Sunday, 9 May

Runnymede - Hurst - Savill Garden

 

The New Walton Bridge nearing completion

After lunch

 10 set off from Magna Carta tea rooms for lunch at “The Green Man” Hurst Wokingham, then tea at Savill Gardens via Windsor Park, Maidens Green, Moss End, Shurlock Row to Hurst, returning via Beenham Heath, Drift Road to Windsor Park, quite cold and breezy but dry. Many Thanks to everyone.

Irene

Sunday 2nd June 2013

Welcome back John!

Terry........this is asking for an explanation?

Before they were asked to move...............;-)

Tea,cakes & jazz in the sunshine!

Sunday, 2 June

Shere - Cranleigh - Brockham

Our leader today - the perfect gentleman , Terry

                                                                               

                                                                                  Enjoying Tea and Cake at Brockham

Sunday 2 June

Having had to cancel my last two leads due to weather, I was pleased to wake to a cloudless sky (it didn't stay like that for long, but at least it didn't RAIN).

11s was at the refurbished, re-managed, re-named Dabbling Duck at Shere, nice but unsurprisingly pricey.

We headed south, shortly turning right to Little London and Brook. By now we had noticed several competition cyclists, fortunately heading in the opposite direction. From Farley Green we passed Farley Heath to Shamley Green where Hullbrook Lane led to a short stretch of N22 before joining the Downs Link. This was quite popular with walkers and cyclists, but well worth using for the peace and quiet and absence of road vehicles. We occasionally noticed stretches of the Wey and Arun Canal - sadly not in a usable state. Leaving the Link on the outskirts of Cranleigh we headed for The Little Park Hatch, via The Common, Horseshoe Lane (past the manicured lawns of Cranleigh School - not a dandelion in sight), Amlets Lane and Barhatch Road.

Nice lunches were quickly served after which we continued east to turn right into Gadbridge Lane to Ewhurst Green. After Plough Lane we rejoined the B2127 (don't use Lower Breache Road - it has a terrible surface) then followed the 'usual route' to Newdigate. A variation from 'normal' - in Newdigate we turned right, shortly left into Church Lane then New Barn Lane leading to Parkgate and tea and cakes at Brockham. The church hall is currently being extended so teas are served in a marquee - they taste just as good. After tea we went our separate ways, having enjoyed a fine day out on quiet roads through green countryside (something in favour of RAIN ?).

Good to see John Gould out enjoying a day off from chemotherapy.

Terry    

Cheam & Morden A (alternative) Ride 26/5/2013

Living in West London does mean that some C&M rides are way to far just to get to 11's and then lunch even further South. As this weeks ride was one such ride I opted for an excursion along with Pam and Terry on a route reccy ride. I met Pam at Chertsey Meades and then onto Guilford to meet Terry for 11's at Weatherspoons.

We left 11's and meandered our way (with a few detours) to Witley and lunch at the White Hart where we dined in the garden in splendid sunshine, it was hard to leave and get back on the bikes but we did.

More meandering on a very circular route and we reached Farncoombe boat house for afternoon tea and cake by the water, again in glorious sunshine. It was idyllic and I half expected to see Mr Toad, Ratey and Mole join us for tea.

Back to realisation and time for the cycle home. Terry left us for Dorking just before Guildford and Pam and I parted company at Chertsey. Although an unofficial C&M ride it was a lovely day's cycling. I am glad I missed the long C&M ride for the shorter version, I managed just over 90 miles door to door.

Tea at Farncoombe Boathouse

Sunday, 19 May

 Copthorne - Ovingdean - First Capital Connect (for some)

Pics courtesy of Janice and Jeff

Here is a link to Janice's sat-nav stats for the ride:

 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/318691139#.UaMBgZc1sIQ.email 

Jeff

Sunday 26th May 2013

A day of ups and downs...........and in more ways than one.
A beautiful morning,just a slight northerly breeze but with sunny skies.
A little after 8am seven of us made good progress to arrive at Haskins,Copthorne at 9.35am to find Jeff sunbathing.
It is with regret that I hadn't considered the timings and our likely arrival before the place had even opened.
I understand that seven members were essentially mislead and met at a later time but missed the ride because of this..........sorry.

