A Group 30 June

Redhill - Cowden - Fanny's

Wednesday at Redhill: a choice between town and country. However, if all the B group boys and girls got up Succombs Hill without dismounting, hats off! Though we didn't manage 29,000 feet of climbing. Our destination was Cowden, just past Dormansland on the Surrey/Kent/E.Sussex border. We don't often get into Kent, but not a lot of climbing planned. We headed out of Redhill via Philanthropic Road, perhaps the sharpest climb of the day, but it wasn't long before sackcloth and ashes had to be donned. Despite a halt by Hilltop Cemetery, the leader restarted too soon and realised too late that he was short of numbers. Apologies to Brian and Terry. I have an abacus on order for the handlebars.

A motley crew at Cowden

Our route was a familiar one through Outwood, Horne, Newchapel, Lingfield and Dormansland. Here we ignored the Old House at Home and climbed steadily along Hollow Lane before turning left onto an unnamed lane past Lower Basing Farm to enter Kent. This secluded lane is one of my favourites, one of the most idyllic that I know and reason enough to take up arms against any aspirant invader. We enjoyed it at a gentle pace until the junction, where we turned left to reach The Fountain Inn at Cowden.

This inn is one of the few distinguished by still bearing the welcoming Winged Wheel - AND a definite article!. Welcoming too the hostess, Pinky, as well as good food and drink, taken at leisure in the garden at the rear. A helping hand was given to hold a ladder near vertical against a wall, while a braver man than I anaesthetised a nest of wasps, buzzing oninously beneath the eaves. After lunch, we made a brief visit to the church of St Mary Magdalene, before taking North Street and Spode Lane beside Waystrode, Crippenden and Leighton Manors to cross the B2026 to Mark Beech.

On top of Tilburstow

Then we had the long downhill to Edenbridge, after which came Staffhurst Wood, Tilburstow, Bletchingley, Merstham and our tea-time stop at Fanny's Farm Shop, still in warm sunshine. After a relaxing pot of tea, the order of the day was: 'Home, James'.

Tea-time at Fanny's

The mileometer read 54 , more I'm sure for others.

Jeff

Quiz: Spot the difference! Not the ladder. The clue is in the report.