A Group 15th February

Well the milder weather allowed a return to the hills so we set off South from Weybridge to Brooklands and Byfleet then along the Wey Navigation from Murray's Lane to the Anchor. Our token off road stretch over we continued through Pyrford and along Polesden Lane to Send Marsh where we did a little dogleg through Gambles Lane to reach Hungry Hill Lane. So far so flat and mostly wind assisted but after East Clandon we tackled Staple Hill to the top of Combe Lane. Here my attempted descent on a very slippery surface provided some amusement when after locking the rear wheel three times on the approach to the right hander I abandoned the turn and came to rest gently ( and upright) against the bank. So on to the waiting horde at the bottom and a loop through Shere before arriving at the Compasses at Gomshall. Eighteen of us enjoyed good food and Surrey Hills Brewery ales and away by 2. At this point Peter Tiller had a puncture and we waited while he pumped it up in the hope that it was a slow - not very, it transpired. From lunch we went up to Burrows Cross, then Hoe Lane and Sutton Lane to Abinger Common and the long drag up to Leith Hill. Having waited for the last of the flock at the Abinger Road turn to Coldharbour it seemed the others had a thirst for tea and fled leaderless to Denbies. Here there were seventeen of us with Peter having dropped out to mend the puncture. He arrived just as we left having had the misfortune of a second puncture in Dorking.