Just as well I didn't mention on the blog that one of the intended highlights of this ride was to pass the famous Lakeside darts venue at Frimley, as a road closure meant we had to miss it! Never mind, a ride through Pennypot Ford (by two of us anyway, the rest just spectated), and a glimpse of St Michaels Abbey from a dual carriageway bridge, provided alternative diversions on our rather windy ride westwards (with a few meanders) to lunch. St Michaels Abbey, somewhat improbably, is the final resting place of Napoleon III, his wife the Empress Eugenie, and their son, the Prince Imperial, and it also has one of St Alban's thigh bones!
All this culture was soon forgotten when we espied the £3.99 manager's special cod and chips meal on offer at The Tilly Shilling, our lunch stop! At these prices there was, unsurprisingly, a very long queue at the bar for those without the Wetherspoon's app, but we had still all been fed and watered in time for our 2.00 pm departure. Rain threatened as we breasted Tunnel Hill and then savoured the very long descent to Pirbright, but we didn't get wet and it eventually started to brighten up. The Riverside Barn at Walton was just closing when we arrived for tea - I blame the wait at Addlestone level crossing! Undeterred, a group continued to Hampton Court in search of another cafe while I headed for my allotment.
Many thanks to Ged for back-marking, to corner markers too numerous to name, and to everyone for keeping up a good pace and making this an enjoyable ride.
David W
1 comment:
Thank you Dave, for one of the best "A" rides that I have taken part in.
Also to tell
"I saw a hill, that wasn't there
It wasn't there again today
How I wish, It would go away"
William Hughes Mearns
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