10 riders assembled at Redhill for our ride to Cowden, in Kent. Lunch was scheduled to be at the Fountain Inn, a CTC friendly pub. The route out was to take us through Outwood, Lingfield and Dormansland,and was flattish (with the exception of a bit of a drag out of Dormansland), so we were able to take it steadily, whilst enjoying the warm August sun, and some scenic countryside, notably along Smithers Lane, just short of Cowden. There is a large hammer pond in Smithers Lane, (as Mark reminded us), originally constructed to provide power for the adjacent blast furnace. This was apparently owned by a Parliamentarian family during the English Civil War, and believed to have been used to manufacture ordnance during the conflict.
Back to cycling! Lunch had been pre-ordered, and arrived promptly, and minus the usual missing or wrong meal.
Things were slightly more energetic after lunch, as we meandered back past Haxted (where an errant wasp stung the leader as a reminder to maintain a decent pace). Tilburstow Hill we took in our stride, before climbing Flower Lane to reach Marden Park, and a Wayfarers' favourite path down to Woldingham School, and thence to tea at Woldingham Garden Centre. Our tea break coincided with a short sharp shower, mercifully giving way to warm sunshine and blue skies as we departed.
Rob
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