Friday, November 24, 2006

Nov 22nd

Best wishes to Beryl, recuperating at home after knee or hip surgery (one or the other, I forget which) - we hope to see you back with us soon, Beryl.

Peter Hammond writes: Hope my Dad didn't go on too long at your presentation. He is still aiming to reach 100,000 miles on his bike since he retired at age 63. He has cycled over 98,000 so far including Lands End to John O' Groats in 13 days when he was 66. But he may have told you this!

Brian Et Al, (writes Mike M) Here we are in Queenstown after 4 weeks in Australasian @day the weather has been fantastic and we have been in the mountains and been on location for the Lord of the Rings. Fantastic mountain biking country. Not done much biking apart from some gentle stuff in Sydney on a crap bike. Previous days it has been very wet and complete cloud cover over the glacier region and Mt Cook was completely obliterated. Hope everyone is well give my regards to all. I will try and be out on 6 Dec as we back on 5 Dec but it depends on jet lag. Emajay.

Angie had a great day last Wednesday. All that free-wheeling made me think my legs had been paralysed! Cliff, Dave A, John G and myself set out last from Dorking - helped fix John's puncture, so went via the Golf Course and Brockham, out to Leigh and round the bottom of Norwood Hill (down Deanoak Road and back up Collendean Road). Thought we had missed the event but just managed to tack on the end. Great fun! Then on to lunch with everyone else. Came back the opposite way down Lonesome Lane, up to Redhill, whizzed out that way and down the A22 through Merstham and Coulsdon way. Dave A left us there and Cliff and I came up Rectory Lane into Banstead and
the home to Worcester Park - just under 48 miles. Boss is away so hope to see you all again next Wednesday. Thanks again for an hilarious day out - loved it. Angiex

Many thanks for the Sou'wester and Attendance Record. I am sorry to have missed you at Dorking but I only got as far as Denbies before turning back having run out of time. I turned left at West Humble, past Polesden Lacey to Bookham including the 1:5 hill, without getting off the bike. NB: the last ride in Sou'Wester Wayfarers rides should read 03Jan07. Regards Philip

Hi Brian, Sorry I was not out yesterday with the Wayfarers, Redhill is just a little too far on a winters morning! Have to start out too early for a 30mile ride!! Luckily for me, Irene and Gill also feel the same! Hence we 'Three Musketeer's' (Pete Mathews was unable to join us), had an enjoyable ride! I cycled to Irene's then along the towpath to Chertsey bridge to meet Gill. We had a photo stop before arriving at Fairoakes airport for coffees - well - we have to see how the planes are doing!! I chatted to a gentleman who arrived in a 50 years old Jaguar sports car, it was in super condition, yet he had bought it as a wreck 30 years ago! As the weather forecast was not in our favour, our original ride plan was reduced to the 'long' ride to Woodside for lunch. In fact, it was raining when we came out of the pub after a very tasty bowl of soup and pate with crusty bread so we returned via Windsor Park, Egham and Chertsey where Irene and I waved goodbye to Gill and we continued to Staines. Thanks girls, nice ride with an early finish! Cheers Pam

8 potential 'B' riders arrived at Redhill, but 3 were put off by the weather forecast. So five riders, Brian N, John, Les and Terry, led by Norman, followed 'A' group along the signed cycle route as far as the East Surrey hospital where we left the road and on to the off-road path towards Gatwick. We rode along the Autumn coloured treelined path when Les rode over a hidden piece of tree branch which jammed between the mudguard stays and front wheel and Les was thrown off. He sustained a cut over his left eye. Fortunately Terry had a first-aid kit and put a plaster over the cut. The damaged bits were removed and Les said he would carry on. We stayed on the path to Horley where we returned to the road through Smallfield and Horne on to Felbridge to lunch at the "Wire Mill" It wasn't Les' day. He blew his nose and his left eyelid swelled up.We asked for some ice and the barman brought out a pack of frozen peas to help relieve the swelling. After lunch we asked Les if he would like to go home by train but but, stout fellow, he said he would stay with us. It had started raining so waterproofs on and back via Horne Outwood, past Wasp Green up Coopers Hill to the A25. the rain had stopped. John and Terry turned off towards Redhill and home. There we went on to Merstham. Brian carried on towards Coulsdon , Les and I on to Fanny's Farm. As it was getting dull Les declined to stop so being thirsty I had tea. Nearing home, in Banstead, it started to rain lightly, About half mile from home there was a downpour. A welcome warm house awaited! Norman

The weather was great for the first part of the 'C' ride; sunny, no wind and the forecast proved pretty accurate when it clouded over but the rain held off until after lunch at The New Inn at Send. Dave led us from Weybridge. We comprised apart from me and him, Roger, Roger S., Ron, Fuzz, Geoff and Harold. Dennis arrived at the venue and Bernard who had intended to come changed his mind and went off with the ladies (welcome back, Bernard)
.....
We rode through Weybridge up Heath Road, over the railway bridge, up Brooklands Road, turned right at the end to Byfleet, down Church Road at the end of which we encountered a short spot of offroad taking us to the Wey Navigation canal towpath. This we followed as far as the Plough at Pyrford Lock. We crossed the bridge then down Lock Lane to the Pyrford Lane, then left to Warren Lane at the end of which went left as far as The Seven Stars.We then took a right turn down Papercourt Lane leading to Tannery Lane after which we arrived at Send and our destination. I had intended going with the others to Cobham for tea but with the state of the weather Harold and I left them at Newark Lane having started the return ride downn Tannery Lane. Harold pressed off in the direction of Weybridge when we arrived at Addlestone. See you at Shepperton next week ------------------------------ Albert

Yes, see you there

Olleh Hub

PS: A contingent of Wayfarers consisting of Ed C, Rob and yours truly John S half-completed a circular ride encompassing Saffron Walden, Thaxted and Finchingfield in Essex. The other stages of the 32 mile ride via the Bumpsteads had to be abandoned due to horrendous weather conditions. Ed and I went by train from Liverpool Street Station to Audley End departing at 09h58 train and arriving at 11h01. Meanwhile Rob drove to Saffron Walden and met us at the Cross Keys pub. After a difficult start due to problems in finding the correct route out of the town we had a good ride to our lunch stop at the Swan in Thaxted. Opposite the pub was a most huge and magnificent 14th century church. Clarence House built in 1715 I am told is where composer Gustav Holst worked on part of The Planets. After lunch we pressed on in deteriorating weather to Finchingfield, a jumble of medieval cottages and Georgian houses around the village green and pond. It also had a delightful square towered church. At this point we deviated from our intended route to ride in rivers of water formerly intended to be roads and arrived back at Saffron Walden drenched ready to return to London. Ed and I split up at Liverpool Street station and I took the busy route through the City via the Bank, Fleet Street, Strand, Trafalgar Square, The Mall and Hyde Park. A drenched yours truly arrived home just after 6-00pm. I would be pleased to hear from any other Wayfarers interested in another alternative ride in the future under better metrological conditions (preferably not on a Wednesday). Kind regards, John Scott

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