B Group - 5th April

Not surprisingly, given the glorious sunny day, it was a large group of 25 riders which set off from Cobham.  Welcome to new rider, Denver Lawson, who had managed to find his way to Cobham from Brixton!  Welcome also to Mags & Will McKinley whom I had not met before.  Lunch was to be at The King's Head in Guildford and our route was pretty straightforward - starting off in a diagonal direction from Plough Lane to East Clandon.  Here we crossed the A246 and yes, we did climb Staple Lane!  After last week's challenging ride, there had to be at least one steep hill to keep up the momentum!  Besides, the speedy descent down Coombe Bottom is always worth the slog up on the other side.  Our route was now through Albury and Chilworth, then across the level crossing to come into Guildford on back roads.  With everyone safely across the railway lines, Dave Ward who had been holding open the gate for everyone else had to give way to a passing train before he could cross!  Thanks, Dave.

Once in Guildford, the last lap to the pub was a 'walk' up the one-way (wrong direction) Quarry Street before turning off and into the Castle grounds which were looking magnificent with all the spring flowers.  We left our bikes at the entrance/exit to the grounds on the far side, turned left and into the pub.   Having been warned of the numbers, extra staff had been brought in.  Most people ate indoors, seeking shelter from the cold wind, but the few who braved it outside were very happy in a sheltered spot in the sunshine!

The return route would have been familiar to many, up the High Street, into Stoke Park and past the Leisure Centre to the Nature Reserve by the Wey Navigation to Jacob's Well and so towards Ripley, with the main group turning at Send Marsh to cut across to Pyrford, West Byfleet and New Haw to the Garden Centre at Addlestone for tea.  Here, 10 of us enjoyed relaxing in the sunshine, seemingly in no hurry to push on home.  It had been a wonderful spring day and the countryside was looking at its best.  Thanks to Tim and Pam for being Back Markers and to those who marked corners.

Gill Finlay

The map shows the route for our jolly good and very well attended ride down to Guildford with Gill.

~ Tim