A good sized group turned out at Weybridge, consisting of Frank, Graham, John, Brian, Pete M, Ray, Vic, Ian, Simon, Ed, Mark, Graham, Johns M & G, Will and Rob, whilst Ron and Doreen joined us for lunch and tea.
Our destination was Wood Street Village. In contrast to the excitement of last week’s ride via the vivid blue of the London Superhighway, the road out of Weybridge remained a disappointing charcoal grey, although one only had to look up to see the vivid blue of a perfect late September day.
We set off at a steady pace through Byfleet, after which a short stretch of off road necessitated negotiating a newly installed gate shortly before Pyrford. At Mayford came an unplanned parting of the ways, with the A plus group heading toward Wood Street via Cobbett Hill Road, whilst the A minus group took a slightly more direct approach.
The best Olympic synchronized swimmers could not have engineered a better timed rendezvous at Frog Grove Lane, though, despite the A plus group having a minor hiatus when Mark’s satnav disengaged itself, whilst the following motorist was evidently of the view that its performance would be enhanced if he were allowed to drive over it, as he seemed unwilling to stop. No damage occurred, however, and we proceeded as an ensemble to lunch at the Royal Oak, where we basked outside in the warm sunshine, hopefully not for the last time this year.
The way back took us through the suburbs of Guildford and then through Ripley, into Cobham. John had been feeling unwell after his sausage lunch, so it seemed fitting that we should take tea at the Medicine Garden, Downside Road, a venue I for one had not previously visited. The walls of what was formerly a good sized Victorian kitchen garden were on show, together with an art gallery (works in acrylic available if you have £200+ of loose change), garden shop, and another workshop selling old agricultural implements. The café seemed a tad overwhelmed by the arrival of a bunch of cyclists, but it certainly is a pleasant place for a tea stop and one to be recommended.
I covered 61 miles all told.
Rob
Our destination was Wood Street Village. In contrast to the excitement of last week’s ride via the vivid blue of the London Superhighway, the road out of Weybridge remained a disappointing charcoal grey, although one only had to look up to see the vivid blue of a perfect late September day.
We set off at a steady pace through Byfleet, after which a short stretch of off road necessitated negotiating a newly installed gate shortly before Pyrford. At Mayford came an unplanned parting of the ways, with the A plus group heading toward Wood Street via Cobbett Hill Road, whilst the A minus group took a slightly more direct approach.
The best Olympic synchronized swimmers could not have engineered a better timed rendezvous at Frog Grove Lane, though, despite the A plus group having a minor hiatus when Mark’s satnav disengaged itself, whilst the following motorist was evidently of the view that its performance would be enhanced if he were allowed to drive over it, as he seemed unwilling to stop. No damage occurred, however, and we proceeded as an ensemble to lunch at the Royal Oak, where we basked outside in the warm sunshine, hopefully not for the last time this year.
The way back took us through the suburbs of Guildford and then through Ripley, into Cobham. John had been feeling unwell after his sausage lunch, so it seemed fitting that we should take tea at the Medicine Garden, Downside Road, a venue I for one had not previously visited. The walls of what was formerly a good sized Victorian kitchen garden were on show, together with an art gallery (works in acrylic available if you have £200+ of loose change), garden shop, and another workshop selling old agricultural implements. The café seemed a tad overwhelmed by the arrival of a bunch of cyclists, but it certainly is a pleasant place for a tea stop and one to be recommended.
I covered 61 miles all told.
Rob
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