Ride Report - Weds 18 August 2021

 

21 of us, if I have it right, rode, drove, or took the train, by diverse routes, to gather at The Snooty Fox.   Everyone arrived in good time, whatever their means of  transport or route, and most had time for a coffee.   Ged and Simon had very kindly agreed to co-lead and give up their time for a recce ride, so thanks to them, we had three groups.

Ged's Group (10.35 Start)

I assembled most of my group quickly - on the train to Guildford! Dave V at Wimbledon, and Jennie and Dave at Surbiton. Simon collected Abi from the station (welcome Abi!), and Steve D and Christina made up the group at Shalford. Stopping for a photo at Frensham Ponds, we managed to keep ahead until we reached the pub. Steve joined the middle group after lunch, leaving me responsible for missing turns - only two this time Steve! Following tea at the Watts Gallery I joined the TVC boys for a rather quicker ride to Cobham. Abi's been looking for a cycle-club home for some time - on Dave's lovely ride today the Wayfarers would be a good choice. Thanks to Dave V for backmarking

Dave W's Group (10.50 Start)

With Fiona ably back-marking, Mike, Gina, Neil C, Sue F and I attacked Farncombe Hill with gusto, and then, after an easy coast to Tilford, slogged up the seemingly endless climb which eventually led us to Frensham Great Pond.  Here we paused to study wildfowl, admire the view, and just have a bit of a rest really!

Scenery duly admired, it was time to plunge into the Hampshire lanes.   Well, I say 'plunge', but it was still mainly uphill, really!   The scenery was very pleasant but I can't help thinking it would have been enhanced by a bit of sunshine!   Eventually there was a welcome bit of downhill relief as we neared the pub.

What can I say about 'The Jolly Farmer' ?   Very mixed reviews, I think!   The welcome was very friendly, and the food was good and reasonable value for money - once it reached you!   But the service was very random and table numbers that we carefully provided when ordering seemed to get lost between the bar and the kitchen!   Some people were lucky, however.   I should mention that I did ask when reserving if we should order in advance, but was told it wouldn't be necessary!   

Anyway, despite the service problems my group were still able to get fed and watered in about an hour and we left about 1.30,  joined by Steve D, a refugee from Ged's group and anxious not to detain them because his lunch order had taken too long to arrive!   Mike kindly took over as back-marker for the return ride because Fiona hadn't stopped for lunch.

This time we did get a genuine plunge down some lanes (West Surrey ones now) with a good, long downhill run around the Alice Holt Forest.   Then it was time to start climbing again, culminating in the long grind up Suffield Lane into Puttenham.  Tipped off by Simon, we paused on the way to look at Brookfield, the property owned by so many stars of the past!   We arrived at The Watts Gallery in good time for tea.

Thanks to Fiona and Mike for back-marking, and the rest of the group both for their company, and for reviving corner-marking, almost a forgotten skill! 

Simon's Group (11.050 Start)

We arrived at The Snooty Fox in Shalford by a dizzying variety of travel plans, to be met by a kind of organised chaos that seemed to work somehow, so we were all refreshed and ready for the off. David W had included a beastly hill at Farncombe to warm us up: after this shock to the system, all the roads and even most of the hills were lovely! We travelled on very quiet and mostly smoothly surfaced roads, stopping to admire dragons at Churt and looking in vain for a beach at Frensham Great Pond. By this time, we had travelled nearly 14 miles, and questions were asked about “how much further is it”, but we struggled on over beautiful hill and dale, through deep denes and dark woods, etc etc to reach the pub at the hamlet of Blacknest.

There was a little confusion over lunch orders, as we were offered some of the previous groups’ food before they had been served. Once we realised, we directed it to the right tables, and Hans even offered to sell his half-eaten Brie sandwich at a small discount, such was his generosity. Once the others had been served, we were in fact served fairly promptly. The food was good and the portions were large.

Our return route explored more quiet lanes, picturesque houses and mansions and led us past the house near Elstead formerly owned by Peter Sellers, Stephen Stills and Ringo Starr at different times. Stephen Stills wrote the song Johnny’s Garden 

about the house and the gardener, John. Suddenly, we were in Puttenham - familiar territory and close to our tea destination at the Watts Gallery. Hans was concerned on hearing about the Takeaway Counter, but reassured to find that nobody had taken it away, and we had tea and cake with lashings of wasps, and a bit of fraternisation with other groups, which still seems rather illicit, before departing on a similar variety of routes back home. It was a very enjoyable day out. Thank you to David W for a beautiful route, to Janice for the photos, and to Brian for back-marking for our group.