A Group 29 June - Leatherhead-Cranleigh-Effingham

The Birthday Boy

We gathered at Leatherhead where we sang Happy Birthday to Ray Dare, still going strong after 90 years.   Congratulations Ray, and best wishes from all of us.

Ten of us set off for the Four Hills ride.   First the ascent of Cote de Bagden (from the easy side) to warm us up, then swiftly on to Mont Ranworth.    I had promised a fairly flat ride apart from the hills, but I did notice a slight incline up to White Down before our descent, and again on Raikes Lane.   Sorry about that.   And again up from the Volunteer to Holmbury St. Mary, but none of them troubled our group of strong riders.   Then it was down Cotton Row and along Lyefield Lane, proving that there are roads worse than Weare Street.  Heavy rain was forecast for the afternoon so we took a shorter route from Ewhurst Green to the Park Hatch at Cranleigh, where we were all served promptly.

It was now drizzling steadily and after an uncomfortable quarter of a mile into the wind we turned onto La Face de Bar Hatch, which was sheltered by trees - in fact we had very little trouble from the rain after that.   Left at the top to Winterfold and a long, rather dark descent to Farley Green, up again(sorry) to Albury Heath, and then down to Shere, to begin the final assault on La Route du Combe.  Down Green Dene and a small incline on the main road led us to the Effingham turning, and tea at The Vineries.    

Only a short ride: 31.3 miles, but 2850 feet of ascent, and not much rain, which caused a lot of satisfaction.    Thank you to all of you for your company, to Ged our back marker, and to Ray for giving us a cause to celebrate, and for the tea and cakes at elevenses.