Firstly, thanks to everyone for turning out on a day with an uninviting weather forecast. It was virtually certain that most riders would get wet somewhere/sometime. I will long remember the sight of Ged drying his feet with newspaper outside the RBL Hall. Especial thanks to Simon and Dave Bartholomew (chief giraffe spotter) for leading into a blustery headwind all morning.
Simon’s group was first off.
A lovely ride from Dave V today, filled with weather, wild animals and some unfamiliar quiet roads, not to mention a few hills. Dave set us the challenge of spotting giraffes and tigers, and my team of Sue, Gina, Davids F and W, Geoff and Keith excelled themselves, bagging not only a giraffe and a tiger but also a crocodile (in West End, Esher pond), a green monkey, a wild Beagle, several cock pheasants and a partridge in a pear tree. We were made very welcome and served promptly with good meals at lunchtime, before setting off with a tailwind to blow us home.
Thank you to Geoff and David W for back marking, and to the whole group for your company.
Next was Dave Bartholomew.
My group comprising Janice, Hans, Mike, welcome returnee Trevor, Ged and Neil W ended up leaving Cobham just ahead of Dave V’s group due to some last minute re-jigging and late arrivals.
After a brief stop to view the Downside giraffe, and over-taking Simon’s group on the way up to Headley Common, we managed to hold a decent steady pace on the long straight stretches of road down to Charlwood, in spite of a strong head wind most of the way.
Lunch at The Star was served efficiently and we were on our way again before 1.30pm. A fast route via Partridge Lane (with it’s the tiger !!) and Brockham saw us back in Leatherhead by 2.30, for tea sat outside Amici in some weak sunshine.
The clouds then started to gather so we left for home just after 3pm, without seeing either of the 2 other groups.
Barely a drop of rain all day……until the monsoon hit between Oxshott and Esher on the way home!!
Great route provided by Dave V, nice long stretches of quiet roads, relatively flat and good company. Thanks to all my group and in particular Hans for back-marking duties.
Finally, my group left about 10 minutes later than scheduled. In retrospect it was ambitious getting 20 riders in 3 groups on the road in a 10 minute window, but hanging around in the wind was not pleasant and I wanted to get everyone to lunch before 1pm and not all at the same time. My group of Patrick, Frances, Pete Beyer, Nigel, Steve W and John Bassett proved a well balanced bunch, and we were at The Star just before 1pm. Everyone seemed happy with lunch so we were on the road around 2.15.
We spotted the Partridge Lane tiger, apparently guarding (?) a field of pigs. The pigs were there in Monday’s recce but had mysteriously disappeared by Wednesday. Attempting photography seemed imprudent and luckily we were fast enough on the road to escape the tiger and to get to Leatherhead before 3pm, ahead (just) of the rain. Frances and Steve had elected to go straight home but the rest of us wisely took refuge in Amici. Politely declining the offer of outside seating, we found Simon inside celebrating his decision to stay dry in the only way we cyclists know.
Thanks to Patrick for back-marking my group, and to photogaphers Pete Beyer, Geoff Gregory and Dave Ward, not to mention Simon and DaveB.
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