B Ride from Caterham into Kent 26th May

Thank you very much to Tim, Tim and Tony for sub leading our B ride. About 20 of us set off from the Green in Caterham-on-the-Hill for our ride eastwards.

As always it is a hilly start from Caterham (the “on-the-hill” part of its name being a giveaway and a warning). But as always, the ride along the Pilgrims’ Way was superb with beautiful panoramas south and eastwards across the Kent Weald.

Considering recent weather, we were very fortunate for our ride. I well remember on one occasion when we were cycling back along the Pilgrims’ Way into a strong westerly we had to stop and shelter from heavy and painful hailstones. But not this time!

Thank you to all who took part.

Looking at our programme for July and August, may I be allowed to point out that we have one blank week with no leader and that one leader is covering two weeks and a further week is covered by an A rider. Come on regular B riders, your peloton needs you! If you are new to the idea of leading, how about offering to sub lead or if you are thinking of leading I am sure that a regular leader would be happy to ‘shadow’ you on your first outing and support and advise.

If you are interested please mention this when you next apply to join a ride or speak to a regular leader, but on the other hand do also remember that the Wayfarers welcome all comers and there is no pressure to lead.

John A.

Tim G waiting for his team to fall into line

Ready for action, Bob and Dave

At about 900ft after the climb up to Woldingham

Tim with his flock of Pilgrims

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Many of us arrived at Caterham on the Hill having already climbed several hundred feet, up Mt Banstead then over Farthing Down. Coffee and Creams is a very decent Elevenses venue with good coffee and a good selection of cakes.

But neither the Prologue nor the refreshments equipped us adequately for Mount Woldingham via the West Face (Station Rd) and the eventual summit of nearly 900 feet near the car park and viewpoint on The Ridge, close to where it crosses the Greenwich Meridian Trail.

Ann, Dudley, Madeleine and Kamaljit at the lookout point

 

However the scenery was consistently fabulous and became even better after we had turned onto the Pilgrims Way at Titsey. When we reached Chipstead we knew that lunch wasn't far away but we came across Tony's group who had stopped for lunch at the Bricklayers Arms.

Tony's team waylaid at the Bricklayers Arms

Our team stuck to the plan and rode about one more mile to the Coblands Garden Centre where we enjoyed lunch under the glass roof and slowly baked, marvelling that we could still move afterwards and that all the plants were not wilting into the horizontal posture that we allotment holders are quite familiar with.

The locals experimenting with 'herd immunity'

 

In the afternoon, as John had planned, we avoided the A25 as much as possible though we didn't go to the extreme that Steph did by doing her own excursion over Tilburstow Hill, evidently to ensure that she hit her target for the day of over 4000 feet of altitude gain. She deserves a prize for that.

Madeleine and Kamaljit left us at Merstham to catch a train and find their cars. It is excellent that they have joined B Group and it was very good to see Dudley again after quite a time.

Thanks to the team for their company and good cheer and thanks to John for his hard work planning the ride.

~ Tim