'A' Group Ride Report - Weds 19 Oct 2022

 

Sadly, it was probably au revoir today to elevenses at Addlestone!   We will fondly miss the home made eccles cakes and cheese scones the day centre used to serve us, once we had got over the level crossing, that is!  Ged tells us that as the Addlestone day centre still has no plans to re-open, post Covid, the Addlestone slots in our 2023 programme are likely to be moved somewhere else (I'll leave you to guess where, but as a clue I can say that it is in the same area (Runnymede) as Addlestone and that it boasts not just one level crossing but two!

Anyway Costa Coffee, the Golden Cafe and Greggs did us proud today, and 25 well-nourished and hydrated 'A' riders set off punctually in three groups led by Hans, Frances and me.   My group, comprising Mark, Simon, Keith, Pete B, Nigel, Dave F and Clive, with Geoff G as back-marker, were last away.

We met no problems on the way to lunch and the stiff easterly breeze pushed us along nicely through autumnal pine woods and heathland which took on an increasingly military character the closer we came to Aldershot, our lunch stop.  Even with a a detour to the Wellington memorial (recommended by Vic White) and a photo stop, it was still only about 12.45 when we arrived at The Queen Hotel.

Service at this particular Wetherspoons was impressively fast and it wasn't too busy, so we were ready to leave by about 1.30.   Untold acres more of pine woods and heathland were traversed and it was almost a relief to find ourselves back to urban reality in the Sheerwater estate!   A short section of canal towpath ought to have provided scenic relief but we instead had to concentrate on parting a human tide of seemingly hundreds of schoolchildren coming towards us in wave after wave!   Then we found one of the lock gates mysteriously open and blocking the Scotland Bridge footbridge.   Could it be re-closed?  Simon applied the laws of physics and forced it back while we crossed, then made a dash himself.   I didn't see what he had for lunch but spinach must have been involved!   

Pushing against the headwind had made the return leg noticeably harder work, even so we still made it to The Wilde Brunch before the random time, probably determined by the Fates, when the hatch mysteriously closes!    Unbeknownst to us all, Geoff, who had been quietly and efficiently back-marking all day, suffered a puncture at Weybridge and dropped off the back, but none of us noticed!   Mea culpa, we should have been more aware, not least because this could have been something much more serious!  Fortunately, it had a happy ending, but lessons have been learned!

Anyway, sincere apologies to him, and thanks for his back-marking stint, thanks to Hans and Frances for co-leading, and thanks to everyone else for your company!

Of her group's experiences, Frances writes 'I rounded up my group of 6, Sue, Dave and Jennie , Richard and Dave with Peter kindly offering to act as backmarker sporting a visible orange top.  We departed promptly and we had a good tailwind for most of the outbound route , averaging around 14.5 mph to arrive at the main tourist attraction of the relocated Wellington Statue.  The first group led by Hans was just leaving and we enjoyed the sight along with Richard peeling off some layers in view of the warm weather.

After a few twists and turns into Aldershot, the pub aka Wetherspoons was a prompt at serving as always which allowed us to leave again at a good time but this time into a headwind which did impact.  Nonetheless despite some confusion at the junction near Addlestone railway station, we all arrived back at Walton bridge around 3.3opm.  Sue and Richard decided to stop for tea while Hans' group were still in situ.  The rest of us made our way home after a lovely day out.  Thanks all and Peter for bright backmarking'.