With a tailwind,our first stop was a new cafe in Lindfield at around 11am.I say cafe but in this locality it means tearooms and with bone china & a pricey menu list.
Back on the B road which we've followed south from Copthorne.
Up and over Ditchling Beacon........phew.A slight detour to join the B2123 to Rottingdean.
We were soon riding along the undercliff cyclepath to a busy cafe at Ovingdean arriving 1pm.
With my pre-prepared sandwiches still in my fridge.....doh! it was a round of tuna on brown for me (£3).
Paul & Ken Day had to leave us but we continued to relax until 2.10pm.

For some,the two substantial climbs away from Brighton to rejoin the Ditchling road were completely energy sapping so by the time we arrived at Lindfield thoughts were turning to rest,eating,drinking and alternatives as it was 4.30pm by now.

At this point the two fittest riders (Janice and Keith) bid farewell to continue the ride whilst Jeff,Helene and myself focused on the rather attractive train assisted prospect from Haywards Heath.
Ed had already been attracted to Brighton Station earlier.

It was decided early on the cheapest ticket would be a groupsave (pay for two,three can travel for the same price) £25.50 single to Epsom.
Confusion ensued at the ticket office at where we had to change (engineering works on the West Croydon line meant travelling to either East Croydon and changing to a train to Balham or staying on the train (forbidden - ticket says not via Clapham Junc) to Clapham.
We joined a First Capital train.
In a while,it dawned on me that conditions of the groupsave ticket is that all MUST travel together for the whole duration of the journey (to Epsom).
But Jeff was leaving the train at East Croydon................surely he's gonna get a penalty fine???

At the announcement "We are approaching London Bridge,please make sure you take all your belongings" Helene and myself looked at each other................LONDON BRIDGE?????

How did we end up here...........awww gawd................now what?

The clue was First Capital............they don't stop at Clapham.But it didn't dawn on either of us until it was too late.

We decided to take a train to Waterloo East to join the Waterloo-Epsom mainline.
Aware that we were travelling on an invalid ticket as Jeff had left us,we were cautious at the ticket barrier in Waterloo (the guy did walk off with my ticket to ask his senior to "check").
"I don't have a problem mate.............but you may get stopped on the train and subject to a penalty fine".

Phew!

Home at 19.45 exhausted,relieved and with serious concerns about forthcoming long rides..........................7am start anyone?

"Fika" in Lindfield

Spot Ed anyone?

Sunday, 19 May

Old Windsor - Littlewick Green - Great Cockrow

Leader Dave

Kingston Bridge was the magnet that attracted a lucky thirteen for Dave’s jaunt into Bucks. The jabbering forecasters lied and the rain stayed away. Within minutes of our start, we were halted in our tracks by a duck, unconcernedly escorting her brood of ducklings across Hampton Court Road into Bushy Park. Our first planned stop was to admire and test the palatial ‘conveniences’ undreamt of by Henry VIII. Unburdened, we then sped off via Laleham and Staines for an unhurried refreshment stop at the Windsor Farm Shop. Then it was Windsor, Boveney, Bray and Datchet to skirt South of Maidenhead to our lunchtime target of Littlewick Green.

At the end of the line

Great Cockrow

At our chosen pub, the Cricketers, we were promptly subjected to some Aussie style sledging by an anxious landlady, who feared that our bikes would brutally bruise the petals of her mini-barrelled rhododendrons. Male backup soon appeared, though bikes remained chained in situ and petals blessedly unbruised. John Beer arrived for a lunch time reunion with Carolyn. Food and drink seemed to satisfy all who partook. On remounting we were soon crossing open fields on tranquil Bottle Lane, to which by unlikely coincidence Tony had introduced the Wayfarers the previous Wednesday, in the opposite direction on the way to Hurley. Then it was White Waltham to Ascot to our terminus with tea and cake at Great Cockrow miniature railway near Chertsey. Here we absorbed the last few rays of sunshine, before plotting our own ways home. Many thanks to Dave for leading a most enjoyable ride. Distance run for me was 78 miles.

