Thursday, October 08, 2015

A ride October 7 2015



Dull with light rain sums it up; clearing skies were forecast but they didn't appear until I was back indoors. It did not start well; in my haste to meet up with Rachel on Kingston Bridge, I left behind my wet gear. So by the time we reached Cobham I was damp. Already seasoned with the rains of recent days, my revised brew involved no rough stuff, few hills and low miles (50 door to door) - heady enough to attract riders not normally seen on "A" rides.

We started with the familiar, Wisley airfield and gardens, West Byfleet. Then fun started as my reconnaissance had been in fine weather and in the reverse direction (not recommended). We joined the canal towpath at Sheerwater Recreation Ground much earlier than intended and left it in the middle of Woking. After rounding the back of Castle Grove (as was), we continued to West End. The A319 was busy but soon we were waved across. After beating a hasty retreat at the unexpected sight of the Bagshot bypass, we correctly took the second (rather than first) left which indeed led us to lunch at The Sun in Windlesham.

Here food is attractively priced so many forsook their bread with filling and opted for the more substantial. The staff coped well with the 20 meals and all were served within 30/40 minutes. Another worrying sign of times: throughout our stay we were more than 80% of the customers.

If ignored a "Road Closed" sign might have meant a second ignominious retreat so we rode past The Cricketers and Brickmakers to Highams Lane. Here I was momentarily confused - "Road Closed" and "Diversion"! Opting to believe the latter we turned to Valley End. I've always been puzzled by Steep Hill (which isn't) but at least we were back on very familiar territory (Gracious Pond, St Peter's and Addlestonemoor). Sheepwalk saw us into Shepperton and an hour in the Upper Halliford garden centre rounded off the day. Home well before five. 
  
 The route without the mistakes!

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