All was going well until the Thursday before the ride. I had a nice off-road route planned (I thought) across Walton Heath and then out to Reigate Hill and beyond. Then, only by the merest fluke I happened to hear that the Women's Open Golf Championships were taking place nearby and it gradually dawned on me that this might affect my plans. I checked and it did - all local bridleways were closed for the event! It was back to the drawing board, or, more accurately, sketching pad, because only the vaguest replacement route resulted!
Anyway, Sunday dawned rather uncertainly with troubled skies, a stiff headwind, and heavy showers about into the bargain. There were brighter interludes, fortunately, and Diane, Andy, Dave F, Keith and I all duly turned up at Walton Village Cafe (the C & M's first visit there, I think) ready for the ride to lunch, while Carolyn and Maureen gamely battled up the hills to join us for elevenses only. We were also very pleased to see Jeff T make a very welcome return to a C & M elevenses, but no battling up hills was needed in his case as he conveniently lives nearby!
Come eleven o'clock and the brave (or foolhardy) five of us set off on what turned out to be one of the C & M's occasional (fortunately!) and unintentional 'off-road discovery days'! We rode the delightful, quiet lanes of Mugswell and Chipstead then made as if towards Reigate Hill roundabout, but cunningly veered off down Crossways Lane, a farm road which gradually deteriorates into a narrow and precipitous, stony track, at least for a bit, before burrowing under the M25.
It was a bit of a gamble since it transpired only two of us had ever tried this route before, and neither recently, but luckily got away with no casualties! We then found ourselves opposite one of the entrances to the Royal Alexander and Albert School, and to continue through the grounds seemed a no-brainer. Dave F expressed an interest in exploring the fabled track across an amazing and unexpected landscape towards Gatton Park Road, and this proved to be an excellent choice and a first for all of us except Keith.
After all the excitement it was then an uneventful sort of ride through the back-streets of Reigate to Reigate Heath and Leigh, our lunch stop. The Plough proved to be excellent as ever, with very friendly service, a great choice of food, even on a Sunday, and a lovely garden.
The sky looked a bit threatening at times but we dodged any rain and it was sunny and warm for our ride back to Brockham (where we too early for tea) and Leatherhead.
It proved to be quite an interesting ride and one worth repeating, or even expanding on in the future, but probably not after wet weather! Many thanks to all for your company and for your route suggestions and advice.
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