Photos from Easter Sunday 2015

Here are some of my photos from my day off the bike in Sherborne.

Pageant Gardens

Country House

Sherborne Abbey

Sherborne Castle

Sherborne Old Castle ruins

Brockham Teas on the Green 2015....

....will be served from April 26 to October 18.

Sunday 12th April 2015

Having missed my ride a couple of weeks ago I found myself leading today so Terry could be with his unwell wife..........get well soon Sally.
11's at this new Waitrose in Dorking ticked all the boxes,especially for "MyWaitrose" card holders.........did you know you can pay 20p and upgrade to a large drink?
I decided the climb to Coldharbour was worth the effort so we could use the delightful Mole Street to Walliswood.
Pleasant lanes brought us to the A281,a busy road that links Horsham with Guildford.
Past "Stooks" cafe at Newbridge Garden Centre where a considerable number of new housing and roads was evident.
The Red Lyon at Slinfold was reached at 13.02.
We all dined outside in the sunny but breezy conditions.
On the return,the ride split at Ellens Green with Graham's crowd heading back to Dorking via Henfold (tea) and I led to Ewhurst where Ken left us at Moon Hall road and we turned right past the Duke of Kent school to avoid a significant climb.
Before long Janice & myself had gone through Peaslake and we took tea at Gomshall (Tillings) before the climb home.
Home just after 5pm.

Cloudless skies and a moderate southwesterly which blew us home in record time.........Gomshall to Epsom in an hour!

STOP PRESS:Redhill Aerodrome cafe maybe no more...........

http://www.surreymirror.co.uk/pictures/PICTURES-tears-Redhill-Aerodrome/pictures-26324085-detail/pictures.html#30

Just a reminder that this Saturday (18th) is the Ripley Jumble.

Sunday, 5 April 2015

Dorney - Littleworth - Wraysbury

Warm enough to dine outside + no room inside!

A cohort of great worth outside the Blackwood Arms at Littleworth

Transport thoughtfully provided

The horses weren't using it

Dave assembled his troops at Hampton Court, though I first saw his platoon at Dorney Court, where morning tea was served in a marquee. Several layers were peeled off before we set off in warm sunshine for the morning's yomp to Littleworth Common. Pleasant lanes led us upward between Taplow and Burnham to our well hidden lunchtime venue of the Blackwood Arms; fully booked inside but with space outside. On leaving we fortunately had no need for the emergency ambulance in attendance. Our return was through Burnham Beeches to by-pass Slough for an early tea at the Liquid Leisure water sports centre in Wraysbury. Soon after resuming our return journey, a red traffic light alerted me  that I had left my shoulder bag at the tea stop. I therefore bade farewell to the group, returned to recover my impedimenta and then head homeward, where the Cateye recorded a round trip of 78 miles. Our thanks to Dave for a most enjoyable ride.

Jeff

Sunday, 29 March 2015

 Biggin Hill - Chipstead

I gather his rates are quite reasonable

At  Carshalton Ponds

The tea leaves for Sunday were not promising; our leader Andy had been stricken by the 'flu and the skies were leaden. The prospect of wind, rain and Kent had discouraged all but the hardy, if not foolhardy. Ken and Paul Day were duly in attendance at the Carshalton War Memorial. We headed East to S. Croydon, up to Addington and along Lodge Lane to our old familiar friend, Saltbox Hill. Biggin Hill airport and the A233 soon took us to Waitrose for a nourishing bacon roll and cup of tea on the house.

Ready for a gusty afternoon

With drizzle in the air it was back to Jail Lane for another climb to Cudham, Shelley's Lane and Knockholt. Our reward was downhill via Starhill Road to Chevening and the Bricklayer's Arms in Chipstead. All tables were booked and we were not expected, but a table was found with a later reservation. Beef baguettes and chunky roast potatoes were more than adequate. 

We left before 1.30pm to face a murky afternoon and decided to bypass tea. We headed for Sundridge Hill but turned West along the Pilgrim's Way to Tatsfield, where we parted company; K&P aimed for Warlingham and I for Woldingham. This upset the Gods; the wind swelled and started to gust alarmingly. I know not if K&P were equally discomfited, but as I took to The Ridge, I was repeatedly blown to an obscenely cursing standstill by fierce squalls which persisted through Woldingham, Caterham on the Hill, Chaldon and Farthing Down. It was a relief to arrive home unbroken, as I hope did Ken and Paul. My thanks to them for their enjoyable company and support.

