B Group - 21st April, to Tanhouse Farm

Pete with beer and climbing legs

Twenty-two jolly Wayfarers met at Layla’s café in Effingham (a new elevenses venue for us) and we were made very welcome.

After consuming coffee and cake we had a reasonably hilly ride over Ranmore and up to Abinger Hatch, then a very scenic route via Friday Street around the south side of Leith Hill towards Coldharbour. Then a very quick decent down Broomehall Lane to Ockley, then on to Capel, Rusper and Tanhouse Farm for lunch, interrupted by two noisy donkeys.
Bless them!!

John, Pete Foster, Paula, Clive

Paula and Clive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you all for joining me on my ride, so nice to see you all. A big thanks to David, Jennie and Christina for sub leading.

Pete B

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Jennie J wrote:

Stunning weather, can highly recommend the café, made most welcome by the owner, an excellent place to start. Four started, all slightly apprehensive about the hills, which proved unnecessary, as everyone coped very well. I haven’t cycled with Terry for a while, but my god, can he climb! If we didn’t have Covid I would have shaken his hand. At the end of Broomehall, we stopped to chat about the place where Oliver Reed lived, we continued onto Tanhouse where we caught up with Sue and Steve Foster, great to see them.

Terry and Pete

Steve, Sue and Jennie

Bob and Tim

After lunch, onto Denbies, where we stopped for tea, where if you want to sit at a table you now need to book, otherwise it’s the grass. Great day and company. A huge thanks to Pete for a great route.

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David J wrote:

Yes, a really good and challenging ride Pete, really enjoyed by my group. After lunch, we rode some well-known roads, Church Lane/Hoggspudding Lane by Newdigate church, and towards Denbies via Roothill Lane. From here we somewhat dispersed and made our way home. Well done Pete for the route and a truly great day!

Photo finish for David's team at Tanhouse Farm

Three geezers from Team 4

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For Christina's group Helen wrote:

Lady's smocks, cowslips and bluebells...our B group ride to Tanhouse via Coldharbour, and Ockley was delightful with spring flowers flourishing in the woods and hedgerows along so much of the route. Inder joined our Wednesday ride for the first time, and I have not been out with the Bs for nearly a year, so we had a little correspondence beforehand about whether we felt quite up to it; but the weather was lovely, Steph was leading us and Brenda to coffee at Effingham from North Cheam, and Pete's route sounded lovely, so away we went. Coffee meetup was lively and social, nice catch ups with old friends not seen for a while.

Christina lead us out from coffee and we were all straight up the hill towards White Down. I'd heard that this was a terrifyingly difficult hill and drop and it's true, it's not easy up, but we did ok. Steph is a very kind and patient back marker... The drop is steep in places, but my brakes didn't squeal much and it was most enjoyable☺

Next was up to Abinger Common, such a pretty village. Christina lead three of us up to Friday Street , while Steph and I took photos at the well and cruised round the flat(ter) approach to chilly Coldharbour, enjoying some pretty outlooks along the way. There were still quite a lot of daffodils along sunny banks, (the ones in my garden finished ages ago!), including lots, a fabulous display, just outside Christ Church, where we rejoined the group. Here we visited the very well cared-for grave of the famous 20th century Polish poet and writer Marian Hemar and his wife Caja, who was the Columbia Films golden goddess. They settled in the area and made it their home after WW2, when Poland of course was behind the Iron Curtain.

 We enjoyed the longer and mostly more gentle ride down towards Ockley; the south facing slopes had many woodland bluebells in flower; halfway down a couple had parked their car and were taking photos. Generally from here the roads were a little busier, but most of our route to lunch was quiet traffic wise. We were very hungry by Tanhouse, where we arrived at about 1.30, and enjoyed their delicious lunch.

It was agreed not to stop at Denbies for tea. We all set off  towards Brockham. Inder and I headed along the carriageway from there, cutting through Pixham with Steph. Christina and Brenda went via the ZigZag while the rest of us headed up to Leatherhead, then back over Ashtead and Epsom Commons. Very tired over the last few miles, but so pleased and satisfied with our enjoyable day out.

Many thanks Christina for leading and Steph backmarking, and to all our group for kindness, support, fun and encouragement over the day.

Stephen, Christina, Brenda, Steph, Helen and Inder

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