First the mea culpa. 25 signed up for the ride and on the day we had 23 - my lapse when addressing the group email being responsible for one. Patrick was detained by work.
When struggling to figure out where to go I remembered that Jeff Tollerman sometimes used to take us up Logmore Lane as way of accessing Leith Hill. I don't remember doing it since - so why not?
We rode out of Dorking to Westcott along the path we usually only use on the way home and then up Logmore to Coldharbour. A slight panic on Tuesday when I realised that after our Monday recce Logmore was shown as closed for 3 days on Google/Surrey maps for roadworks. No need to worry - it had all been finished on Tuesday.
My group was the last and slowest of the three with the intention of making sure the first two groups had ordered before we arrived at the pub. So our pace was leisurely and we enjoyed the scenery. After Leith Hill we headed down Mole Street to Walliswood, ending up on the tail of Tim Gibbons B group. We stopped at the turn to Okewood church and let them go on while we diverted to the church.
Built in 1220 it's a delight, hidden deep in the woods between Okewoodhill and Walliswood. On Monday on the recce there was a wedding in progress.
We then had an uneventful ride to Shamley Green where the first group was still receiving food and the second still waiting. Our lunch was an extended affair and it was after 2.30 when we finally set off. Our route took us through Blackheath and then up Guildford Lane to the recently improved path to Newlands Corner. From Tithebarns Lane at Send we avoided the roadworks at Ockham by going to Jury's Farm and W Horsley en route to Cobham.
Only three for tea after the rest headed from Effingham Junction to Leatherhead. John B had gone to Dorking after lunch having dicovered before lunch that his phone was missing. My thanks to Dave Ferrett for back marking.
The first two groups were led by Neil Warland and Steve Wilshire:
Neil's report:
This was a very enjoyable ride, Brian brought some innovation
to the route, and arranged for the fast group off first with the hope of
spreading the workload for the pub staff more evenly. Shortly before
departure time Brian briefed me that Logmore Lane was closed on Tuesday,
if it isn't passable we would have to return to Dorking. It turned out
that the road repairs were completed, and in a patchwork style
sympathetic to the earlier state of disrepair. We had a break at the top
of Logmore, reflecting that most of us could not remember doing it in
that direction.
I took the opportunity as sub group
leader to push ahead a few times, it was a nice change for me not to
have to brake continually downhill.
The views in multiple places were magnificent.
Andy,
back from covid confinement set a keen pace along Mole Street, we
regrouped at Walliswood where Janice noticed a drawing pin on her new
front tyre. It was removed and the sealant did its job well. As we
finished the repair Steve W. from the 2nd group arrived, so I resolved
to keep a fast pace, to make a time gap at the Bricklayers Arms. The pub
was a really nice venue, but they did struggle to get the orders out,
some older local visitors could not bear the extended wait muttering
some annoyance.
We restarted after lunch at a reserved pace,
after a while the pace picked up and it seemed to me Steve D. and Dave
B. who were missing some pace earlier this year were riding at their
former best.
After West Clandon Tithebarns continues onto a
concrete road, along here we had our 2nd puncture; Fiona noticed a
hissing sound .. was there another puncture? yes mine. Neither of us
found the cause. Along this track, we were passed by a van, a car, a
horse & rider, a mtb, AND an e-scooter, all the passers by were in a
friendly mood.
We pressed on, I kept a fast pace, including
up the dreadfully neglected Driftway, before the final turn to the cafe
in Cobham Dave B. sprinted past - a welcome surprise!
A super day's riding, thanks Brian, and thanks Janice & Fiona for backmarking.
Steve's write-up will be added soon
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