday May 29 2022 Train assisted to/from Bentley

Surrey and Hampshire ride of between 25 and 30 miles; exact route decided on the day. It could include easy(!) offroad sections where alternatives might be fast link roads like the A325, A287 and B3009.

If you intend to ride all/part way to 11s, let me know in advance and I'll stretch 11s to fit.

Since my initial survey a normal train service has resumed hourly  (out: 0830, 0930, 1030, etc) back (14:23, 15:23, 16:23). Fast to/from Woking so

0930   Surbiton Railway Station. Buy a Sunday Out Return to Alton (not Bentley).
           There's no difference in price; Alton has a half-hourly service from 1315.  
1020   Arrive Bentley for offroad through the forest to:
1030   11s Alice Holt Cafe/Visitor Centre.
1330   Lunch  Selborne (hopefully, around 15 miles from 11s)
Back to Bentley with no teastop (but you decide) ,around 10 miles. 

Green route I'll take through forest. Tracks are "family friendly "- firm but stony!
Green cross (just off A325) is start of tar-maced route to visitor centre.

Ride Report - Sunday 22 May 2022

A lovely day saw Bob, Tony, Simon, Diane, Sabrina, Bernard, Graham and I meet at Morrisons, Weybridge for elevenses.   Apart from a slight niggle over the huge difference in cost (but small difference in size) between large and medium coffees, this cafe is definitely the best value for elevenses in the area, and it has straightforward order-and pay-at-the-counter system unlike some local garden centres I could name!

Everyone was keen to get back out into the sunshine and we set off promptly towards Windlesham, where Ray Wren joined us.    Despite a slightly circuitous route to Windlesham we had still arrived there in plenty of time to cover the additional few miles to The Kings Arms at Bagshot.   Simon discovered this pub for us last year and it too serves capacious meals at very reasonable prices with quick, efficient service.

Bernard was all right, really, he was just resting his head!   Suitably refreshed and with plenty of time in hand we headed for tea at Great Cockcrow for the first time this year.   There have been some changes there and the friendly couple who have been serving us teas every summer since time immemorial have now departed.   The cakes aren't quite as good now, but it would still be a good place to stop even without the trains!

Thanks all for your company and thanks to Graham for back-marking all day.

 

Plans for Sunday 22 May 22

Sunday's ride will begin from Morrisons, Weybridge as published.

Lunch can still be at The Claude Duvall, Camberley if wished, but  could be moved to The Sun, Windlesham, or The Kings Head, Bagshot if preferred, enabling tea at Great Cockrow Railway.

Please let me know if you any strong preferences.

Lunch 15th May

                                                      Lunch at Assembly Rooms, Epsom.

May 15 2002

Just four (Anne, Graham, Jennie, Keith ) at Stoke DAbernon and no ride due to conflicting forecasts of rain. For me a return through steady drizzle increasing intensity as I neared home 

Ride Report - Sunday 7 May 2022 (Chobham & Gold Valley Lakes)

 

It can never be a good start to a ride to arrive at your chosen elevenses venue only to find a curt notice stuck on the door informing you it no longer opens on Sundays (this despite your online checks beforehand)!   Never mind, we are resourceful folk at the Cheam & Morden.   The Hangar Cafe, Fairoaks would not have us, so we made alternative arrangements at Basil and Blue, Chobham, instead, and very satisfactory they proved.

After that it was a straightforward and pleasantly shady ride of twelve miles, via Pirbright and Ash to our next culinary nemesis, The Lakehouse Eatery near Aldershot.   It was our first visit here and first impressions were good.   It was a lovely day and The Lakehouse is in a delightful waterside setting.   First impressions are so often wrong however - even though we had reserved a table and it was still early lunchtime we were told before we had had the chance to order that there was an hour's wait for food (by the time we did actually order, this had increased to an 'hour and twenty minutes at least').    Fortunately, these dire predictions proved to be somewhat exaggerated and we had all eaten within an hour.   The chip butty is particularly recommended.

The return leg to Addlestone was a bit longer than the outbound route and there was more of a military theme as we passed through North Camp, Mytchett, and Bisley, still arriving in good time for tea at Addlestone.

Simon, Graham, Ann, Lilian, Diane, Sabina, Bernard, and Dave S joined me for the whole ride, and Bob, Tony, Carolyn and John were just out for elevenses.   Thanks to all for your company and thanks to Graham for diligently back-marking all day.

Plans for Sunday 7 May 2022

As published, Sunday's ride will take us from Fairoaks Airport, Chobham (leaving punctually as close to 11.00 am as possible, please) to Gold Valley Lakes, near Aldershot, and back to Addlestone for tea.   The route https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/102724769 is about 32 miles there and back.