The omens were not good as I headed for elevenses at Walton Day Centre. I was caught in a heavy shower, my gears were playing up (I blame poor maintenance by whoever is responsible!), and there was a lively west wind. Never mind, my group set off promptly on a route which promised plenty of off-road sections.
The first came almost immediately - the towpath as far as the other side of Walton Bridge. We were briefly checked by an unexpected road closure but soon tackling the two sections of the Weybridge to Brooklands shared path. Then a bramble-free Muddy Lane (no mud in here)! Then the A3 cyclepath from Potters Lane to Burpham, then, after studiously avoiding the centre of Guildford, we were on some serious off-road, the Christmas Pie Trail, for a couple of miles from Wood Street Village to Ash Green. Despite recent wet weather hardly any mud was in evidence, fortunately!
Rain kept threatening all the while and, as we approached our lunch stop, the clouds were low and black, but somehow we stayed dry, with just one more cycle path through North Camp before a couple of miles on proper roads into Farnborough!
We chanced sitting outside at The Tilly Shilling and still stayed dry. Service was good and we were all fed and watered (internally) in less than an hour. As we set off towards tea there were a few spots of rain but it fizzled out and double jeopardy was the word as we tackled the two railway foot crossings either side of The Hatches path. After a fast few miles with the wind pushing us along through Deepcut, we hit what was supposed to be the final off-road section, a little path to avoid the main road from Bisley to West End.
That done, all went well until Stonehill. Just after Foxhills we were halted by a queue of stationary traffic stretching far into the distance. It looked as if further progress would be very slow on this narrow, busy road but luckily we were able to turn off and take a bonus off-road section through Homewood Park. That meant tea at Walton instead of Shepperton but it was better than being stuck in traffic!
We had hardly seen the sun all afternoon and it was no surprise that we finally fell victim to rain at Addlestone, but it was only a very brief shower and the sun re-appeared as the rain passed. As you would expect, the ever-reliable Walton Bridge cafe was firmly shut by the time we arrived, but yet another improvised off-road section took us back along the towpath to The Boathouse at Walton Marina, still open for thirsty cyclists!
Many thanks to my group (Gill, Sue C, Sue F, Keith, Dave F, Pete B, Christina, Paula and Andy, plus Geoff for the return trip) for your company, special thanks to Dave E for very competently back-marking all day, and thanks also to Hans for leading the other group (Ged, Patrick, Neil W and Peter S).
Of their experiences Hans writes; Having made sure my shorts were on the right way round (thanks Janice!) my group set off from Walton at a good pace. The Christmas Pie trail was dry and an easy run to the Tilly Shilling in Farnborough meant an early lunch. Geoff left us for the second group, the rest of us arrived in good time in Shepperton for tea. A good pace considering the amount of off road. An enjoyable ride. Many thanks to Ged for back marking and to Dave W for yet another intriguing ride.
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