What a surprise it was to wake up to that white world this morning!
Fortunately the roads cleared quickly and the snow was melting fast as Irene and I cycled to the Day Centre at Weybridge. Here we joined a very depleted group and after waiting to see if anyone from the Cheam and Morden group was going to join us, 'B' Group set off shortly after 'A' Group at around 11.20 am. There were four of us - Terry, Bernard, Ed and me, Gill. Taking a similar route to 'A' Group to start with, we cut across to Chertsey Meads and took the Willow Walk path, leading to the Laleham Golf Course - closed due to snow - and on to Pentonhook Marina. We skirted Thorpe and instead of the M25 and headed south, past the magnificent Elizabethan building of Great Fosters Hotel, to Virginia Water. This was the challenging part of the ride - three steep hills in quick succession! A noisy stretch of road parallel to the M3 (Chobham Lane) followed. It was a relief to cross the motorway on to Chobham Common and once over the summit of Staple Hill, it was a good downhill run all the way to the Windsor Road and into Chobham. By the time we reached Chobham Common there were only vestiges of snow lying around, the views were great and the gorse seemed to be in full bloom. We had lunch at the Red Lion, Burrowhill.
As we set off again at 2.00 p.m. there were patches of blue sky around and glimpses of sunshine from time to time! The return journey was quick and easy, along the Gracious Pond Road, Stonehill Road and into Chertsey.
Afternoon tea was at the bakery in Shepperton, where we were joined by the remnants of 'A' Group, and by 3.30 p.m. we were on our way home. Although not a mammoth ride in terms of miles, it had been a good day out.......
Gill
Cold with a blanket of snow and the cyclepath to Weybridge was pretty tricky in places. Considering the weather the turnout was not too thin at elevenses, but when it came to departure there was just the two of us.
Harold who was leader and me to give this report on the ride. We went through the town and up Heath Road past what used to be St. Charles Church where I was baptised, confirmed and married some years back, At the rail station we turned left along Hanger Hill and at the war memorial right up Queens Road past the Weybridge cricket ground where I first learned to ride on my mother's Raleigh with the old loop frame (I still need to learn several bikes later). After this we turned right down Seven Hills Road to the roundabout where we went left with a good downhill on Burwood Park Road to Byfleet. The lunch venue was still Harold's secret as we pressed on to The Halfway under the rail bridge and the next left before the traffic lights. This road emerged in Cottimore Lane in Walton and we headed in the Hurst Park direction. By this time my leader had informed me he was heading for the river and the Weir pub so we took a left turn at the next roundabout with just a short ride to lunch.. A most satisfactory nosh and the beer helped too. Harold had left his car at the Weybridge end of the towpath so that's the way we both went. This must be a first since I haven't forgotten anyone's names. See you all (non-Merstham-bound riders) next week DV ------------------------ Albert
Fortunately the roads cleared quickly and the snow was melting fast as Irene and I cycled to the Day Centre at Weybridge. Here we joined a very depleted group and after waiting to see if anyone from the Cheam and Morden group was going to join us, 'B' Group set off shortly after 'A' Group at around 11.20 am. There were four of us - Terry, Bernard, Ed and me, Gill. Taking a similar route to 'A' Group to start with, we cut across to Chertsey Meads and took the Willow Walk path, leading to the Laleham Golf Course - closed due to snow - and on to Pentonhook Marina. We skirted Thorpe and instead of the M25 and headed south, past the magnificent Elizabethan building of Great Fosters Hotel, to Virginia Water. This was the challenging part of the ride - three steep hills in quick succession! A noisy stretch of road parallel to the M3 (Chobham Lane) followed. It was a relief to cross the motorway on to Chobham Common and once over the summit of Staple Hill, it was a good downhill run all the way to the Windsor Road and into Chobham. By the time we reached Chobham Common there were only vestiges of snow lying around, the views were great and the gorse seemed to be in full bloom. We had lunch at the Red Lion, Burrowhill.
As we set off again at 2.00 p.m. there were patches of blue sky around and glimpses of sunshine from time to time! The return journey was quick and easy, along the Gracious Pond Road, Stonehill Road and into Chertsey.
Afternoon tea was at the bakery in Shepperton, where we were joined by the remnants of 'A' Group, and by 3.30 p.m. we were on our way home. Although not a mammoth ride in terms of miles, it had been a good day out.......
Gill
Cold with a blanket of snow and the cyclepath to Weybridge was pretty tricky in places. Considering the weather the turnout was not too thin at elevenses, but when it came to departure there was just the two of us.
Harold who was leader and me to give this report on the ride. We went through the town and up Heath Road past what used to be St. Charles Church where I was baptised, confirmed and married some years back, At the rail station we turned left along Hanger Hill and at the war memorial right up Queens Road past the Weybridge cricket ground where I first learned to ride on my mother's Raleigh with the old loop frame (I still need to learn several bikes later). After this we turned right down Seven Hills Road to the roundabout where we went left with a good downhill on Burwood Park Road to Byfleet. The lunch venue was still Harold's secret as we pressed on to The Halfway under the rail bridge and the next left before the traffic lights. This road emerged in Cottimore Lane in Walton and we headed in the Hurst Park direction. By this time my leader had informed me he was heading for the river and the Weir pub so we took a left turn at the next roundabout with just a short ride to lunch.. A most satisfactory nosh and the beer helped too. Harold had left his car at the Weybridge end of the towpath so that's the way we both went. This must be a first since I haven't forgotten anyone's names. See you all (non-Merstham-bound riders) next week DV ------------------------ Albert
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