A ride 29 Jan: Shepperton - Shere - Leatherhead

Let's begin with the positive points:  We visited a very welcoming pub and got seats by the fire.   Annies served excellent cake.  I particularly enjoyed my warm shower when I got home.   There was no evidence of hail, thunder, or snow, and we nearly saw the sun once.

A smallish contingent assembled at Shepperton-on-Sea, and nine were foolish enough to join me for a ride to Shere, which featured two of my favourite downhill rides.   With the easterly wind & rain at our backs, it didn't seem too cold as we headed along recently-flooded roads to Chertsey-in-Thames over the river, which looks as if it's put on a few pounds over Christmas, through Addlestone & Woodham & West Byfleet, threading round Old Woking before turning South to Jacobswell and Burpham.  Then it was a gentle climb up to Merrow and not-so-gentle to Newlands Corner.  The view from the top was admittedly not at its best, but the swooping downhill run to Shere was made even better by the prospect of a warm dry pub, the White Horse in Shere.  

The hardy few at the White Horse, Shere

Surprisingly reasonably priced (£6 for a main course) with good food, good beer and a log-burning stove right next to us.  The pub was originally a 15th century farmhouse, and has a ghost (a body of a girl that was found in a bricked-up fireplace) and a smugglers' cellar, which when discovered was full of casks of brandy.  It has only become a pub recently, in the 17th century.

Clothes drying round the fire

We were tempted to linger, but reluctantly we put on our wet gear, headed outside, and warmed up by ascending Combe Lane.  After avoiding several lake-sized puddles along the top, next was the second main descent of the day, down Green Dene, where we found the road blocked at one point by a lengthy stretch of flooded road. 

Luckily it was less than bottom bracket depth and we were able to cycle through it, and onwards to Effingham, where Hans and Steve left us for the direct route home.  The return journey through Bookham & Fetcham was straight into the wind and rather cold and miserable, and we were glad to get to Annie's.   Thanks to those 8 brave souls who braved the elements to come with me today.  I measured 29.7 miles from elevenses to tea.