B Group June 17th

Pictures from Francoise

Was it to test the mettle of a new leader that todays ride was so popular? A crowd of 24 of us left Kingston up river to Hampton Court though Phil and Mick left us there leaving 22 ( on 21 bikes) to proceed to lunch. Adam and John A on a tandem plus Gill, Irene, Pat, Christine, Judy, Stephanie, Sue, Liz, Francoise, Frank, Neil, Eddie, Bernard, John G, Dave, Godfrey, Harold, Alan Dixon, myself, and Terry who let me talk him into being back marker. We continued up river to Weybridge and via Portmore Park Road to the Wey Navigation which we followed to New Haw and rejoined the tarmac. Unfortunately, in Woodham Lane the tandem had some problems with the rear wheel rubbing. Terry, Liz and Harold stayed behind while this was resolved while the rest of us continued to the Saddlers Arms at Sendmarsh via West Byfleet, Pyrford Road and Polesden Lane. Barely had we finished ordering when the tandem party rejoined us much to my relief! A pleasant lunch was taken in the garden and then Gill, Irene and Dave headed home while the tandem pair made for Clandon station. The remaining 17 took a short loop via Send Hill, Potters Lane and the A3 path back to the Send roundabout to cross the A3 into Tithebarns Lane. We carried straight on via Holride Farm on a concrete farm track leading to Ripley Lane then through West Horsley to Ockham Road. In East Horsley we veered left along Pennymead Drive then took the path to Orestan Lane. The calm of our relatively traffic free day was shattered by arriving outside Howard of Effingham School at 3.35 but after a short delay we made Leatherhead for tea before 4pm. 44 miles for me from door to door, probably nearer 50 from N Cheam.

Brian Greenwood