A November 7th

Pete B kindly agreed to swap his ride today for one I couldn't manage next month. Altogether, it was 16 of us that set off from Cobham en route to South Nutfield, near Redhill. Present were Angie, Ed, Ian, Will, Pete M, Pete B, Graham, John S, Mike, Stephen, Bob, Vic, Toni, Frank C, John B and Rob. Following the well worn road due South out of Cobham, we passed Effingham Junction and Effingham Common before reaching Bookham, where Vic decided that was as far East as he wanted to go, and headed back. The route then took us uphill past Polesden Lacey, before dropping down the 20% Bagden Hill (fortunately conditions were dry underfoot), and then into Westhumble. Having crossed the A25 at Pixham Lane, we set out along the coach road towards Brockham, having been helpfully forewarned by Terry that broken glass would be a hazard, following the Bonfire Night party at Brockham. There was some broken glass, but most seemed to have been cleared by the time we got there, and we emerged puncture free. After that we headed along the lanes to Woodhatch, and then crossed the A23 by East Surrey Hospital. From there it was a pleasant spin past Redhill Aerodrome into South Nutfield, where the Station Hotel provided reasonably priced food in pretty good time. After lunch, there was a brisk climb up Coopers Hill Road onto the A25 ridge, then a drop down into Merstham, before another climb up to Fanny's Farm for tea, well I thought it was a climb but 'fixed wheel Frank' seemed to hardly notice. I clocked 45 miles in total. Rob