Sunday 4 August 2019 - Slight Change to Arrangements

Apologies, I didn't check and assumed when planning this ride that the Ride London event would be held on the last weekend in July.  In fact, Ride London will be on 4 August so coinciding with this ride.  That makes the Raynes Park meeting point impractical for several reasons, so I am changing the meeting point to Banstead (roundabout at junction of Sutton Lane/Winkworth Road/Croydon Lane) at 09.30.

I can also pick up at other points between Walton-on-Thames and Banstead if required, by prior arrangement.

All other details of the ride are unchanged as published.

Dave

SUNDAY 28th JULY 2019

David and Bob were seated in the café before I arrived at 10.15.  Brian Bent arrived as I was locking up my bike, then Vic, Ed, Maureen, Lilian, Ann and Grant joined us.   By the time coffees and buns were consumed it was nigh on 11.30 before we were on our way. David very kindly took up the back markers position.

Our route to Woking was over the motor way bridge to Shepperton. Left and right into Manygate Lane then Walton Bridge to Weybridge, via the path through the woods!   Ann left us here whilst the rest of us continued to Weybridge station car park to connect with the path leading us to Brooklands Estate passing Mercedes-Benz World test track on the left and the historic Brooklands racing track on our right. Moving on we came to the roundabout where The Concorde is on display!!  A perfect spot for a group photo which was taken by a very kind passer by - who halted his running to offer to take it :)

Through Byfleet to Murray Lane, with a short ride along the river Wey to cross over into Dodds Lane.   Grant had left us at Lock Lane before we took a right at the end of Warren Lane for Woking. No deviations as time was moving on and I had agreed to meet Graham at Wetherspoons. - and as we arrived at 13.10 - so did Graham.  Brian left us here to eat his own lunch else where
we lingered a while, no rush.... leaving near to 14.30.

 David made his speedy way home; Maureen and Lilian headed for the train station leaving Vic, Ed and myself to decide on our route home. The Basingstoke Canal being the chosen route.  Tea was to be at the Golden café but they had shut a few minutes before our arrival so The Olive Tree Caffe was a good substitute.   After some time spent discussing various aspects of cycling, including the Tour de France, we bade farewell, heading off in various directions.

A congenial day out - not many miles (for me)!
Thank you all for your company, Pam :) :)

Joint Ride with South Bucks CTC

Arriving at Staines bridge half an hour early I decided to have a coffee in Wetherspoons, Ray also joined me. Having forgotten my lock Ray kindly used his for both bikes, only to discover later that he had left it on the wall at the pub.

Returing to th bridge I was pleasently supprised to see Pam, Simon, Graham, Vic, Dave and a new chap, Clive on an electric bike. As we only had an hour to get to 11's at Burnham Beeches I had planned the most direct route, Wraysbury, Datchet, Slough and the Northern cycle route through Godolphin Recreation Ground and thr cycle path upto Farnham Royal and then Crown Lane right upto Burnham Beeches.

Arriving at the cafe to find 3 South Bucks cyclists, John Capell, Brian Ellis and David Winterburn, supping tea, we did arrive 15 minutes late at 10.45. A few of our group were keen for bacon butties so we were delayed and our departure a tad late. Dave had a need to retun home so headed South.

This year it was South Bucks turn to lead and  John got the group moving, on through the Beeches on a metalled road to emerge into Hawthorn lane. and down through Burnham village, Taplow and through a new estate and a new footbridge arcoss the Thames to emerge at Boulters lock. Then down to the Bear at Maidenhead for lunch.

We sat outside in the Sun and Bob joined us there. The usual quick service, I used the phone app and was the first to tuck into lunch. There was plenty of chit chat with the South Buck group but we eventualy made the move towards our bikes with one of the South Bucks group heading directly for home, John asked me to lead to Dorney for tea so I set off along the Strand waterway to Desbourgh Bowing club and then onto track through Braywick nature reserve to Bray and the wooden bridge to Dorney at which point another South Bucks member headed for home, so only John Capell left to join us for tea at Dorney.

We really did linger over tea sitting in the Sun, with lots of chatter but eventully we set off with John turning left to head North and the rest of us turning right to Eton and then Datchet where those left parted company, with Graham, Ray and myself heading for Poyle where Rsy and Graham headed for Stanwell Moor and me for Harmondsworth and home.

An enjoyable day on the bike. 

Tony..

Sunday the 14th July

A Change of Plans.

