Easy Riders - 2nd June

Today's weather was unexpectedly warm, so C group were glad to enjoy a fairly easy going day. At Cheam we welcomed Dawn's friend Pete to his first group ride with us. Our route meandered through Ewell Court Park and along cycleways through Horton Lane, past the Old Moat garden centre, then right through housing and historic hospital buildings until we had to join the busy road to Malden Rushett. Straight over the crossroads, we turned left a couple of miles later in Oxshott to head through the Crown Estate to Blundells Lane.

We lingered long over coffee at Stoke d'Abernon. It was so pleasant chatting under the trees outside the little bakery. Don and Godfrey peeled off, the rest of us setting out shortly before midday to wend our way through quiet pretty  lanes and footpaths to Bookham Common. Just before the common we met Brian, who had just finished a picnic lunch, so he accompanied us through to Leatherhead.

By this time we were a going to be a bit late for lunch so we stepped up our pace a little, heading along the one way system through to Leatherhead station. Unfortunately I was the only one across the lights, so all came up together after me and I was able to catch pictures of the C group peloton from the mini roundabout at the top! Very impressive...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At The Woodman our lunch booking seemed to have gone astray but we were welcomed to two tables for six in the garden. There was some confusion over the system for service; we'd sat for 15 minutes then were told we needed to take a seat indoors to place our orders which would then be served to us in the garden!  So having arrived shortly before 1 o'clock, last lunches at our table arrived 2.15. To be fair, the staff were working extremely hard, with only three serving staff for the whole pub (and by previous experience only one chef preparing food for everyone!) Never mind, we were very jolly and enjoying each other's stories and good company; and resting our legs, to be ready for the ride home over Ashtead and Epsom Commons.

After lunch Bill, Dawn and Pete took the train back from Ashtead, and several others headed away to get home early.

Five of us decided to go to the Old Moat for tea; four got across the green at Lower Ashtead and realised we'd left Gillian behind! Not too far or too late to head back and pick her up, thank goodness!  
After tea, we reached Stoneleigh around 20 past 4, where we headed in different directions home. North Cheamers completed around 25 miles over the day.

~ Helen