Easy Riders - 23rd June

A beautiful day for cycling, sunny and warm after recent chilly days. With glad hearts eleven of us set out from North Cheam led by Madeleine, on her maiden voyage as C Group's routemaster.

We took a circuitous route through Stoneleigh and Ewell, bringing us to the delightful path through the woods along the Hogsmill river to Ewell Court Park. We stayed by the Hogsmill until turning left along the Bonesgate stream, which lead us to Chessington and then via Horton Country Park through to Epsom Common. Past the Stewponds and along the boundary path to emerge on the Kingston Road by the Star at Malden Rushett.

Here we met John Bellamy, Ray and Caroline who were beginning to wonder where we'd got to as it was past 11.30. Our bucolic wanderings had taken longer than expected after a late-ish 10 am start...They headed off to be the advance party for lunch and reassure the pub that the rest of us were on our way!

Soon we followed them via the path to Princes Coverts, a downhill lane with a quite treacherous surface,  which we followed with care for a mile or so. There was a left turn onto a better gravel surface and we were soon crossing the Leatherhead Road at the bottom. Up a brief hilly lane, then taking a narrow path down to join Blundells Lane just before the railway bridge.

From here Madeleine lead us through by Stoke d'Abernon station, along the Tilt through by the cemetery and across the little bridge (where we stopped for a photo) through fields and alongside  the green to the Cricketers. John Brookes joined us, after a mishap in the morning required a visit to the optician.  A warm welcome and wonderful food and service were enjoyed in the pub's pretty garden.

After lunch we made our way to Bookham Common. I was slightly delayed at the green, so John and Ray waited for me at the bottom of the hill. We were just a few minutes behind the main group but took a different fork, so when we emerged from the common at speed downhill, we were surprised to see Madeleine and the rest of the group just about to turn into our road as we sped by. We all continued in John's wake through Fetcham via River Lane and Cheevers Road to Ashtead. Up to Ashtead Park in hope of tea at the garden centre, but it was gone 3.30 so all decided to head for home without.

A really lovely ride and day out. Sandy commented at lunch that it was surprising how many greenways and cycleways there were between North Cheam and our lunch destination, and how little traffic we'd experienced all day. Many thanks Madeleine for knitting it all together for us, and for excellent choice of pub. And of course to everyone for your pleasant company.

~ Helen