A Group, 8 February

Effingham - Headley - Banstead

Morning tea at the Vineries Garden Centre Effingham

Between Friday, when the roads were cold but dry and the following Wednesday, the Snow Queen and her servile courtier, Jack Frost, had decided to intervene. The southerly Plan A was therefore unceremoniously abandoned, to be replaced by its polar opposite, the northerly Plan B. The chilling effects of global warming did not detract from a warm welcome at the Vineries Garden Centre in Effingham, chosen for the first time as our congregation point for elevenses. I'm sure we shall return. Tables were reserved, staff friendly and the atmosphere convivial. At first we had two leaders each with one follower, but numbers swelled to about 25 before we each set off.

The A group did not have time to get into its stride before a pause was called at the Church of St Lawrence to visit the grave of Barnes Neville Wallis, of bouncing bomb renown. Some anxiety was expressed at the rather unhealthy interest being shown by certain leaders in visiting graveyards. Nonetheless, we were soon happily bouncing along northward on roads more familiar in the opposite direction. Conditions were mercifully snow and ice free as we passed Martyr's Green, Cobham, Stoke d'Abernon, Oxshott and Malden Rushett to reach the outskirts of Epsom.

At Stamford Green we turned South and started to gain altitude as we headed towards Woodcote, the RAC Club and Langley Vale. Here snow still covered the hills and fields, but the lanes were clear as we reached our lunch-time stop - the Cock Inn at Headley. A Cock stop, as it were. We were expected and served with staple fare, though the IPA was a little sour but changed without quibble.

Offered the choice of a longer or a shorter ride to tea, the vote was unequivocal; no need for putinesque ballot rigging. Banstead it would be, via Walton and Kingswood (where we had time for a minor altercation with a hooting motorist), before a warming ride to Pistachios for an early tea. Soon it was time to remount, with a sporting chance of getting home in the light. I shall not question Mark's Garmin which recorded a distance of 26.57 miles from elevenses to tea - and a minimum temperature of -2.4 degrees C.

My thanks to all for a cautious ride - no thrills but no spills.

Jeff