B Group - 23rd May

What an amazing day for a ride after all the wet stuff we've been having! A group of eleven B Group riders headed off to seek the shady towpath by the Basingstoke Canal - an attractive option on such a warm day - and we followed it all the way to Pirbright, somehow missing the planned turn-off to Brookwood Cemetery. Never mind - a route for another time! Now we were on roads heading south to Wood Street Village and the Royal Oak pub for lunch. Here we received a friendly welcome and were soon seated outside in the sunny garden.

After lunch, we cut across Broadstreet Common and into Guildford via Park Barn. Using cycle paths it was an easy ride on to the campus of the University of Surrey. There were students everywhere enjoying the sun in the park-like grounds and even a group practising surveying, easily identifiable in their high viz vests and hard hats! We crossed the R. Wey near Guildford Station and made a detour to reach Stoke Park where huge marquees were being erected for the County Show. Cutting down to the river again, past the Leisure Centre, we followed the path through the nature reserve to join the A3 path into Ripley. Tea was at Ockham Bites, where some sought ice creams and all sought a shady spot before heading for home. Thanks everyone for your company and Pam for being Back Marker.

- Gill Finlay

From Woodham and New Haw DC along the Canal. This map also shows the home stretch to Ockham Bites, following the A3

Lunch at Wood Street Village and the scenic route through Guildford

All the usual suspects

Getting to New Haw: after Oatlands Avenue between Walton and Weybridge I followed this route to the Byfleet Road (A318) at the point where it crosses the Wey Navigation Canal

As New Haw is a new Elevenses stop I gave more than the usual amount of thought to my route from home in New Malden and was relieved to discover that the part of the route between Oatlands Avenue and the Wey Navigation Canal is a most enjoyable rural route, with very little mud and only a mild tingling sensation from the nettles. The route crosses the River Wey next to the Seven Arches Bridge. The only problem was having to carry the bike up several steps to a level crossing for pedestrians and then down the other side so I'm not sure that it is up the Wayfarers' Health and Safety Standards. Extreme care is needed there although visibility up and down the railway tracks is very good.