I arrived at the Golden cafe to find Bob, Graham and Dave already seated and awaiting food. Soon the deluge of riders began to arrive. Ed arrived with me and soon Pam and Gemma appeared, then Ray Wren, Stephanie, Ann, Terry and Vic. The biggest turnout for some time.

I had debated Saturday night over the route to Dinton pastures and decided to change to Jealotts hill which was 3 miles shorter, meaning just 18 to lunch. Bob was not going to join us for lunch and neither was Ray who was going to do the rounds of bike shops looking for tubeless valves for his new wheels.

The route took us to Virginia Water and a brief spell on the A30 before turning into Blacknest road and onto Cheapside, where Steph left us, then through Ascot racecourse and through the edge of New Mile golf club and onto Chavey Down and the outskirts of Bracknell which has some lovely cycle paths that I took advantage of. Before touching the edge of Warfield and back roads to the New Leathern Bottle at Jealotts Hill. I hadn't booked but the pub had no trouble in feeding 9 hungry cyclists. After lunch Terry had decided to cycle onto Wokingham and catch the train back and Dave headed off for his own route home.

Tea was planned for Windsor far shop via Cranbourne, Woodside and Windsor Great park and the welcome decent of Crimp Hill. We lost a few more before tea and only Pam, Gemma, Ed, Ann and myself stopped for a cuppa after which we headed for Runnymede with Pam guiding us over the meads and into Egham where Ed headed for the station, Gemma for Staines and I took Ann as far as Chertsey where she turned for Adlestone.

Lovely to see such a good turnout, the weather was good for cycling. Thank you all for swelling the ranks and for your company and to Dave for his back marking. A very pleasant 70+ miles for me.

Tony..

Sunday July 7 2019

Dampness was continuous from around five so just the two of us at Bourne Valley was no surprise. But Dave was only out for the morning so I headed home with wet feet but in the dry (naturally). The sun appeared around one thirty.

Sunday 30 June 2019

This being the weekend of the Dieppe Raid I wasn't expecting a large turn-out so was pleased to be joined by Keith and Graham at the start at Raynes Park.   We made good progress to Petts Wood, arriving just before 10.30 and  having been only slightly slowed by a road closure for the cycling leg of a children's triathlon event!

Bob was already ensconced at elevenses but didn't join us for the rest of the ride.   After setting off from Petts Wood we were quite quickly into leafy, but rather hilly, Kentish lanes, making first for Chelsfield, and then dropping down into Shoreham.   From there it was a long but scenic grind up to Twitton and Otford.  Approaching Dunton Green we took a shady, lakeside path to avoid at least some of the main road into Sevenoaks town centre, but there was no way of  avoiding that final long, hot, busy, steepish climb up to Wetherspoons (The Sennochian)!

Cycle parking was poor near the pub so we were kindly allowed by the staff to carry our bikes through to the garden.   It had been a fairly hilly ride for the relatively short distance and, after lunch,  none of us had the appetite to ride back home, so Keith made a beeline for Zone 6, and Graham and I redeemed some of our potential energy gain by heading the mile or so down to Sevenoaks station and hardly turning a pedal in the process!   Thanks to all for your company.

Threes Sunday 23rd June

                                                  Choice of cakes at Capel church.

Sunday 23rd June

Suitably refreshed, I led Ann, Keith and David south from a very popular Tanhouse Farm, leaving Lilian, Jeff and Graham to 'do their own thing'. A familiar route via Rusper and Warnham led to a less familiar bridleway from Broadbridge  Heath avoiding Horsham. After a short stretch of the A264 we turned off to Slinfold, shortly joining the A29 briefly before turning off to The Haven. The Blue Ship served the food pretty quickly, but Dave only quenched his thirst before heading home for allotment duties. 

After lunch we had a leisurely familiar ride to Capel via Rudgwick, Ellens Green, Okewood Hill and Weare Street ensuring we didn't arrive before opening time (1500 hrs). The usual splendid choice of cakes was available, still all produced by one shy lady. We then proceded in a homeward direction.

A very pleasant day, thanks to all for your company, also to the Clerk of the Weather.