Jeff

Ripley Cycle Jumbles 2015

Pam very kindly has forwarded the following dates for your diary:

SATURDAY 18TH APRIL 2015

SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2015

Sunday 22nd March 2015

Deliciously light and soft lemon cakes

Best Wishes to Graham suffering from a bad back..........so ofc not all the cakes were eaten :-)

 

 

MAGNA CARTA TEAROOMS      THE NEW LEATHERNED BOTTLE  JEALOTTS HILL      NORTHS OF STAINES CAFE.

14 arrived at the Magna Carta tearooms for 11’s  on a magnificent sunny crisp morning.  3 returned home which left 11 to continue the ride to lunch via Priest Hill, Bishopsgate Windsor Park exiting at Cranbourne Gate to Drift Road taking 1st left towards Maidens Green, Nuptown to Moss End then Tickleback Lane to The New Leatherned Bottle  as I understand it they are new tenants of 6 months.   Sadly we waited over 1 hour for our food they were unexpectedly busy but it was worth it as the food was beautifully served, very nice and very reasonably priced.

We then returned via Ascot racecource  to Windsor Park and on to Staines where 9 stayed to partake of cakes & tea, we then discovered that it was Vic’s 83rd birthday so Pam & I hoped he had enjoyed his birthday party.   Thank you one and all for a very enjoyable day

Capel Teas

After a recce by the advanced party, all can be revealed:

Mar      15
Apr       3(Fri), 5, 6(Mon)
May      3, 4 (Mon), 24, 25 (Mon)
Jun       14, 20 (Sat)
Jul        12
Aug      2, 30, 31 (Mon)
Sep       20
Oct       4
Nov      1, 22    

Sunday, 15 March 2015

Rusper GC - Bax Castle - Capel

You will have trouble finding Bax Castle on the OS map

 It was a pity those wall heaters were not working. It was nearly as cold 

inside the conservatory as outside

We lost the lady, but seven set out and seven came home

Mothers' Day 2015

Hopefully this was the last throes of winter - cold and damp thanks to the gusty easterlies. So a quiet Rusper GC welcomed  just eight of us.

With Angela heading off to dig her potatoes, we climbed to Rusper where it's now the Plough And Attic Rooms(!). Right by The Star and a first left saw us heading down the rarely used Wimland Road. After passing the now closed and semi-dark Frog And Nightgown, walkers drew our attention drawn to a distressed bird of prey(buzzard?, sparrowhawk?) flapping on only one wing but nothing we could do.

We crossed the A264 into Old Crawley Road and suburbia. Doomsday Green saw us back amongst the green stuff and heading towards Sedgwick. Here we experienced what I presume is road rage - unpleasant; obnoxious individual. On exiting Southwater, our forces were divided with a bare majority Downs Linking to the Bax Castle. The 45-minute wait was to be expected but discussed. Stop it was; eventually even the hardiest was forced to seek shelter from the cold.

By Christ's Hospital and under the A24 saw us back in the centre of Horsham. As usual a complete lack of traffic made not the climb of Old Holbrook any easier. All that remained was the downhill swoop into Capel at three for the first cakes of the year. Around 70 miles door to door - rather too many for my aching back.

Sunday, 8 March 2015

Hookwood - Markbeech - Fanny's

Seen on a wall in Merstham

Seven gathered in bright sunlight to watch the gulls and ducks on a chilly Walton pond. After a decent wait for late arrivals, the last having a ride of several hundred yards, we set off southwards down a pock-marked Chequers Lane, to savour once again the joy of swooping down a now reopened Pebble Hill. A sprightly jaunt through familiar flatlands took us through Brockham, Leigh, and the slight incline of Norwood Hill to the A217 and the Temple of Tesco at Hookwood. We locked up our bikes under the observant gaze of two jovial Romanians with a blacked out people carrier. Bob and a reincarnated Andy were there to greet us and Ian soon joined us as we broke our fast. Our number then fell by two as Angie left, sharing a wheel with Mike, to tend her garden.

Once out of Horley, our pace quickened with a chuff easterly wind to speed us through the billiard table fields of Smallfield and Newchapel to Lingfield. The angle of inclination then tilted through Dormansland up to the delightful Smithy's Lane. We dallied at Furnace Lake, then continued past the Winged Wheel at Cowden's Fountain Inn and on up the aptly named Blowers Hill, where Cow Lane led us to the Kentish Horse.

