Dorking - Lamb's Green and Rusper - Denbies
Spring at last! The weather gods were laughing at us. Undeterred, off we set for Lambs Green: Brian, Jeff, John B, Luc - welcome back, Mark, Toni, and Vic) in the damp and grey mid-morn. The route was a very familiar Frith Hill, Inholms Lane, Blackbrook Rd, Henfold Lane to Newdigate, then almost before we realised it, Rusper, with our blood only just beginning to thaw. Time then for an impromptu right hand loop along Wimlands Rd and back to Rusper. Here to our shame, we found a stoical John outside the Star, nursing a broken rear axle. Our combined mechanical and technical prowess was unable, alas, to put Humpty together again. All we could offer was sympathy, a 'phone number and directions to Faygate Station.
We then took East St and Lambs Green Rd to the Lamb Inn, where a warm welcome awaited us. The full might of the West Sussex Fire Brigade was in possession of the lane and tavern to quell a chimney fire - the hostelry closed for the rest of the day. A brief focus group agreed on back to the Star. There was nearly a schism when Ray was sorely tempted by the charms of the Holmbush Inn at Faygate. The others, however, were unmoved and the majority 
prevailed. Soon we were entabled at the Star in the warm beside a primed but safely unlit fire basket. We were rejoined by John, seeking comfort in the menu. Food good, though unpredictable in delivery, the Lancashire hot-pot strongly to be recommended. Far later than usual we rose to depart, John on foot to Faygate, the rest for a sprightly northbound canter, following much of the morning's route, to Denbies. A slight hitch when Brian soon punctured (his rear tyre that is), to bring him up to joint first place in the MWW puncture league.Today Denbies was still open. We took our tea and cake, questioned the nature of the universe and parted, our questions all unanswered. The final homeward leg was in the light, but accompanied by two or three sharp showers of sleet. A day of fits and starts - say that carefully. The mileage tally failed dismally to reach the usual minimum half century. End of term report: beware the weather forecast, watch the pace. Must do better!
Jeff
2 comments:
Planned to be at Dorking but the front rim split at Leatherhead forcing me to limp carefully home change the wheel and set off again but this time a Maidenhead direction for the start of Easter on the I.of W.
Heard that you had had a problem, Pete. You were lucky to be able to get home, and even luckier that it didn't happen on the way to the IoW! Hope you had a lovely trip.
Jeff
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