B Group - 24th February

One cannot help but wonder why so many came to elevenses yesterday? Was it the promise of good weather, the longer days and/or maybe their ride from home was not too far?  Gill counted 28 members as we left Leatherhead, making our way down Bridge Street on route to Cobham Road, Lower Road; right into Kennel Road where we kept left for The Glade and so onto Bookham Common.  At the next junction came my first 'dither' of the day - should have kept right but the troops were very understanding and we were quickly on route to Downside. From here we rode the lanes towards Send, going past 'The Mucky Duck'!! Remember??   Then ' Hautboy Inn'  (was an inn well used and well known by cyclists in years gone by -  and others) which has been renovated to become luxury dwellings!   From Send Marsh we headed for Old Woking via Tannery Lane.   The Old Woking Road took us to Maybury and very shortly into the Herbert Wells for lunch!  (Named after the writer H. G. Wells who lived in Maybury Road in the mid 1890's)

Twenty five B's, all ready for the road again after lunch headed for the Basingstoke canal.  Ah Ha!!  What's this.. I was surprised  to find the tow path closed, a deviation to Monument Bridge was the answer - no problems there!   Terry, who had kindly been back marker left us at West Byfleet for his homeward ride to Dorking and the rest of us carried on to leave the towpath at Scotland Bridge Road, through Addlestone to Weybridge, up the hill towards the station where we turned into St. Georges Avenue, heading for Seven Hills Road.  I took a chance by riding through Burwood Park, not a problem until I realised I was not on the road I expected, so when we exited on to Burwood Road I didn't know whether to go left or right to Squires.  Second 'dither' of the day, turned right but noooooo, it should have been left!!   Fifteen at tea, and nobody seemed in too much of a hurry :)

A very nice day, a few more miles for me than of a late - at last, a full day out!!!  Must say - it was very cold by the time I got home at 17.30!   Just to add, for those of us who were as puzzled as me...Irene stayed on the canal from New Haw to Weybridge, hence her appearance near Weybridge Lock!

Thanks so much everybody, a very big thanks to all corner markers and back marker Terry :)

Pam :)

Route map for Pam's very popular ride to Woking: