Report for 'A' group ride 5th July Cobham - Wotton - Anstie

After the two previous 'long-flat' wednesday rides it was a reasonable choice to take to the hills, which the 'B's also did. The lunch venue Wotton Hatch was new for MWW's. Maybe the combination of the higher meal prices and the extra hills perhaps put a few people off, anyway, Janice led a moderate pace group which got positive feedback afterwards.
She writes .. 

The group comprising Clive, Dave F, Dave V, Andy, Pete B, Peter S, Frances and myself set off first.

Andy, a long time Cheam and Morden rider (from the 1980s until 2016), was joining an A group ride for the first time. His face was familiar to several, myself included, and it was good to see him group riding again.

We had been forewarned that it was a hilly ride and I set my group’s expectation of pace as slow due to tired legs from the cumulative effects of my LEJOG training generally and a ride to Brighton and back the day before specifically. Nobody seemed to mind and in fact Dave V commented kindly in favour of the pace set!

Staple Lane soon loomed, the first of the big hills, 7 in total according to my Garmin. Five of the hills were before lunch and all gave beautiful scenery or were lovely wooded lanes.

Unfortunately on the final pre lunch hill a car made a close pass of the group forcing Dave F into the side of the road and he came off his bike. Fortunately there were no serious injuries and Dave was able to ride onto lunch.

Lunch at the Wotton Hatch caused a small amount of confusion as the order had been sent in as 1 order whereas we were arriving in 2 groups. We asked if our group could be served first but the computer said no. Fortunately Neil’s group weren’t too far behind so after a short delay we could be treated as 1 order after all.

After lunch Dave’s F and V went more directly home and the rest of us joined in with Neil’s group for the return to Leatherhead.

A lovely, if hilly, route and enjoyable day out. Thanks to my group for their company and Frances in particular for back marking.

With Janice's group departing first, that left four of us - with Steve D, Ged, Fiona - to try a  stronger pace, (Pat was missed, unwell). We set off in rain, which ceased near Downside, then sunshine AND rain on the next stretch. One of ours was reminded of a song and tried to get us to identify it - about "sunshine and rain, maybe by Stevie Wonder?" we decided maybe it was 'Ain't no Sunshine' (by Bill Withers). In summer weather like this I think of the Alarm anthem  'Summertime ('I love to feel the rain in the summertime')'.  

At Hatchford we stopped to look at the manor, then on, before long starting the climbs with Staple Hill. Up Albury hill, the first car park is named Hurtwood, and curiously the name Hurtwood continues over a several miles and other car parks. After the steep start of Radnor Road and until reaching Wotton the woodland scenery was wonderful, trees, shrubs, ferns at their best.

Fiona had done a heroic ride the day before and kept a steady pace on our ride, leaving some in reserve for her exit before the pub lunch via Whitedown. The Wotton Hatch caterers were handicapped in serving up by their computer, anyway, no big problem. With two others leaving after lunch, we rode as one group, climbing Hollow Lane, a very impressive sunken lane and not too steep, then eventually we came to the high point, Anstie Lane. We had at least one riding this for the first time and affirmed that is a hill you don't forget!  

After that it was easy riding to Leatherhead and a cafe stop. I don't remember people actually saying 'We must do that again soon' but I'm sure they were thinking that and I'll be happy to oblige.