Jeff

Sunday, 12 May

West Clandon – Godalming – Effingham 

 

What better place to be at 9.15am on a bright Sunday morning in early May than sitting on a bench outside Wetherspoons in Leatherhead, anticipating a cycle ride into the unknown?  So also believed a quintet of cyclists (Janice, Lilian, Dave S, Ray and Vic), ready for whatever the leader might throw at them. While Jeff favoured the diretissima approach, Janice preferred a maximum mileage to elevenses. Ever attentive to a lady’s expectations, Jeff therefore improvised a loopy route via Ray’s home at Fetcham, Effingham Junction, Ockham and E. Clandon, before a stretch of our beloved A246 to the GC at W. Clandon.

Dave W and Don were already half way through their breakfast, before we were joined by the ever- ebullient Pam and the  ever-reliable Terry. Jake and her KPRC clubmates put in an appearance, before disappearing to continue their exertions.

The more leisurely C&M contingent twiddled off (sadly abandoned by Ray), for the climb to Newlands Corner. Here, the group were thunderstruck when the leader swerved off the tarmac through the car park and on to the rocky, muddy, root-infested Drove ‘Road’, the only way to reach Guildford Lane. Somehow we lost Dave and Vic. Dave was waiting for us as we emerged from the woods. A pretty downhill took us along Halfpenny Lane to Blacksmith Lane, where somehow we met Vic cycling towards us. He can explain how far better than I can.  A stretch of A248 took us to Christmas Hill, where Janice’s rapacious hunger for miles incited a longer loop than planned to Bramley.

Crossing the Horsham Road we glided blissfully (well, Vic and I did) along Snowdenham  Lane and Thorncombe St., before we branched off west up Allden’s Hill, to pause near the top to enjoy the glorious views of so far unravaged Surrey countryside. Rough and ready Heath Lane took us past Lutyens Land, before a descent to the more functional shape of the Wetherspoons known as Jack Phillips, for lunch at Godalming.

Out return was a familiar and humdrum route via the A3100, Meadrow, haunted by CTC ghosts of Cotterell House, to the cobblestones of Guildford High Street and the A245, for a relaxing tea-time at the vineries in Effingham, whence I made an early departure. The weather smiled on us and I hope that one and all got home before the rain and enjoyed a pleasant ride.

Jeff

Capel Sunday Teas 2013

For those with a sweet tooth, the ladies of Capel will be tempting the dissolute to destruction with their irresistible display of cakes for every taste, on the dates set out in their programme for 2013. You can print off the programme from Google Drive should you wish. Fortunately I am impervious to such temptation.

Jeff

Ancient and Modern

The Old and the New

Just for Andy. Pity the old connectors don't fit presta valves.

Sunday 5th May 2013

It's been a while but today I was in good spirits for a jaunt down to the Sussex borders.
It was a delight to pick up a new member Lilian (far right in pic) in Leatherhead but I was soon "£$%^&*()! due to a puncture just after Givons Grove.
So we were the late arrivals at Rusper Golf Club........aww gawd we were here last week!!!....................yep I didn't realise (doh).
Just a tad warm in the greenhouse that's their conservatory so I was keen to get going to lunch.
The route to Maplehurst is a real pleasure,particulary the St Leonards Forest  and the lanes to the west of Lower Beeding.
A real hamlet with a crossroads where we find the White Horse.
All dined alfresco with the food arriving briskly.
The brief sunny intervals allowed my head to turn a reddish colour ............nice........ouch!
I took a decision (with all in agreement) to take the bridleway in Nuthurst that goes uphill to Sedgewick Park.
The recent "resurfacing" meant the majority rode this handy short cut to avoid Copsale.
On the outskirts of Horsham,another puncture for me so Jeff took the helm whilst I struggled to inflate the borrowed tube...........thanks Ed.
A resident noticed me and produced a Park Tools track pump no less :-).......but I was about to make things worse.I was clueless to know how the valve connector should be when it's in a "locked" position.
In the process I managed to wreck Ed's tube so I was forced to mend the previous puncture.
But with nearly 90 psi in the mended rear tyre I flew along to join the others at Capel.
A piece of the lemon drizzle in the system and we went our mostly separate ways.

