What a glorious day for a ride! It felt as if spring had sprung and all twelve riders in B Group (Judy, Liz, Jane, Dave, Brian, Roger, Eddy, Cliff, Les, Bernard, Terry and me, Gill) set off in high spirits from Weybridge once Cliff had got himself and knitting wool organised! It turned out to be quite an eventful ride with one chain off (me), three punctures and one attempted suicide - no, not one of us!! Our destination was The Plough at Horsell and the route chosen took us through Addlestone to Green Lane, turning off on to Bittams Lane to pick up the path across Homewood Park to Stonehill Road. Opposite Accommodation Road junction, Brian punctured but after a quick change of inner tyre, we were off again. Turning into Gracious Pond Road, always a pleasure to cycle along even if today there were numerous puddles and running water across the road after yesterday's rain, we came into Chobham, went straight through the village to Castle Green (the pub there has changed it's name and been given a new coat of paint). Close to our destination now, we approached it via Carthouse Lane, Littlewick Road and Horsell Common Road. Here, Dave's tyre suddenly expired and was quickly sorted out while we queued to order lunch.
Refreshed, we came out into the sun again for the return route which took us down through the village of Horsell to the Basingstoke Canal. Mirror-like reflections on the still water were so perfect it would be hard to judge which was the original. Dave suffered another puncture on this stretch and we left him and Jane to deal with the offending tyre, hopefully to join us for tea in Shepperton. Leaving the canal at West Byfleet, we skirted Woodham to reach Row Town with its steep hill, back to Addlestone, up Woburn Hill, across Chertsey Meads to Chertsey Bridge and so to Shepperton taking the scenic route along Dockett Eddy Lane. Sunny and tranquil, suddenly we found cars coming towards us on this one-way stretch. There had been a helicopter hovering around above us for a while and soon we found our way blocked by every kind of emergency vehicle - fire engines, ambulances, etc. - outside Thames Court Hotel. We were told it was an attempted suicide and the action was all but over by the time we arrived so we could get through. It was, however, a sobering experience. With most of the group heading home after this, three of us partook of tea at the Shepperton Bakery. (Gill Finlay)
Refreshed, we came out into the sun again for the return route which took us down through the village of Horsell to the Basingstoke Canal. Mirror-like reflections on the still water were so perfect it would be hard to judge which was the original. Dave suffered another puncture on this stretch and we left him and Jane to deal with the offending tyre, hopefully to join us for tea in Shepperton. Leaving the canal at West Byfleet, we skirted Woodham to reach Row Town with its steep hill, back to Addlestone, up Woburn Hill, across Chertsey Meads to Chertsey Bridge and so to Shepperton taking the scenic route along Dockett Eddy Lane. Sunny and tranquil, suddenly we found cars coming towards us on this one-way stretch. There had been a helicopter hovering around above us for a while and soon we found our way blocked by every kind of emergency vehicle - fire engines, ambulances, etc. - outside Thames Court Hotel. We were told it was an attempted suicide and the action was all but over by the time we arrived so we could get through. It was, however, a sobering experience. With most of the group heading home after this, three of us partook of tea at the Shepperton Bakery. (Gill Finlay)
1 comment:
Gill, being housebound and unable to ride my bike maybe for at least another 3 to 4 weeks, I have to congratulate you on your excellent and interesting "B" ride write-up. It made my day, oh how I would have loved to have been with you all.
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