Leading this ride I felt I was also leading a charmed life! Not only was there a brief window of dry and sunny weather sandwiched between seemingly never-ending rain and gloom, but I was also very fortunate to recruit the services of two very capable sub-leaders (Hans and Steve D), who are up for anything, even the challenge of leading one of my tortuous routes from .gpx! Those on the ride might not have noticed but I'd also plagiarised large sections of route from others (Dave V, Dave B, and Ged to name but a few), so credits to them! In addition I think this ride was (quite inadvertently) timed to coincide with the peak of autumn colours. Anyway, my gratitude knows no bounds!
Twenty or so of us set off in three groups and headed for Brookwood via the Brooklands banking, Pyrford, Woking Park and Hook Heath. The only disappointment for me was that plans to use Muddy Lane to avoid the unpleasant A245 had to abandoned, the bridleway being not so much muddy as waterlogged!
The routing through Brookwood and Pirbright cemeteries was a mere fluke of Garmin route-planning and not genius on my part, I'm afraid! The military cemetery in particular was surprising and impressive.
My group perhaps (understandably) lingered a little too long on sightseeing but we eventually got rolling again and began the long slog to Deepcut and the outskirts of Camberley, scaling the dizzy heights of the Brackendale Road footbridge to cross the M3.
We arrived at the Claude Duvall (Wetherspoon's) just before but it was busier than expected and the food service was slow, so it was 2.00 pm before we set off for home. With the stiff westerly wind now behind us, we made light work of the initial climb out of Camberley and the road to Lightwater. Unexpected flooding of the road at Blackstroud Lane checked us a bit, and I decided that would suffice for a ford challenge for my group and we duly bypassed Pennypot Lane to save a bit of time! In the event we arrived back at Walton Bridge just after 3.30 pm. Three stopped for tea at The Boathouse, the rest were keen to get home before nightfall. Thanks to Andy C for very kindly back-marking throughout the ride.
Han's group's experiences seem to have been marred somewhat by a contretemps with a white van, but the police have been made aware and are taking action thanks to Mike's camera footage! Hans was I think, the only one of us all to have bravely attempted the ford challenge! I must admit, had we not side-stepped it altogether, I don't think I would have tried it on this occasion!
Steve writes: 'It was with some trepidation that I agreed to lead from gpx. Even more so when both Patrick and Richard contacted me to say they were too ill to ride. However Sue Chasty kindly agreed to join us and with her, Ged, Peter Suchy and Dave and Jennie Jackson we set off from Weybridge. Well you know it was a lovely sunny day and started with a familiar route into Brookland via Weybridge station. Then shock and awe! We go right instead of left. Past Mercedes World and the model of Concorde and out past the banking of the old Brookland race track. Then quiet roads past Wisley and Byfleet villages out past Woking along Cemetary Pales road. Then shock and awe! We turn into Brookwood Cemetary with the military graves of the fallen of commonwealth nations. 1601 from World War 1 and 3476 from World War 2. The latter figure includes 43 brave Canadians who died of their wounds during the Dieppe raid, which we remember every year on our three valleys ride in France. I must revisit Brookwood. Onwards we rode again through Deepcut on quiet roads past Frimley to our lunch stop at Weatherspoons in Camberley. The afternoon return was pleasant on more uncharted roads through Lightwater, Chobham, Ottershaw and finally the Wilde Brunch cafe which was closed. Sue and Peter left us to go home and we waited for Dave who had not arrived. Eventually Jennie signalled that Dave was on his way so Ged and I carried on to the River Barn cafe. Later we learnt Dave had received another gift from the puncture gods. Same rear wheel'.
Anyway, thanks all for your company, and photo credits to Simon, Steve and Andy.
No comments:
Post a Comment