'A' group 1st June

Sixteen of us left Cobham in real summer weather making our way to Downside then under the M25 and railway to cross Bookham Common. Here at the junction Fetcam/Bookham we had caught up the 'B' group taking the Fetcham direction to our relief as they outnumbered us so we continued on to Little Bookham.It was not long before we were climbing White Down and true to form on this climb a split took place such that 4 or 5 of us arrived on the A25 at Rakes Lane approx 5 mins before the rest.It was not clear to me what caused such a delay but I believe Minoru shipped a chain.However Pete Barnard had returned for home as he had said he would earlier.


At this point I discovered that John Mason was on the ride plus a recent new member (the name escapes me now).John apparantly had not been out with the 'A's since Xmas and I was concerned that he may find the Surrey hills an ordeal after such an absence, but we did not have to wait that long whist he walked a long climb later on to Peaslake.


We arrived Walliswood via Holmbury St Mary and Forest Green in the estimated time I had given the Scarlett Arms Publican before we left Cobham, with the exception of Mike M and another of our riders arriving some 15 mins later ( no doubt Mike will give the story there).
A photo to follow


Leaving the pub after a quickly served and satisfying lunch adequit enough not to be handicapped climbing the forementioned climb to Peaslake via Ewhurst Green We reassembled at the high point with a good view from Radnor Road before descendig comfortably to Peaslake reassembling again and proceding to Hoe Lane, Rakes Lane ,A25 t0 Denbies Dorking. Most of us stayed out to tea including Mark G having decided to do White Down again but now the hard way.He even presented me with an Eccles cake ( presumably because I went into raptures about my previous experience of an Eccles cake), very generous, Mark, I should have medals with me to award where merit deserve.
We left Denbies our own ways still in glorious weather.

Ray