Along The Wey

An unhealthy six took the train to Guildford 'Spoons where Dave was waiting. Plan A would have taken us along the Wey to the Cranleigh Line / Wey South Path / Downslink but was scuppered by a towpath closed near Guildford and a fallen tree. So Plan B took us up and over the A3100 to Peasmarsh.

 After a quick halt to admire the aforementioned fallen tree we joined the Downslink. Bramley and Wonersh station saw us heading to Thorncombe Street and beyond passing now three horse sculptures. After the A281 briefly came Run Common Road where the boring badgers and great crested newts are gone. We now sought out the Farley road so as to enter Shamley Green from the northeast. Dave departed on a mercy mission to water his potatoes  (or similar). After only 12 miles lunch was early with the already arrived Terry tucking in outside the Red Lion.

At Norley Common Pam and Terry were dispatched along the main road whilst I led the remnants on a pointless straight up (to Blackheath) and straight down (to Wonersh). Shalford was bypassed using the level crossing. In Guildford I offered to shepherd the diminished flock along the A3 path to Ripley and Pinnocks for tea. With several newbies in tow it was time to introduce them to Muddy Lane where the signpost was nowhere to been seen - do I have the only photographic evidence that it existed?  Three became one at Lower Marsh Lane and 10 minutes later I was home. Almost 50 miles door to door.

Restoring WhatsApp on a tablet(!) seems to have fixed my Windows 10 PC problem!!

 

28/08/22 Train Assist Change of 11s

 I'll be travelling on the 27th and 29th so

next Sunday's 11s will be The Rodboro Buildings (aka Wetherspoons) Guildford.  Shamley Green is the intended target for lunch; under 30 miles returning through Guildford (where I'll likely catch the train).

Ride Report - Sunday 21 August 2022

You have to try new things occasionally and Heather Farm Cafe, Horsell seemed a like bet to fill the gap in our elevenses programme left by the closure of the Fairoaks Airport cafe on Sundays.   Some of our members have previously visited Heather Farm and impressions were good, so Bob, Christina, Pam, Tony, Graham and I optimistically met for elevenses in this new setting.    If you don't like dogs you certainly wouldn't like it there, but that aside, some of our food orders never arrived.   In fairness, the management did make generous recompense, but it was a disappointing experience!

From Heather Farm all of us except Bob continued to lunch.    Initially we headed off-road for Youngstroat Lane, eventually re-emerging onto tarmac at Fairoaks.   We continued through Chobham to West End where we went off-road again on Priest Lane, and, new for us, across MOD ranges at Greyspot Hill towards Lightwater.  En route the high fences, generous razor wire and warning signs made us feel more than welcome!   Lightwater to Bagshot involved interminable pedestrian crossings to circumnavigate the M3 roundabout - when we next come this way I already have plans to sidestep this horrible junction by a route over High Curley and through Lightwater Country Park.

The Kings Head at Bagshot has previously proved to be a good choice for lunch and did not disappoint today.   The morning had been cool and cloudy but by now we were able to sit in pleasant sunshine in the pub garden.   From Bagshot it was a standard route back to Lyne from where we went our separate ways.

Thanks to all for your company and for putting up without complaint with my 'experimental' routes!

14 August - Six Go To Callow Hill

Chaos at Shepperton.   The power had just failed and the baristas were thrown into confusion.   Baristing simply wasn't possible.  Customers didn't know what to do either - how on earth were they going to spend their morning?    Luckily C&M regulars knew what to do.  Cold drinks were still available (for a limited time), and David and myself kindly helped out with their Tiffin, which was at risk of melting in the ongoing heatwave.

Eight of us were at Nauticalia for not-coffee and not-airconditioning, but luckily chatting was still just as successful as ever, so we had an enjoyable stop.   In view of the heat, the ride was short and seeking shade, which partly worked.  Bob and Ray went home after elevenses, and Pam, Tony, Diane, David, Graham and myself set off along the Thames all the way from Chertsey Bridge to Staines.   Then up Tite Hill, as it's cooler at higher altitude.  A bit around Windsor Great Park before popping out near the traffic lights at the top of Callow Hill; a short ride to the Rose and Olive Branch.

After a good lunch under the trees, David abandoned us for his allotment, and it was downhill all the way to tea, apart from the uphill bits, which were accepted mostly in good humour by the group.   An inventive choice for tea - Shepperton - but the lock rather than Nauticalia: where the fridge was working and well stocked with ice creams, so we happily sat and watched the world go by for quite a while before departing home.  Thanks all for your company and foolhardiness for daring to come out on such a hot day.

Blooming Tony!

Sunday 14 Aug - change of lunch destination

Our lunch destination on Sunday will now be the Rose and Olive Branch, Virginia Water, which gives us a shorter and shady ride, with an option of a detour into Windsor Great Park for those who would like to do that.

Elevenses is still at Shepperton, Nauticalia, as published.   I hope you can join us.

Ride Report - Sunday 7 August (Horton Park and Putney)

 

Quite a few Sunday regulars weren't available today (surely there can be no connection with the challenging ride the week before), but we still mustered a respectable seven riders (Bob, Ed, Simon, Graham, Steve D and I) for elevenses.

Over-familiarity with The Sportsman at Mogador and the related golf club track decided us on a complete change of direction for lunch and we duly set off for Putney!   Bob left us at elevenses and Ed joined us for the first part of the ride only.   Graham kindly piloted us on short detour to admire Pete Mitchell's memorial seat, then we took a slightly circuitous route via Barrow Hill, Green Lane, and Cannon Hill Common towards Wimbledon Common.

The common was busy, dusty and sandy but there was some welcome shade and it made a nice change for a Cheam and Morden ride!     We the drifted down a maze of back streets eventually emerging in Putney High Street right near our destination, The Rocket.

The Rocket wasn't too busy and we were lucky to find a a shaded table with a cooling breeze.   It was difficult to drag ourselves away but from lunch Simon and Graham led a slightly longer route home via the Thames while I took a direct route across Richmond Park on a humanitarian mission to save my tomatoes!   

Many thanks to all for your company!