Well everyone seemed to enjoy themselves on the ride, despite the hills. I set off with Ged, Neil W, Patrick, Dave B, Mark and Hans at 10.25 am after the presentation at RBL. I had expected sunshine and later in the ride we were not disappointed. I struggled on the hills, but we still made good time arriving at The Royal Oak in two hours. Frances was already there and so we sat down to some good food and conversation. The second group arrived on time and the pub was busy (probably for the first time all week). We set off at 1.30 and were cold. I was worried we had not seen Brian's third group, but no messages of woe so off we went in to grey gloom.
Mark left us after Box Hill and arriving at The Old Moat garden centre, Hans and Dave B headed home too. So Frances, Ged, Neil W, Patrick and I stayed for tea. After they too had left for home I decided to stick around and Tim arrived with some B riders, which was very welcome company. There was no sign of any others, until Brian arrived with John, which was a relief. Brian 's report is as follows.
My group, reduced to 5 by the dreaded ping, consisted of Gina, Dave F, Steve W and John B. We made steady progress over to Shere where a tiny pyramid of flint had my name on it and I punctured just before the railway bridge. After that we pushed on to lunch eventually arriving about 1.40. Fortunately service was swift and we were away again before 2.30. The morning climbs had not seemed too onerous at the time but certainly made Box Hill feel steeper than normal. At the viewpoint the setting sun provided magnificant lighting to the scene and soon after we were treated to a full rainbow ( followed by a brief shower).
Gina and Steve left us after Box Hill to head home via Walton and Dave left us near Ashtead. Just John and I pushed on the the Old Moat arriving just in time to get served and join Steve who was still there together with a large group of Bs.
Thanks for a great ride. Glad it wasn't today. It may be sunny but there is a dusting of snow here and I'm sure the country roads will be icy.
Finally Dave Ward had this to say.
Dave V, Sue C, Neil C, Richard B and Keith joined me as the 10.30 group. We set off from Cobham in glorious sunshine which did full justice to Steve's scenic route. It was interesting to see how the trees had shed almost all their autumn leaves in just the last week or so since the recce ride. We took the Shere Road climb in our stride, then I led by example through Shere Ford, but no one followed! It was unusual for an 'A' route to ride up Holmbury Hill by Radnor Road, but the novelty of the occasion was tempered by the steepness of the climb! Fortunately, having to keep stopping to let umpteen cars pass probably took some of the sting out of the gradient! After descending we flew along to Ockley with the wind really pushing us along. By Newdigate the legs were ready for a rest, but it wasn't to be - cruelly, there were still a couple more miles to go, back into the wind again, to lunch, which we reached just before 1.00 pm. All the group were impressed with the Royal Oak - it was cosy with speedy, efficient and friendly service and reasonable prices. By 1.00 pm we were ready to leave. The rather dramatic sky was distinctly threatening on the horizon, and we thought we'd probably done enough hills for one day, so we decided to omit Boxhill. The group split at Burford Bridge, and again at Leatherhead, and we made our separate ways home. Thanks to all for your company, and to Dave V for back-marking, and to Steve for a lovely route.
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