Friday, October 03, 2008

A Group Oct 1st

After the squall we had earlier on, the day turned out bright and sunny, without rain. Before setting out, we had a roll call of walking wounded, Ray had knee trouble, Ian had a dodgy ankle, and Grant was under the weather with a cold. Also present and relatively able bodied were Brian, Will, Frank C, Mike, Vic, John G, John S, Pete M, Pete B, Jeff, Toni, Graham, John B, Simon and Ed.
We were hardly out of the starting blocks before we lost Ian, though despite sore ankle he turned up later at lunch. We also lost Brian to the first puncture of the day. Other early finishers were Pete B, Ray, Grant and Frank C, who left at lunch for a date at Hyde Park Corner as timekeeper for the tandem trike 12 hour/ Lands End – London record attempt. Our route took us due South to Effingham, then it was a steady climb from there up Critten Lane before emerging at the top of White Down. Conditions had dried out by then, so the descent of White Down was trouble free. Then we went along Raikes Lane, past the Volunteer pub, and up into Holmbury St Mary. After that it was downhill into Forest Green, through Walliswood before arriving at Rowhook and the Chequers Inn for lunch (decent food but a tad pricey according to some). Just short of lunch, John s had our second puncture, but at least it was close to the pub.
After lunch, our return led through Okewoodhill and up Weare Street, through Capel and into Newdigate. From there it was the usual thrash back into Dorking, though John G and John S missed the turn into Punchbowl Lane, but found their way along the A24 to tea at Denbies, where Jen joined us for a cuppa. I covered 59 miles in all. Rob

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