The excitement for A group started after we left the Redhill Methodist Church and headed out on the national cycle route towards Horley and Gatwick. There were eight of us: Brian N, Frank H, John B, Ed, Pete M, Will, Julian and myself. The terrain was pretty smooth for the most part with odd bits of off-road thrown in for additional pleasure. Very few are really bumpy but there was a short stretch with some rather large pot holes. When we were coming into Horley we turned left at the first traffic lights and headed down a main road before turning left again onto one of the Surrey cycle ways. Again, there was a little bit of off-road included but very little really. At the end of a stretch, having just passed under the M23, we turned away from the cycle way and took a right turn, heading down a country lane towards Burstow. Off again to the right and down Church Road we passed the 12th Century Burstow Church before hitting (fortunately not literally) another main road where we turned left and headed towards Crawley . Soon after a left at the roundabout we again turned right through Tinsley Green and then left before coming into Crawley proper, mostly by using cycle tracks alongside the main road. In Crawley we once again sampled the delights of ‘The Jubilee Oak’ which also happens to be a member of the Wetherspoons chain of pubs. It was about 15 miles on the outward journey. The return journey was fairly direct, going as we did via Ifield (including crossing a bridge rather than negotiating a busy roundabout), Charlwood, Leigh and Brockham before six of the eight of us sampled the delights of Dorking Halls for tea and then making our various ways home. Getting to Dorking from Crawley was about 13 miles. All in all, an enjoyable day seems to have been had by all.
Stephen Cox
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