After the glorious spring sunshine of recent days, today was a misty autumnal spring day; damp and cool with a threat of thundery showers. I had been rather vague about the ride, and I wondered how many would turn out to Addlestone? In the end, nine braved the elements and the unknowns of the ride, and all joined me for the ride, perhaps out of curiosity?
We were hoping to see Vic to celebrate him on his recent birthday, but he didn't join us; perhaps he was still blowing out the candles. Happy birthday, Vic!
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| Model yachts at Goldsworth Park |
It was billed as a ride from Addlestone to Woking - about five miles direct. So it had to be embellished quite a lot. In the morning we noodled around some of my favourite lanes in the Chobham area, graced Gracious Pond Road and minced along Mincing Lane before trying our luck at Pennypot ford (well, for one rider anyway). Then it was off to the Woking area with a visit to Goldsworth park and the pond, a route that Graham had taught me many years ago, followed by a new (to me) route south and a new hill, Beacon Hill, taking us to Hook Heath, Mayford and Smarts Heath.
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| Crossing the Basingstoke canal |
Lunch was at the secret location of Elm Farm, Sutton Green, somewhere I'd never been before, but I discovered that it had been a C&M elevenses venue in the past. Shocking - they had nearly run out of toasties after a busy morning, but I think we all found something good to eat. Niall was also shocked to find that the electric fence protecting the animals was actually switched on.
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| Don't touch! |
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| After lunch |
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| Ruth and Jan at the secret lunch location |
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| Animals |
The way home was more straightforward, trying to dodge the M25 diversion traffic as the M25 was closed. Up to Westfield, around the south of Woking and then across to Pyrford Lock and Muddy Lane, which was blissfully quiet apart from birdsong. Unusually quiet. We were standing right next to the empty M25 bridge. We managed fairly well to avoid the official M25 diversion, but we kept finding extra traffic on unofficial routes, so a bit of ducking and diving got us to Walton with a depleted group of six.
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| Tea stop at Walton |
Many thanks to all for your company today and especially to those who took pictures and to David and Jan for back marking.
Statistics: nine riders, 32 miles from 11s to tea, 1100 feet of climbing, two commons, three heaths, two sewage works, one ford, one miniature railway and seven railway crossings; three stopped for tea
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