Sunday, 28 April

 Rusper - Barns Green - Dorking

Welcome to Dave Stott

Congregation outside the Church of St Nicholas

Dribs and drabs arrived at a sunny but still chilly Rusper Golf Club, to form two foursomes with one reserve, Mike Morley, who stayed for the tea and company before taking his leave. We welcomed a newcomer, Dave Stott, who had found his way by car. Two TFBs, Pete and Simon, arrived in a lather, having already taken part in a local sportive, before swinging off for Rusper. Forewarned of the indisposition of our planned leader, Ed nobly put his experience at our service and offered to lead us to Barns Green.

His route was well chosen to avoid Horsham and was mostly on pleasant lanes, guiding us to lunch at the Queen’s Head. The service, food and drink were good, with a table to ourselves. On leaving we made a small diversion to Itchingfield to visit the 12^th century church of St Nicholas. Spiritually refreshed we then returned via The Haven and Rudgwick to Newdigate. At this point Dave returned to collect his car at Rudgwick, the TFBs set off for Box Hill and the rest headed for Dorking. Despite a tempting offer of tea at the Parkgate Tea Room, Ed opted for the Leisure Centre. I can recommend the Go Pro recovery drink, not available in most tea shops.

Then it was home for Terry and a sprightly canter along the cycle path to Leatherhead, with the parting of the ways at Ashtead. Many thanks to Ed for an effortlessly improvised and excellent springtime ride.

Jeff

Sunday teas on the greens

This year, Brockham church will be providing teas on the green every Sunday from May 5 to October 6 and also Bank Holiday Mondays.

North Holmwood church will be providing teas on the green starting on Sunday 23 June - no further details available.

Terry

Sunday, 21 April

Walton on the Hill

Tanhurst Farm - Staplefield - Parkway Tea-Rooms

Having recently been left standing on the start line, Janice was most concerned at 8.55am to find herself alone with the ducks at Walton on the Hill. Mike M appeared to reassure and the punctilious leader arrived as the gong was striking nine. Helene completed the quartet.

At Tanhouse Farm - pic courtesy of Ray

Tanhouse Farm

We set off at 9.15 for Tanhurst Farm, a novel venue for mid-morning tea and somewhat closer than usual. However, the straight line between two points was bent to create a sinuosity or two via Brockham, Roothill and Gadbrook, before heading south through Parkgate and Newdigate for an early arrival at Tanhurst Farm, where Bob awaited us, with some KPRC also in attendance. With time to relax, we sunned ourselves and stretched our legs as our number swelled to double figures. Three planned an early return, to leave an eager eightsome to set off for Staplefield.

The unwonted sunshine may have gone to the leader’s head, as he pressed on at an exuberant pace. Sunstroke is no excuse and he offers his remorse. Rusper and Faygate flew past, though the climb to Colgate was rather more sedate. Paul led the charge along Grouse Road to Hammer Pond, where granny gears asserted dominance. Then it was an undulating spin across the A23 to Slaugham and our destination Staplefield. With lunch in sight, the leader nearly caused disaster at the cricket green by overshooting a left turn and braking so hard that Janice was nearly forced to convert two solos into a bicycle made for two, her lightning reactions and squeal of horror just saving the day. Jeff really should know better.