Terry

Sunday 16th June

Lunch at The Bear

Happy Shepperton-bound cyclists

Sunday the 16th of June 2019

Fathers Day'    .... and there were lots of families in Notcutts, maybe celebrating with breakfasts and not lunches ?!?!... As I walked out of my back door - the rain came down - so waterproofs on - but it had stopped during my short ride to elevenses.  Terry arrived the same time as me and there was already a welcoming group inside.  Bob, who didn't go to lunch, Tony who cycled with us to Horton where he left us to join his family.  For the rest of the day (almost), Graham, Ed, Terry, Steve Duffin (a very pleasant surprise), Gemma who joined us for the first time, then Carolyn arrived as we were leaving.

Now I am excusing myself because the route was pretty flat!  I chose not to go into Windsor Great Park (a more challenging route) as I had heard there were several events going on...One in particular was the V-CC's (Veteran Cycle Club) annual 'very old bikes' ride when all dress in period clothing and it is very well attended.   Hence,we cycled to lunch via Wraysbury, Datchet, Eton, Dorney, along side the M4 to Bray then cycle route 4 into Maidenhead where we had a very sociable lunch in The Bear pub (Wetherspoons).  Seems, generally speaking,  one does not celebrate Mothers Day or Fathers day in a 'Wetherspoons' for there were plenty of empty tables.Our group photo was taken on the way to lunch and then a couple more photos at lunch time.

Our route to tea....... along the A4 to Marsh Lane, the Jubilee River, turning off for Windsor along side the railway arches.   Over Eton Bridge and up past Windsor Castle to Old Windsor, Runnymede, Egham, Thorpe, Chertsey to Shepperton.  Ed stopped for a breather along Runnymede with instructions for us to continue.  (Ed text and told me he had cycled home in his own time).

Tea was at Nauticalia, Shepperton where Steve, Terry, Graham, Gemma and I spent some time talking of 'all things cycling; !!!!   Carolyn had left us to get home asap!

We were so lucky for it stayed dry - bright and very breezy as from the time we left Notcutts.  Welcome to Gemma - we look forward to you joining us again and  my thanks to all for joining me: it was a lovely day....until next time, happy cycling, Pam :) :)

An Anniversary Circumnavigation - 9 June

In 1519, Magellan set out on the first circumnavigation of the globe.   Only 500 years later, a brave crew of Cheam and Morden riders set out to mark this occasion by successfully circumnavigating Woking.   Well, that's how it worked out anyway.   We were originally planning an even more ambitious journey to The Sun - the one at Windlesham - but a rather stressed landlady told me that she couldn't accommodate us because she had no staff.

In fact the Cheam and Morden crew were suffering staff shortages too - Pam and Vic were away at a Veteran Cycle Club rally, and Tony was away on holiday.   So the regulars at 11s comprised just Bob, Ed, Graham, Lena. and Ray, along with myself.   Only Ray and Graham were planning to ride, but the day was saved by a group of riders from the Ealing Friday Riders, mostly new to the C&M,  who joined us for the day:   Niall, who has been before, Ruth, Jan, Guy and Roger.

Arthur's Bridge:
Ray, Guy, Graham, Roger, Niall, Ruth and Jan

It was a good day for a sailing voyage: bright and breezy, just like us as we set off via Addlestone and Ottershaw to Stonehill Road, bound towards Chobham.   Tacking south along Philpot Lane brought us to Horsell, where we turned right to cross the Basingstoke Canal at Arthur's Bridge.   Then it was plain sailing down White Rose Lane, across Woking Park and through to The Saddlers' Arms at Send Marsh, where we took on victuals for the return journey, this time with the wind behind us.

Leaving via Pyrford, again we sailed dangerously close to Woking itself, in order to get on to the Basingstoke Canal, which led us to New Haw and then on familiar roads to Addlestone and Chertsey.    We had kept dry up to now but the sky was filling with threatening clouds, and Niall and Guy made a dash for home.  Graham left us around this point too, leaving five who decided that outdoors tea at Shepperton Lock was unwise, so we went to the nearby Nauticalia cafe for tea and cake, just as a long spell of rain started.    It was still raining when we finished, but there were promises of "it's brightening up over there" so we lingered, and indeed it did stop raining for our triumphant journey home after our massive achievement.   Well done all and thank you for your company, especially to Graham who back-marked.

Let's hope The Sun at Windlesham is back to it's normal hospitable self soon.

Incidentally, it took Magellan's crew almost three years to complete the circumnavigation.   Magellan himself died in 1521 in the Phillipines and the journey was completed under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, but only after the two joint captains elected to replace Magellan were captured and murdered.  They set out with five ships and 270 men, and returned with one ship and 19 men, so we should count ourselves lucky.

