B Group report for 21st October

David Jackson’s report:

Since the week-end and even a day before the weather forecast for Wednesday was terrible, but as with a lot of things, you can’t believe all you read!

So, it was great that in the end we had 19 riders set off in three groups for the ride to Bagshot. I lead the first group, Clive the second and Jennie the third, spaced 15 minutes apart. In the first group, we were able to welcome Andrew Newton, who had done a few rides with the C Group and on Saturdays. Andrew proved to be a good, safe rider, easily coping with the distance, he would have done about 60 miles for the round trip. I’m sure he will be a good addition to the B’s.

I borrowed most of the route from a route that Simon had taken a few Sunday’s ago, Jennie had said it was a wonderful route and I think most of us would agree, so a personal thanks to Simon!

From the start at the garden centre we took a section of the canal, and then meandered our way through Horsell, Chobham, Lightwater and into Bagshot. The autumn colours, particularly along the canal were wonderful, the sun came out, a real October day.

The Kings Arms pub is a very large pub, more than able to cope with the groups as they arrived, as the weather was so nice we all decided to sit outside, the refreshments arrived swiftly and well served.

 

After lunch, the route back to Shepperton, more undulating than the morning section, took in Ascot, the Great Park, Virginia Water and Chertsey. The weather turned somewhat so we needed to ‘cape up’ but nothing too serious. We were again able to sit outside at the Ferry Café at the end and were soon chatting to the other groups after they arrived. Tony Hopkins, who had been unable to make the ride joined for tea, which was good and eventually we dispersed and made our ways home.

Special mention should be made to Jacqui Pitman, who I think was only rider, brave enough or foolhardy enough to attempt the ford crossing at Chobham, I didn’t do it on the recce on Monday, let alone after all the rain we had on Tuesday, a true Wayfarer!

Thanks to everyone in my group for making it such a great day out and also to my sub-leaders Clive and Jennie.
 

    
Clive Janes wrote:

My group of Paula, Jacqui, Christina, Tony and Dave set off from Bourne Valley Garden Centre in unseasonably warm weather and sunshine despite the forecast for cloud and rain. The weather proved pretty good all day just sheltering from brief showers a couple of times. After leaving the garden centre my navigational skills were soon called in to question as I missed the very first turning! But thanks to Garmin we were soon back on track and riding along the Basingstoke Canal from Woodham all the way to Woking where we said goodbye to the canal and headed through Horsell, up to Chobham Common, back through Chobham village and then towards Bagshot via Windlesham.

This was a very enjoyable ride through pretty countryside and along quiet and quaintly named lanes such as Gracious Pond Road and Lovelands Lane. The latter being the scene of Jacqui’s brave but ultimately doomed attempt to cross a ford which had amassed abyssal depths after heavy rainfall the night before. Not even the sight of several vehicles backing up and returning whence they came would put her off the attempt. After building up a head of steam she careened in to the ford, water going everywhere. Disastrously, forward momentum was lost once the water level reached the top of her wheels and she toppled over just saving herself from a complete drenching while the rest of us watched on from the dry safety of the foot bridge. It was a fine effort.

Aquatic bird Jacqui landing in the water

Once all the excitement had died down, we continued on our way to the lunch stop at the Kings Arms in Bagshot and were unexpectedly able to take refreshment outside in the sun, along with the other two groups. The food was generally thought to be pretty good and was served in good time although Dave had to settle for scampi and chips this time, due to a problem with the fish fryer.

Suitably refreshed and having allowed most of the water to drain from Jacqui’s bike we continued on our way towards Sunningdale, around Virginia Water in Windsor Great Park and on to Chertsey where we turned off the Chertsey Road towards the Thames. It was here that Christina peeled off to head home, or so we thought. We followed the Thames to Shepperton Lock where we stopped for tea and were reunited again with the other groups and also with Christina who had mysteriously got there before us.

At the polo ground in Windsor Great Park

After tea we headed for Walton Bridge where we started to split up for our rides home.

Many thanks to everyone for the company and especially to David Jackson for putting together a very enjoyable route and for giving me a preview of it during Monday’s recce - it was all new ground for me.

~ Clive

Following the rainbow

(Tim)