B Group - 19th December

Eighteen of us departed from the Walton DC. Twelve hours before just nine had committed to the ride with their lunch orders, obviously waiting to see if the weather would improve, which it did. I was chuffed. The route was put together with a sequence of standard elements but with a couple of interesting variations.

A few months ago John Bellamy informed me that he had discovered an interesting route and from his excited tone I assumed he was talking about the North West Passage. But it transpired that he had found a scenic route from Walton to Weybridge. It was utterly new to me and today for the first time on any B Group ride I have ever been on we turned off from the back of the Cowey Sale car park, over the foot bridge and took this most enjoyable and well paved foot path through the trees, alongside the Broad Water, eventually popping out in Weybridge.

John Bellamy's Passage - it's on the map so it must be true!

Through Addlestone, and New Haw where remembering that Vic had mentioned a cunning route through to Scotland Bridge we branched off down the Common Lane cul de sac then by a muddy track to pass under the M25 and around the Heatherfield Recreation Ground.

It was plain sailing after West Byfleet, through Pyrford and Ripley to arrive at the Barley Mow in West Horsley. Though it shouldn't have come as a surprise the gentle gradient in Ripley Lane seemed like hard work today. 14.7 miles to lunch.

The Barley Mow serves very nice Thai food and several of us enjoyed it while many went for the safer options of soup, sandwiches and omelettes etc.

It was just five miles to Cobham and knowing that we would all like to scatter and get home before dark it was just Tony and myself who stopped for our flat whites at Giro in Esher.

It was Ray Youlden's first go at being back marker. With all our concern about recruiting new leaders we sometimes forget that an expanded gene pool of TECs is healthy for the club. So thank you Ray. Thank you too to numerous corner markers. It made me realize how many opportunities for missing essential turns we had. Also, it's lovely to know that Irene hasn't forgotten us; good to see her again.

Have a great Christmas and take good care on the roads.

~ Tim