A Group 19th July

A good turnout at Hookwood, despite the unpromising weather, and a baker's dozen set off for our annual journey South to meet our friends from the East Sussex CTC.  Passing through Horley we paused briefly to admire the NCN21 'London to Paris' cycleway sign,

and then continued past Smallwood to Copthorne and on towards Turner's Hill.  So far, so conventional, but after a couple of miles on Turners Hill Road we turned off onto the Worth Way, a gravelled Sustrans route that took us quickly and pleasantly past the A22 and East Grinstead traffic to the Saints Hill Road.  We mislaid Mike M at the Worth Way - he was riding his Time Trial bike, in readiness for the KPRC Evening 10, and he didn't fancy it.  We planned to meet on the way to the pub, but it didn't work out.

Down to the reservoir, up to the hill above Sharpthorne and then along the ridgeway that leads to Horsted Keynes.  There are normally beautiful views on this part of the ride, but the grey skies  and generally muggy weather took the edge off it a bit.

Anyway, we were at the Green Man good and early, which turned out to be a good thing, as a slight mix-up with the bookings had led the landlady to expect less than half the number of cyclists for lunch, leading to some unpredictable and lengthy delays.

Ordering a simple meal early was no guarantee of prompt service, and here we have the unusual, perhaps unique, picture of John waiting for Brian to finish.

Food delays notwithstanding, the lunch was sociable and a great success, and it was good to meet our friends and talk of journeys done, and journeys yet to come.  We had passed a party of London-to-Parisers as we entered Horsted Keynes, very smart in matching shirts and with a large support van.  It turned out that East Sussex CTC, as well as keen Dieppe Raiders, did a club London to Paris every now and then - something for us to think about, perhaps.

Anyway, we were late away from the pub, and the weather had changed.  It was still muggy, with a curious sort of sea-fret blown in with the Southerly wind.  Not really rain, but wet enough for the difference not to matter.

This didn't do us much good.  The thunderstorm of the previous night had washed flints on to the road, the dampness lubricated them nicely and we received the first of several visits from the Puncture Fairy on the climb up from the Ardingly Reservoir.

A few miles later we embarked upon the second of my off-road novelties - a bridleway through Cowdray Forest.  This too cuts off some busy stretches of road, but it had been a tricky bit of riding in the dry, and the dampness had done little to improve it.  I think it's fair to say that it had a mixed reception.  There we are - that's always the trouble with adventures - the gap between triumph and disaster is not a large one.

The Fairy called again near Pease Pottage, and while the puncture was being mended Mike and Dave set off for home, as they had a way to go and time was getting on.  John too departed, heading for a train at Crawley and the evening's Promenade Concert.  The rest of us rode on for no more than a couple of miles before the Fairy appeared once more.  Things were getting serious now - tea was at risk.

With the puncture more or less fixed, I was despatched as runner to ensure that Tanhouse Farm kept tea for us.  At least that part worked out, and seven of us took our teas at a rather breezy table while the staff shut up shop around us.

There had been a fairly persistent rumour that the rainy mizzle was a Sussex phenomenon, and that once we were in Surrey we would be all right.  Anyway, leaving Tanhouse Farm, the sun came out.  Just sayin' ...

My thanks to Keith for back marking, to the corner markers for keeping us moving, and to our friends from East Sussex CTC for a good day out.

Mark