Easy Riders report for 7th July

A cool cloudy morning with light showers forecast for our meet up at North Cheam this Wednesday. After large attendance last week, just six of us - Sandy, Anne, Frank, Maureen, Peter B and me - set off for Stoke d' Abernon, where we met Ray, Don and Bill for coffee and social outside the little bakers by the station. Anne and Peter peeled off for home afterwards.

There was a bit of chat in the group about our route after coffee. Following recent heavy rain, Bookham Common seemed unwise, so we agreed to take the roads via Cobham and Effingham Junction, then the Lower Road past the Vineries to our lunch destination, The Bell at Fetcham.

We noticed the Mole was running high as we passed through the usual queues of vehicles in Cobham; but from there the traffic dropped right off and still no rain so we all  enjoyed a pleasant ride. We were glad to be met by John Brooks, who had made his own way to the pub.  Don peeled off at this point, while the rest of us gathered at a large table under the awning on the terrace to enjoy our lunch.

Our afternoon adventure began with a downward swing along School Road and across the junction through Cannon Grove, to find the footpath along the railway line through to Waterway Road at the bottom of Leatherhead. I was feeling quite pleased to remember this bit of the route, which John Bellamy has taken us along a couple of times, usually in the opposite direction. But I had overlooked, that the path runs through the nature reserve at the bottom of Lower Road. It's nicely placed as a catchment for water runoff from Fetcham and (possibly) also a watermeadow alongside the Mole...Let's just say the surface of the footpath wasn't quite as visible as expected as we traversed it! And it was also a little overgrown by weeds along the sides.  Still, there were no drownings or losses, not even wet feet unwisely placed to prevent wobbles...our easy riders are wise and experienced cyclists all, not fazed by a little flooded path. Fortunately.

Bill and Maureen peeled off at Leatherhead. The rest of us headed along the railway line, through Lower Ashtead and over Ashtead and Epsom commons to the Old Moat for tea. It was a bit muddy, but mostly the gravel cycleways were not too bad. And there was some warm sunshine to enjoy with our tea!  

A very pleasant ride and lovely day out as always; thanks everyone for your kind company. About 30 miles recorded on Strava from North Cheam.

~ Helen
 

at Mill Lane junction with Waterway Road, Leatherhead