A Group 5 Aug - going nowhere in particular

It was a Frankenstein ride.  Parts hacked from other rides and stitched together in a rather unnatural way.   It looked weird on the map, but with the assistance of twenty-one A group riders and three other co-leaders, we breathed life into it and had a rather enjoyable day out. Wisley airfield, Pyrford Lock, Pennypot ford and plenty of quiet leafy lanes led us to lunch, and then some mansion-envy in Sunninghill led to the wide open spaces of Windsor Great Park, before returning by the Thames for tea at Shepperton.   Four groups left Cobham at 20 minute intervals from 10.30 to 11.30, and we seemed to stay well spaced out on the roads and at the stops.  The pub also appreciated smaller groups with gaps to serve other customers.

Steve writes:

Thank you so much for a reasonably flat and scenic route.  I think everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. In point of fact Dave Ward went straight through the ford without incident, but declined another photo opportunity, feeling he may have tempted fate too much. I took some pics at the pub which I have attached and of the group at the ford. No problems were experienced although I confess I went off route a little in the afternoon, but quickly corrected. I have to say it was the ideal ride for a sunny summer's day. Thanks to Mike Reynell for back marking and thank you again Simon for organising everything.

Dave Vine writes: 

Thanks Simon for a really well thought-out route which managed to knit together some familiar roads in unfamiliar ways, while avoiding for the most part any long stretches into the wind. Only the Garmin had to work overtime to cope with the frequent changes of direction. The Sun at Windlesham is always welcoming, with good value food, remarkable in that affluent neighbourhood. And for tea Boris provided a cardboard cutout of himself and some well earned treats. 

My select group comprised Gina (a welcome newcomer to the A's) as well as another welcome appearance from Sue, now sporting an awesome new bike. Special thanks for Frances who rescued me from a troublesome headwind from Staines to Laleham, and to Dave Bartholomew as back-marker who made my job easy by always being in sight whenever I looked round.

Geoff's group:

The day started well with groups meeting up at Cobham, when I arrived the first group were on the starting blocks, they were persuaded that bikes might be a better idea.

Light winds were in the forecast but the ride down seemed to feel otherwise, as more A's arrived it was good to catch up with people I had not seen for sometime, our start time of 11.10 soon upon us and of we set Janice taking up as back marker, thank you. The rest of our group Brian, Hans and Fiona.

The wind still obvious we crossed Wisley airfield, an area we have not used for sometime, once over the canal at by the Anchor pub we made good time to Woking, New Haw and Row Town.  Simon's route gave us very good directions on many quiet roads leading to lunch at The Sun Inn, Windlesham. As on our recce lunch stop the staff were efficient and it wasn't long before food was served and the first group to arrive were on their way, no starting blocks in sight still on their bikes.

The second part of our route took us on some quiet back roads eventually arriving at Windsor Great Park and a steady pace against the ever present wind out we popped at Bishopsgate Road and on to and down Tite Hill. The route next took us through Staines and onto Shepperton for tea, yet again the first group were about to leave as we arrived, all looking well fed and watered.

Thanks must go to Simon for the route and my group for helping out when my Garmin decided to go dark and missing some turns, thank you all for a good day out.

Simon writes:

Huge thanks to my co-leaders Steve, Geoff, and Dave V, as well as to two others who volunteered as leaders but weren't needed in the end.  Thanks also to Jennie as back-marker of our group, and to the photographers: Steve, Janice and Geoff.  It wouldn't be possible without you.

Bandits at 12 o'clock:  Wisley airfield

 

PS.  Any references to Frankenstein are not intended to refer to our riders, and any similarities are purely coincidental.