Ride Report - Sunday 5th March

The weather was dull but the company at Café Barbera was most certainly not - Lilian, Alan, Sabina and Bernard, Simon, Maureen, Ed, Terry, David, Keith, Anne, Graham and Pam all arrived for elevenses with Geoff arriving just in time for the off, having got befuddled on the way. We left Pam, Maureen and Ed in the café for a bit more chit-chat in the warm, while the rest of us, fuelled by individually wrapped coffee beans, headed out towards Effingham via Downside and Bookham Common. 

I had devised a route which was a little longer than the direct one, and with a climb up Critten Lane and over Ranmore Common. Unfortunately the surface at the bottom of Critten Lane included a pot hole which Bernard found and promptly it caused him a puncture - splitting the group further into those who went on and those who very kindly stayed to help. 

St Barnabas' Church on Ranmore Common

The first wave (or more technically the second as Ed and Maureen had ridden straight to lunch from elevenses and arrived first to secure our table at The Running Horse) paused for some photo kerfuffle and then continued swiftly down through Westhumble and along the A24 and into Leatherhead for lunch. 

A carpet of snowdrops beside the Church (credit: Simon)

Alongside the River Mole into Leatherhead 

Keith, Geoff and David went off to do Keith, Geoff and David things, while the rest of us were made most welcome at the historic Running Horse - today sandwiches were not on offer but there was still plenty of choice available. We agreed that afternoon tea would be at Court Farm Cafe in Tolworth since that was more on the way home and less back in Cobham. We left Leatherhead and followed an acceptable level (on the Diane scale of surfaces) of off-road through Epsom Common, Horton County Park, Castle Hill Reserve and along the Bonesgate. We were no longer a democracy with some folks following the route on faith alone, but miraculously seven made it to afternoon tea before the cafe closed at 4pm. 

Being respectful in Horton Country Park 

You can have your photo taken so long as you leave by 4pm 

Thanks to everyone for coming out today, and to Geoff and Simon for back-marking. Diane.