Wet and windy A group ride to Okewood Hill 2 Aug

For days, the forecast had been showing a likely wet and windy day for our ride. Nevertheless there were 18 foolhardy enough to sign up a couple of days before.By Wednesday morning however, the prospect of a more than 95% chance of heavy rain and the potential for thunderstorms reduced the total number down to 12, all hoping one day to be as hardy as the ‘easy-hardy’ riders. All we now needed to do to be as tough as them was to cycle in these conditions with temperatures around zero and we’d be there.

Clive’s group was away first and here’s his report.

My group was all but obliterated by riders thinking better of the dire weather forecast and deciding to pursue other, more dry activities. Only me and Dave W were left, so it was decided by our leader (Janice) to go from three down to two groups (‘medium’ and ‘medium +’) and to get going, as soon as we were ready, to try and get to lunch before the rain. So, the following set off from Cobham in to the unknown: Sue C, Dave’s C, F & W, Andy C and Pete B. 

We were first off but were soon overtaken on Ockham Lane by the other group, led by Janice. But no matter what they tried, they were unable to drop us and we regained the lead again at the bottom of Coombe Lane where they had stopped, exhausted, to catch their breath. However, as they were the so called ‘medium + group’ we thought we had better let them establish a gap, so we stopped for a photoshoot at the ford across the Tillingbourne in Shere.

By the ford 

Andy C, Sue C, Dave F, Dave W, Pete B and Dave C with sunflowers

After the photo stop, we pressed on along the Surrey lanes through Little London and Farley Green and on to Cranleigh and Ewhurst. We are so lucky to have the Surrey Hills and surrounding areas on our doorstep, which were looking picturesque even in the gloomy weather.

We were certainly lucky with the weather and dodged most of the showers, just catching a couple of light ones, but things started to turn worse as we reached Wallis Wood near our planned lunch stop. We sprinted the final stretch to thePunchbowl and got inside just before the heavier rain hit.

The Punchbowl is a lovely pub and the food was excellent. I had a really good ham and cheese omelette (I regret not taking a photo of it that I could post on the blog) and the baguettes and sandwiches looked good too.

During lunch the rain started to fall quite heavily and some of my group (me included) decided we would catch the train home from Ockley. On the way to the station, on Weare Street, the road was blocked by some dangerous looking wild animals. We had to wait patiently until it was safe to proceed.

Wild animals ‘on the loose’ (in the foreground)

At Ockley station, Andy and Dave C showed true British grit and determination by shunning the train while the rest of us headed up to buy our tickets.

Thanks to my group for their great company and to Janice for organising the ride and managing all the last minute, weather induced changes.

My group of Ged, Steve D, Patrick, Brian and myself left a couple of minutes after Clive leaving us with a dilemma soon after. We were travelling a fraction of a mph faster. Should we sit behind or overtake? Foolishly we overtook, a red tag to a bull it seems as as we were soon hunted down. 

Fortunately, by Shere Clive’s group stopped to play in the ford and take photos leaving us with a clear road, a massive headwind and a mostly dry ride to lunch - apart from the 3 or 4 occasions when we decided to stop to put rain jackets on (which of course meant 3 or 4 occasions that we needed to stop to take them off again). 

But on balance, the ride to lunch was pleasant and we arrived almost in sunshine so took the opportunity for the traditional photo. Note the lack of rain jackets!

Lunch was good and we watched the rain start and then worsen as we ate. The forecast predicted thunderstorms to start at 4 so we didn’t hang around and quickly set off towards home. It rained fairly consistently but at least it wasn’t cold and as a bonus, at least twice for a few yards the headwind turned into a tailwind. We took a couple of shortcuts but we’re enjoying the day so much we then decided to head over Box Hill rather than via the A24 cycle path….

Thanks to all who rode today for your good humoured company and especially for my group accompanying me on my LEJOG training (a wet windy ride was recommended and as many hills as possible, so it was good of my group to follow me up Box). I’m not sure I would have done it if I wasn’t leading with LEJOG coming up!

Thanks Clive for sub leading.