A ride September 13th

It was possibly foolhardy to decide that if my birthday fell on a Wednesday then I should embrace it and lead so that I could decide that we went to the Surrey hills rather than to Staines and beyond. It could have rained but it didn't and although sunshine was in short supply I suspect that most were glad that this week was cooler than last.

A slight potential hiccup occurred when Dave Vine and I realised that my route covered about 15 miles of his route last week but fortunately almost all in the opposite direction so we figured that no-one would mind since I left out his two big hills. It didn't go unnoticed though that my alternative of frequent smaller ones resulted in a very lumpy afternoon. 

I left first with a group of seven ( Sue C, Jennie and David J, Andy C, Dave F and Simon ) but was soon overtaken. After the early fiddly bits to Brooklands and Muddy Lane the outward route was quite straightforward and we were only about 10 minutes slower than my recce ride to lunch.

As always the Grantley Arms served us promptly with good food and we were on our way within an hour without rushing it.

So then we traversed Thorncombe Street for the second time in a week though this is such a lovely lane that there were no complaints (even from Dave B - see Neil's report). The afternoon was characterised by unusually high levels of traffic in both the climb up Farley Heath Road and also Hoe Lane where we had to wait for the traffic to untangle itself. 

As on the recce, the hills (sorry: carefully curated undulations!) and lack of fast downhill opportunities meant that the pace was significantly slower than the morning but we arrived in Dorking in good time to fnd both the other groups still at tea.

My thanks to Simon for backmarking and to all my group for their excellent company. It was a most enjoyable day. My thanks also to Steve D and Neil W for sub-leading:  Neil at short notice as numbers crept up.

Neil's group left next:

We left on time from Waldon DC and passed Brian's group surprisingly soon, just before Muddy Lane we paused for Dave B. to catchup, he had stopped to adjust something, we were chasing a fire engine (in support), but as he said, we still didn't know where the fire was. Good climb on Staples and a few others, Patrick again displaying his seemingly effortless style cruising past at the steepest sections. The level crossing at Chilworth came down just as we arrived, what a long wait. We took a few minutes to view the Art & crafts church in Blackheath, saw Steve and Janice ride past then the rest of their group. The weather was great for the ride, and good for outdoors lunch. 

 

On Thorncombe Street Hill Dave got a puncture. 

 

During this intermission Mike R and Hans tried my bike and liked the Selle SMP saddle, which Neil C recommended to me. This is where the fine sculptures of horses are displayed, I saw two of them, the other group were taking pictures, told usthere were three, and I was a bit slow picking up on the 'pipeline' they were pointing out to us. A few times my group were saying the route was like a rerun of last week in reverse, again I had missed this, it seemed a novel route done this way round. Anyway, no question, we enjoyed this ride. The white squirrel was a bit of a surreal finishing touch.

PS. the large horsehead sculpture that was on display next to the A3 near Oxshott and its replacement were sculpted by Nic Fiddian: the sculptures we saw on our ride are by him, he does his work from the farm there ..
https://www.sladesfarm.co.uk/events/horse-trekking-open-day/nic-fiddian-green-equestrian-sculpture/  

Steve led the last group from Walton:

I have to say I was impressed that Janice joined us after her epic success on the LEJOG with Fiona. They both showed superior levels of fitness to complete a more arduous 'holiday' than was anticipated.

 

Nevertheless, along with Mark, Dave Ellis and Peter Suchy, Janice made five including myself. I started a few minutes behind the second group led by Neil W. The cycle path through Brookland was quiet and traffic seemed to be low so we made good time passing Brian's first group. The wind was cold so when the sun started to make an appearance it was welcome. I soon warmed up climbing Staple Lane and watched Mark and Janice forge ahead out of sight and soon Peter followed. After descending Combe Lane it was a lovely descent through to Albury and on to Black Heath and Wonersh. Just before the lunch stop at the Grantley Arms, Neil passed us with the second group. They had stopped to look in a church and we had unknowingly passed them. We ate a sumptuous lunch inside as it was still chilly. 

The afternoon ride was a delightful romp through Bramley and the single track and bridleways of Thorncombe Street. After the ascent of Farley Down we were looking forward to tea, or at least I was. The top of Wotton signified the last bit of ascent and I took a picture. 

 

Then it was an easy off road way to The Old Clunker cafe in Dorking. There we caught sight of a white squirrel! I had seen one years before in St. Martin's church cemetery in Dorking, but it had disappeared and so it was very comforting to see the line had not died out. 

Thanks go to Peter Suchy for back marking so effectively with an excellent flashing front light. Of course, many thanks also to birthday boy Brian for devising a really lovely route and organising drinks and cake at the start!