At The Jolly Tanners, Staplefield

Lunch was at the Jolly Tanners, the lunchtime tavern adopted by Terry’s hostel group the previous Wednesday. This is an independent pub with good food and a very fine array of ales. The landlord recommended the porter, a good choice, though I am not so sure about the 4.9% abv, which did have a delayed reaction later in the day. We dined in sunshine, while Janice sought to rearrange the seating arrangements on her new cycle to provide a more accommodating ride.

Tank with Pete, the Tadworth Tiddler

The climax of the day was to have been Capel, but the ladies have reduced their opening days, to widespread disappointment. After lunch a quick climb to Handcross unwittingly left Terry to help a deflated lady. He soon had Helene reflated and the group reassembled to descend on Pease Pottage, Colgate and Faygate, easier down than up. After Rusper the group zoomed ahead to Newdigate, where it was halted by a tank outside the Six Bells. With Capel off the agenda, tea became the subject of individual choice, as riders went their separate ways. Brockham we found to be a construction site, so Terry kindly offered tea and cake to Helene and Jeff at his home in Dorking. Our grateful thanks to the understanding Mrs L. Mileage 65. Many thanks to one and all for your company and your tolerance.

Jeff

Where are we going?

The Plan for Tomorrow's Ride to Staplefield.

For those who like to know in advance where they are being led, tomorrow's ride starts with feeding the ducks and cygnet at Walton on the Hill pond at 9am. We shall allow a decent recovery period for those still breathless or otherwise delayed, before heading for an earlyish elevenses at Tanhurst Farm, just south of Newdigate. Lunch will be at The Jolly Tanners at Staplefield. Unfortunately, the ladies of Capel will not be displaying their olympic, cake-baking talents at the Church of St John the Baptist. Subject to the outcome, if any, of an impromptu commitee meeting, tea will therefore be further north, at Dorking or Leatherhead. Please bring your own weather.

Jeff

Sunday, 14 April

Burnham Beeches - Penn - Staines

 

Pam Alan & myself met Tony at Colnbrook village and waited for Graham to bring the rest of the peloton i.e. Paul, Ed and Jeff, when we proceeded to ride to Burnham Beeches where Vic was waiting. We left in glorious sunshine, all cursing we didn’t listen to the weatherman as we were overdressed, via Littleworth Common, Berghers Hill, Broad Lane to Forty Green, where we had lunch in the 900 year old pub “The Royal Standard” the oldest freehouse in England; see description on the C&M blog. After lunch we continued to Lude Farm where Vic hit a pothole and had an instant puncture.

 Down to the A40, straight over to Wooburn Green and then up the long slog of Windsor Hill, after which we had a nice ride down Cliveden Road to Dorney, Eton, Wraysbury and Staines, where tea and cake were served at Irene’s.

Weather really warm, a lovely day, super company. Thank you one and all.

Irene

Sunday 7 April 2013

Henfold - Cranleigh - Dorking

The piscatorial lures of Henfold drew a shoal of lycra-scaled mermaids and mermen to the bait of bacon sandwiches. For some however, appetites sated, the lure of Dunsfold dimmed and they melted away as Ed gathered his much reduced shoal of endangered species, to lead them through Newdigate to Capel and Ockley. Here we flouted the usual 'heads down and thunder on' convention to stop to visit the Church of St Margaret, Ockley, the present building dating from the early 1300s. The bells are considered one of the finest peals in Surrey and were cast at the Whitechapel foundry in 1701, the tenor bell reputedly a model for America's Liberty Bell. You may not have known that!

Having left Henfold very late, by the time we had passed Forest Green and Ewhurst, 1pm was just a memory. We therefore decided to dine at the Little Park Hatch at Cranleigh, rather than within earshot of Jeremy Clarkson at Dunsfold. Having waited for our lunch, our speedy return was via a very functional A29/A24 to Dorking and Denbies, where some lingered and some pressed on, to savour the sweet comforts of home.

I hope to rectify the absence of any pictorial record when I have cracked the enigma code of photographic transfer from mobile to pc. At present it is in invisible format.

Jeff