On a chilly overcast morning n..n..nineteen set out from Cobham, starting with Dave Ward's group ..
David Ward: Our group (Dave F, Dave E, Sue C, Janice, Nigel, Clive and me) set off from Cobham promptly at 10.35. The twists and turns of Neil W's ingenious route around Fetcham and Bookham soon had us all dizzy, but at least that took our minds off the cold!
[Ed.. Dave W's group were the only one with a pic of the Barnes Wallce grave we all visited].
Janice left us before Green Dene. We were in gloom at the top of Staple Lane
but sunshine at the bottom and that re-energised us and we pushed on to
reach The Seven Stars not long after
noon. Service was friendly and
efficient and capacious meals were delivered to our table only very short time
after we had returned from the bar.
Consequently, we were on the road home just after 1.00 pm.
Just before Cobham three of the group veered off via Bookham Common, and Nigel left us at Cobham. Dave E and I continued up the Portsmouth Road and reached Giro Cafe at Esher at 1.59 pm exactly!
Great route and very enjoyable day so many thanks Neil.
Hans led the third group ..
My group of six set out from Cobham full of expectations of a ‘mystery’ ride. We weren’t disappointed. A route through new roads around Fetcham and Effingham eventually brought us to the grave of Barnes Wallace, of bouncing bomb fame just in time to catch some of Neil’s dissertation on the great man. By shear coincidence as I write this there is news of the death of the last surviving dam buster Johnny Johnson.
On with the ride, up Green Dene and a fast descent to the dual carriageway and along to the Horsley lights. The fast pace continued to lunch, despite Patrick’s attempt to go elsewhere.
A good lunch, photo and then back to Esher via Cobham .
A great ride on a lovely, bright but cold day. Thanks to Neil for the route etc and to Ged for back marking.
Neil W.: My Wayfarer blog
invite mentioned there would be a follow on Place of Interest to a POI we visited
in Harmondsworth earlier this year (16 Feb 2022). After that ride I read up and noted Barnes was
buried in Effingham. I only found out where in October. If I had searched
the Wayfarer blogs I would have found several rides visiting it, back in 2012
and since. Anyway, in the style of an
end of year hotpot made up of xmas leftovers, I put together a route with interesting
bits of rides done with my KPRC Saturday group, keeping fairly local and with just one, well behaved full climb.
We took in Fetcham's Gatesden Road, a light climb that then gives a splendid view north over
Brockham Common. The picture doesn’t do it justice .. much better in bright
sun.
At
Effingham we visited the grave of Barnes Wallace. I had set a puzzle with the Led
Zep 1 album cover - "whats the visual connection with the POI we will visit?" You have to look very closely to see the airship on his gravestone (his R100), left of the words ENGINEER & INVENTOR. Right is an image of his prototype
hypersonic jet, the Swallow.
Read more here ..
Riding up
Calvert Road a spaniel had unbridled enthusiasm for joining our ride, thanks
Dave B. for coaxing the dog back to safety.
Then Green Dene, Jenny and David powered up admirably. From there the riding
was mostly easy and downhill, we arrived very much looking forward to warmth
and lunch. There was quite a wait, but it was very good food. Neil C. had a grandly engineered sausage and mash, with vertically structured parsnips.
Another 10
miles of fine riding to Esher. Along with Dave V and Richard we kept together without needing backmarking. It’s a sign of the season that riders moslty aren’t doing end of ride cafe stops, anyway, plenty of appreciations received for the
ride, thanks all.
Big thanks to Hans and Dave Ward for sub-leading and making it a great day out for all of us.
1 comment:
It looks like bike lights on my brake hoods in the photo - but it is only the low afternoon sun bouncing off the reflective pads on my Barmitts, (a valuable road safety previously unknown to me!).
Post a Comment