Advance Notice - Sun 30 June

Just to fill in the blanks on the Rides List, our lunch destination on 30 June will be The Sennochian (Wetherspoons) at Sevenoaks.   The (hopefully) scenic route will take us via Shoreham (Kent).   Not a totally flat ride but no really long, steep climbs.   The lunch stop is very convenient for Sevenoaks  station so, if you are travelling out to elevenses and back from lunch by train, it might be cheaper to buy an Anytime Return to Sevenoaks and break your outward journey at Petts Wood.   I'll lead a ride towards home from lunch if there is any demand, but might stop at (eg) Purley as the ride onwards from there to Walton on a Sunday afternoon is not congenial!

Change of lunch venue - Sunday June 9th

Due to a staffing crisis, we are unable to visit The Sun at Windlesham this weekend, so I plan to go to The Saddlers Arms in Send Marsh instead.   Elevenses will still be at The Riverhouse Barn, Walton, and tea will still be at Shepperton.   My apologies for the late change.

Sunday the 2nd June

A nice bright day and blue skies, the first day that it really felt like summer. Cycling into Longacres GC I arrived just behind Pam. Soon to be followed by Ed, Graham, Terry, Ray and eventually Vic.

The route was up through Windsor great park via a very short section of the A30 and Middle hill. Just before reaching the park we dropped Ed who has not yet recovered from 3 weeks off the bike due to illness. He headed for Savill garden and some food before heading for Egham Station.

Back roads and private estates took us into Windlesham and lunch at an old favourite, the Sun pub. Lunch in the sun, what a treat.

Fed and watered we set off for the return trip. We stopped briefly in Gracious  Pond road to view the replaced memorial plaque to Alf Whiteway of Clarence Wheelers(see picture). Through Burrowhill and onto Addlestone and dispersal as no one really wanted to stop for tea. And I had my granddaughters 1st birthday party to attend. Vic headed home as did Pam and Terry while Graham and Ray followed me as far as Hampton. A lovely warm day on the bike.

Tony.. 

All Smiles

Memorial plaque

Sunday 26 May

It was a funny old day, warm and sunny one minute then overcast, cool, and breezy the next, and there was worse to come...  Anyway, nothing in the weather forecast deterred Graham, Bob, Ed, Lilian, Ray and me from meeting at Fairoaks, and we all duly set off for Farnborough, Bob by his own route, and made good time there.   While having lunch we spotted the first signs of rain which no one, least of all the forecasters, had expected, or was prepared for.   Naturally, it had really set in by the time we were ready to set off for home and we decided to hold off for a bit.   This paid off, the rain quite quickly fizzled out, and we were able to execute our plan for a closer inspection of St Michael's Abbey, except that we didn't manage to get all that close!   It was a good run back from there on with the rather strong breeze now on our tails but, nearing the planned tea stop, it began to drizzle again and I decided to push on.   A shame about the rather mixed weather but thanks to all for your company.

Sunday May 19 2019

The forecast was dull all day. I could feel spots of rain as I was passed constantly by much younger cyclists on the old Portsmouth Road to Cobham. Sainsburys at 0950 was an almost empty car park and not even Bob for company. But eventually we swelled to double figures.

 At 1115 we left behind Bob, Jeff and Terry as we exited via the back gate on a very familiar route to Martyr's Green and Ockham. Thanks in part to the lengthy stop, I was soon in search of bushes as subsequently were others. We continue through Send, Old Woking and Mayford arriving at The Royal Oak Pirbright at 1244, a minute early.

Fortunately I'd booked as no food was being served alfresco due to staff shortages and/or equipment problems. So seven (GFH, Anne, Dave, Pam, Ray, Tony, Vic) crowded around a table set for six to enjoy child roasts at £4.49!

After a chilly start it was by now pleasantly warm; scarce any wind and occasional glimpses of the sun. Nul point for Pinnocks so the unplanned return went: Fox Corner, Worplesdon station, Mayford, Woking Leisure Centre and the canal to the Weybridge Garden Centre which naturally is in either Addlestone or New Haw.  50+ miles door to door.

Sunday 12th May

The Punchbowl, Okewood Hill

Admiring the birds at Weare Street

Highways England

Still no news on Muddy Lane

but if you scroll down this webpage https://elmbridgecycle.org/, you'll discover that Highways England are seeking the views of local cycling groups.

Should we (or SWL) register an interest?