Unusually, I found myself free to ride today (no clash with a morning language class) so I headed for Claygate Day Centre having noticed that Fuzz would be leading another “last ride”. He mustered ten or so Easy Riders (inconsolable though he was on learning that Lynda would not be joining the Group!) and we set off through Covert Woods towards Fairoak Lane. Here the plan was to cross the road and ride through the Prince’s Covert, gaining entrance using a newly obtained key to the padlock securing the gated entrance. However this was not to be, in short the key did not work although several of the party tried. We considered sliding our bikes under the gate but decided that this might draw undue attention to ourselves.
Fuzz, being Fuzz had a back-up plan so we all set of along Fairoak Lane towards Oxshott. A right turn at the road junction followed by a quick left turn, took us through Oxshott railway station car park and into the woods. This was a sunless day but the woods in Autumn colours were well worth a visit as well as taking us away from the frantic main roads. The bridle path took us to the Fairmile estate and down Water Lane to The Tilt at Stoke D’Abernon where Fuzz had another little diversion for us. A crematorium is not normally high on one’s list of places to visit on a cycle run, but the crematorium at Stoke D’Abernon has at least one interesting feature. Adjoining the crematorium is the MacAlpine mausoleum. Because the family is Jewish, the building housing coffins is outside the main grounds in a fenced gated area. The building itself, product of the MacAlpine builders dynasty, is not a thing of great beauty, but the small paved area in front contains a magnificent bronze statue of a female - we know not who she is supposed to be. Fuzz assured us that she cost £500,000.
Having gazed at the statue and chatted to a friendly member of the crematorium staff we made our way to Downside for lunch at The Cricketers. We were made very welcome and enjoyed a pleasant lunch together (Fuzz was especially pleased at being allowed to select from the children’s menu !). After lunch the main party was heading for tea at Thames Ditton, so I took my leave and headed for home in the opposite direction, (having been volunteered as “blog writer”). My thanks to Fuzz for a pleasant and interesting ride, I am sorry if this is really his last ride as leader with the Easy Riders. Perhaps he can have another Last Ride.
Mike Withers
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