B Group ride, 24/10/2018

The rides from Elleray Hall are always well attended, so it should have been no surprise that 27 of us set out in some really very pleasant weather for our trip to Mugswell. Passing through Bushy Park we had to slow and stop whilst a flock (if that’s the correct word) of geese crossed the road towards the fountain; moving on we cycled to Ewell Village via Hampton Court, Thames Ditton, Surbiton, Chessington and West Ewell.

From Ewell, the climbing started and we took the Banstead Road, which is a long, slow climb, nearly two miles, this however lead to B2217 another climb up to Banstead Village itself.  Here some of the group departed, as previously advised, leaving 17 of us to descend Holly Lane and then continue climbing up the B2032 from Chipstead to Kingswood. Rather than cycle on the A217 we used the pavement running alongside, to Chipstead Lane and onto the pub.

I had said to the pub that we aimed to arrive between 01.00 and 01.30 pm, in fact arriving 5 minutes before the latter, where we met Mike Morley who had made his own way there. The pub coped very well with the large group, we were ushered into the ‘snug’ which had been put aside for us. The food soon started arriving from the kitchen, the portions certainly being generous.

Within an hour, we were back on our way, retracing our steps until a crossing on the Brighton Road. We went from Mill Road to Walton on the Hill, down Ebbisham Lane and Hurst Road and into Ashtead Park via the Headley Road.  Passing alongside the grounds of the City of London Freeman’s School we exited the park and into Ashtead. From the village, we used the level crossing to take us towards and into Epsom Common where we took tracks that took us close to the Old Moat Garden Centre on Horton Lane. Here the 8 that stopped for tea sat outside and finished off the day with good refreshments.

An undulating ride, thanks to everyone that came along, great company and good weather.  As always, thanks to those that marked corners that enabled the ride to keep moving along, and also to Jennie for back marking.  Apologies for the group photo being in two, the best I could do to get everyone in.

~ David

PS Apologies if you couldn't see the photos before now, hopefully fixed now.  Simon.