 Our reservation was wise, as the pub was soon humming and tables full. Good food and drink before a remount to discover that blue skies had turned to grey. Our tea stop was revised from Godstone Green to Fanny's. Those of little faith were shocked to find that my promise of a long downhill to Edenbridge proved true. Thereafter the ride was flattish via Staffhurst to Tilburstow, where who knows what strange substances impelled a supercharged Andy nearly into orbit. There was a price to pay. A steward's enquiry at the top of Tilburstow revealed no mechanical ill, but the climb into Bletchingley took its toll of Andy's chain, no longer able to take the strain. Paul stopped to give encouragement while the rest rode on for a conference at the top of the hill. Mobile technology failed and the consensus was to carry on, one group via high road, the other via low road, to meet again in Merstham, for a final haul up Markedge Lane to Fanny's. Concern about the light, or lack of it, had reduced our number, but a final luminous four refreshed themselves with tea and cake. Neil weighed in the balance the competing claims of tea and light; tea won. I trust that all made landfall safely and enjoyed a pleasant foray into Kent.

Jeff

Sunday March 15 2015

I spotted this on the Capel Church website. But the teas link is incorrect (error 404), so we'll just have to call in on Sunday and pick up a paper copy!

SUNDAY 15th MOTHERING SUNDAY
8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00 am Mothering Sunday Family Communion
3-5.30 pm TEAS BEGIN AGAIN!

Sunday 8th March 2015

My Holdsworth suffered a chain break on Sunday.
Thankfully,I was carrying one of the first cycle specific multi-tools invented.......the CoolTool.

http://wiki.multitool.org/tiki-index.php?page=Cool+Tool

Sunday, 1 March, 2015

New Haw - Pirbright - Addlestone

Dave's Bones and Ashes ride to Pirbright

We took a respectful crust and mug of ale before our funereal visit to the final resting place of two adventurers; Henry Morton Stanley in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels, Pirbright and Alf Whiteway, whose ashes were scattered in the woods near Chobham. "The ashes of Alf Whiteway were scattered here on Sunday 6th December 1993 by members of the Clarence Wheelers Cycling Club and their friends". Vic will explain.

More bones, but these ones still full of marrow!

The bones of HMS

P.S. A heart-warming blast from the past: Stephanie behind wicket at the Cricketers on a chilly 5th December 2010

From Terry's unfathomable archives from which there is no escape.

Sunday, 22 February 2015

West Horsley - Walton - Wetherspoons

Who's the Regent?

Ante-meridian sun encouraged fourteen to face frost and ice to share a cup of tea and company at the pleasure gardens of West Horsley. However, as the tea-pots emptied, the skies began to cloud over. Come the time of departure, leader Ed's thrust unusually was North, not South, not Irene. Some could not, dared not  resist the lure of Sunday roast at home, but others took up the challenge. Ed led us via the cyclists' mecca, Ripley, where we did not drop anchor, to West Byfleet, New Haw, around Addlestone and Weybridge to Walton, where we found refuge in that ever welcoming port in every cyclist's storm, the trusty haven of Wetherspoons. Space for all, good ale and solid food (though not for Neil, who was still recovering from the previous evening's intemperance, celebrating the Chinese New Year). He did force down a few abandoned and rather luke -warm chips.

By this time the forecast rain had begun to settle in, the lure of Thames Ditton for tea was waning, some preferring to explore the temptations of the Lidl/Aldi? store across the road, while non-shoppers put on their waterproofs and headed home. We did get home in daylight, despite the howling wind across the  Downs that threatened life and limb. I trust all made it safely . Our thanks to leader Ed.

Jeff

Sunday, 15 February

Savill Garden - Binfield - Laleham

 A day of daffodils, crocuses, grey skies to blue and late afternoon sunshine

Sunday 15th February 2015 (Savill Gardens - Binfield - Laleham)

Thirteen came to Savill Gardens for morning refreshment, and eight continued with Bob making his own way to lunch. We passed through Windsor Park to Drift Road, Maidens Green and Moss End (goodbyes to Alan) arriving at the Victoria Arms Binfield at 12.40 pm. where a table was reserved for us in the name of Morse?!

Lunch was very good and served quickly. We left an hour later making our way in glorious sunshine over Cabbage Hill to Warfield church,  across Ascot racecourse and back into the Park. Laleham Garden Centre was reached at 3.15 for more refreshment (phew). Here we dallied for over an hour so I hope everyone (including Jeff?) managed to get home in the light. A big thanks to all for coming and making for a very pleasant day. 

Irene