08Mar06 rides

Lunching at The Punchbowl, Julian noted a rare slip-of-the-tongue by Bob, who inadvertently referred to his Tuesday visit to a Wetherspoon pub. We all know what you meant to say, Jimmy.

Hi Brian, writes ‘B’ group leader Lynda. Well, it was a good turn-out at Bockett’s Farm considering the weather forecast. I led Carole, ‘Nita, Liz, Gill, Angie, Terry, Norman, Les, John M, Bernard and Cliff out of the farm and did a left heading towards Bookham. We took another left in the direction of Polesden Lacey to Dorking Road which led to Chapel Lane. It was a hard hill to climb but we were soon rewarded with the downhill to The Stepping Stones. Here it started to rain quite heavily; we continued along the cycle path to Pixham Lane; turned left, then left again along the main road at the top to the right turn to Brockham. We enjoyed a very nice lunch at The Royal Oak, then retraced our route back to Leatherhead, Ashtead, and stopped in Epsom at the Pie Shop (by the Clock Tower) for tea, coffee and a very nice hot chocolate. Lynda.

For ‘C’ group Albert [welcome back, Albert] writes: The day started off cold but not as wet as forecast which may have resulted in the rather low turnout at Claygate. There were just eight of us ‘easy riders‘ led by Dave with Mark, Bill, Roger, Dennis, Ron and me, (alright I know that’s only seven!) en route for the Black Swan (Mucky Duck) at Martyrs Green. I have followed Dave on this route before, starting with a bit of Claygate Common then over the A3 to Princes Covert for some more offroad over Fairmile Common. I checked the name of the Common at the car park, not having heard Dave say ‘ we’re off‘ and asked the driver of a van which of the many paths they had taken. Even so there were many diverse paths along the way and I was glad of the tracks they had made to where they waited. We joined the tarmac to Oxshott, turning off Downside Bridge Road at Plough Lane with the old familiar climb to our lunch venue. Mark left us early on and Dennis had a crank come adrift and was obliged to leave the ride. The rain was rather heavy as we turned into Plough Lane and we caped-up. Happily the sun came out later and we took tea.