Groundhog Day - 11 June

Last year I led a ride from Effingham to Guildford, on a very hot day.   This year's ride came around and lo and behold, another hot day was forecast.   I decided that, in view of the heat, my previous short and shady route could not be bettered, so we did almost exactly the same route again.   Did anyone notice?  They were all too polite to mention it if so.

Phewley Down

Most of us started with outdoors elevenses at Effingham Vineries.  Just before setting off, Terry noticed that his bar bag bracket had cracked on one side, so had to return home in case the whole thing came off.  The rest of us set off up Green Dene.  Once we got to the top, it was all downhill to Guildford, across the parched earth of the North Downs Way to Newlands Corner, and continuing on to Pewley Down.   A brief discussion about semaphore language at the Semaphore Tower before re-entry into Guildford for an early lunch.

Semaphore

Lunch

After a while, Graham joined us, bloodied, after making his own way from Effingham through the jungle which is the A3 cycle path, and also Ray, who had unfortunately missed us by a few minutes at Effingham.   It was still cool enough to sit outdoors at this stage, but on the way home it became stiflingly hot and humid.  David W made his own way home from Guildford.

Our return route was along the Wey navigation, up to check on Jacob's health (he was still well), and then along the Basingstoke canal, all very similar to a year ago, but then!   Graham led us on a detour, new to most of us, under the M25 to avoid Woodham Lane, where we met with the Banksy family just redecorating the underside of the M25 bridge.   At my request, Graham also showed us the route from Crockford Bridge farm/garden centre to Coxes Lock, and we made our wey back along the river to Weybridge.

Coxes Lock

By now the air was thick and sticky with humidity and the scent of hedgerow flowers, and the sky had turned black ahead of us.   Our relaxed riding pace became a little more purposeful for the final few miles towards Walton Riverhouse Barn.   Keith left us to head for home at this point, and the rain came just as we were ordering, first a few spots and then a deluge, to cheers from the people inside the cafe (not us of course: we were hoping that Keith had found shelter).  Ironically, there was a choir performance  happening in the attached theatre:  "Songs for a Summer's Day".  There were some extremely close claps of thunder as we were re-hydrating, and we were forced to wait a bit until the rain had subsided before heading home on wet and steaming roads, with newly-washed bikes.

Thanks to all for your company, especially to David, Tony and Keith for back-marking at various stages, David for the photos, and Graham for the  Frank Patterson drawing below.

Black Bridge on the Wey Navigation,
showing a youthful Graham?