B Group June 10th

There were rather fewer than usual at North Cheam, partly because of the Dieppe Raid and perhaps because of the weather forecast. Several decided not to go to Dorking including Cliff and Judy. They went on an infants' ride instead. When we left North Cheam it was raining hard and it was cold and pretty miserable. It got better by the time we got to Dorking, but as we finished our coffee it started to rain hard again. The B group huddled in the porch for some minutes watching the rain. Then a number of whimps, led by Liz, decided to chicken out and went home. That left only two! Robin, our leader, and my good self. (Is this a record - the B group reduced to two?) Anyway, we two set out towards Brockham, across Dorking golf course and then more-or-less due south through Norwood Hill and Charlwood to Rusper. About three milli-seconds after we left Dorking the sun came out so we cycled along quiet lanes through lovely countryside in warm sunshine. We felt rather sad for the whimps who were at home doing chores. Opposite the church in Rusper is a nice pub which is a free house called The Plough where we met an old college friend of mine and the three of us had pints of Harvey's bitter, a Sussex beer which seemed particularly good. Robin and I had a wild mushroom and asparagus risotto, the rice just al dente, which was very tasty. We sat outside in the sunshine - what could be nicer! Then we went our different ways, Robin to Dorking station, my pal to his home in Dorking and I went to Gatwick and trained home.

Regards

Bernard