A small group of eight set off from Fairoaks Airport for the B Group ride - Pam, Ed, Robin, John G., Peter (without the pump), Pete B., Bob and me, Gill - a very select bunch. By this time the drizzle had stopped and there were signs of improvement in the weather with even the odd tiny patch of blue showing.
The Duke of Edinburgh pub at Downside was our lunchtime destination, so our route was basically northwards. Starting off towards Chobham, we turned off on Mincing Lane to go to Burrowhill, did a loop through Valley End and came back to Chobham Road to head towards Sunningdale, on to Cheapside and finally to Downside - about an hour's ride from Fairoaks. Although there were several hills to climb along this route, the descents inbetween made it all worthwhile. We were given a warm welcome at the Duke of Edinburgh and a table had been reserved for us inside which we took despite the sun now being out - the garden benches were still pretty damp for comfortable sitting outside. Meals, if a little pricey, were promptly served and there was even time to continue chatting before the standard hour for lunch was up.
It was a different day after lunch - the clouds having been chased away by the wind which had come up, it was blue skies and sunshine all the way home. Leaving soon after 1.30 p.m. our return route was into Windsor Great Park to Bishopsgate, Englefield Green, down Tite Hill to Egham, across to Staines (both level crossings were open - is this a record, I wonder?) and then beside the river to Chertsey Bridge. Afternoon tea was at Shepperton Lock, so there was one more bit of river along Dockett Lane before reaching our destination. We had had a tailwind most of the way back and had made very good time, arriving at 3.00 p.m. With tables strategically placed in patches of sunshine, five of us enjoyed a very leisurely tea with no-one seeming to be in a rush to leave.
Thanks to Pam for being back marker.
Gill Finlay
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