Simon, Andy, Pam, Tony, Terry, Keith, Christina, Geoff G and I met for elevenses at Clandon Park. Sitting out on the patio it felt a bit fresh for the season but it is still a very pleasant location. It was a relatively long ride for most of us to get to Clandon Park but we consoled ourselves with the generously-sized scones and teacakes on offer! Not inexpensive but good value for money!
All of us opted to join the ride to lunch. As we made our way off along the drive imagine our surprise to see Jeff T just arriving! He decided not to join us for the rest of the ride but perhaps we will tempt him on another occasion!
This ride involved our customary annual climb along the flinty track up Merrow Downs. The basic idea here is that people concentrate so much on the rough surface that they don't notice the gradient! Unfortunately, someone took a tumble at low speed but I am happy to report that the only casualty was a a handlebar mirror! Next we took the rollercoaster ride which is Halfpenny Lane in our stride then continued through Chilworth and Wonersh before another traditional annual feature of C & M rides, the footpath alongside Godalming sewage works, negotiable, but highly overgrown this year, fortunately with bracken, not nettles!
Wetherspoons at Godalming was busy but our orders arrived promptly and we were soon on our way back to tea, except for Andy, who took his own, mountainous route home. To lull them into a false sense of security, I spared the group the stiff climb up to Godalming cemetery but then slipped in a ride along the lovely Sandy Lane through Littleton towards Mount Browne, which does end in a short but rather viscious climb, and where picturesque scenery gives way to picturesque language! Then it was through the back-doubles of Guildford to Stoke Park where Garmin routing wanted us to ride through the Japanese garden area, definitely verboten!
There was another slight navigational glitch by the Spectrum Leisure Centre - it was my turn to be mesmerised picking my way along the rather nasty grid paving laid in the grass and I completely missed the turn! Tony soon had us back on the right path and we followed the cycle route, now resurfaced in places witht some very rough gravel, to Clay Lane. Then it was the usual route to Ripley, where some stopped for tea. Christina and Geoff joined me to ride back towards Walton. The remains of the so-called cycle path (in effect, just the very narrow hard shoulder) alongside the A3 towards Wisley Gardens have disappeared but there is now a dedicated lane for all traffic towards Wisley which makes a much pleasanter and safer alternative from Ripley to Wisley until the M25 junction works are complete.
Well ridden everyone and many thanks for your company! Many thanks too to Geoff for back-marking all day.
No comments:
Post a Comment