Report for B Group - 14th February

B Group ride from Weybridge to Esher

Alan led the Eros team:

On an overcast day with a forecast of rain, the Eros Group of eight riders left Morrisons Café in Weybridge on a Valentine’s Day Ride between Weybridge and Esher.

Following a mainly quiet route of 30 miles, the ride included an enjoyable mix of local cycling paths, peaceful canal-side tracks, quiet country lanes and some familiar open roads plus some historical points of interest along the way.

After a steady start riding through the morning traffic of Weybridge, we followed local roads and cycle paths around Weybridge Station and on to Brooklands Museum before joining the Saturn Trail to Brookwood Cemetery. We then rode to the New Inn at Send for lunch before stopping at Garson Farm for tea.

The Saturn Trail provided a beautifully quiet and direct route to Brookwood on good tracks beside the Basingstoke Canal passing local villages along the way. Our only other company along the canal were dogs (with walkers), ducks and the occasional runner.

After leaving the Saturn Trail at Brookwood, we rode to Brookwood Station which provided direct access to the grounds of Brookwood Cemetery. This was via a tunnel running under the track from the station forecourt and ticket barrier to the cemetery gate.

Following a short stop to discuss the history of the cemetery and look at a preserved section of original rail track from the Necropolis Railway line at Waterloo; we rode through the North and South sides of the cemetery stopping to see some of the notable chapels, mausoleums, graves and listed memorials and monuments on route. This included stopping to look at other sections of the cemetery which were devoted to different faiths.

After leaving the cemetery we rode to the New Inn Pub for lunch. The New Inn was a busy and cycle-friendly pub with a good choice of food. Following lunch, we rode to Garson Farm following a familiar route via Ripley and Cobham getting delayed behind a farm tractor trimming a hedge of thorns on the way. Luckily none of the group punctured.

Pam left the group at the Seven Sisters Pub to make her way home. Francis, John and Liz also split from the group at Cobham and Esher. This left Ray, Gill, Lillian and myself, to ride to Garson Farm where we met with the Tony’s Venus Group for tea.

Thanks to John, Francis, Gill, Ray, Liz, Lilian and Pam for a great day’s cycling. Thanks also to Tony for planning the route and to Francis for being back-marker. Thanks also to Francis for GPX support on route and to all members of the group for their patience after we went off-route or missed cycle paths on a couple of occasions.

A very enjoyable day with no rain, very little mud, and no punctures!

~ Alan

Flights of fantasy

Tony's report for the Venus team:

Our Venus group left Morrisons at Weybridge and headed out past Brooklands Museum onto Woking where we picked up the canal tow path that took us to Brookwood Cemetery. The path was fine for cycling. It took us a little time to view some outstanding graves and the layout of the old railway.

The next stop was lunch at the New Inn at Send. With the rain still keeping at bay the lunch stop was fine with good service and food. Afternoon tea was at Garsons Farm via Cobham. By now out of the seven riders only four remained.

Thanks to Tim Court and Alan for sub leading and for their input also thanks to Tim G for back marking and also for all the nice comments on WhatsApp.

30 miles in total

~ Tony

On the Basingstoke Canal

Life in the cemetery

What we all came for really!

Tim's report for the Cupids team:

Morrisons supermarket was a new Elevenses venue for most of us though we are looking forward to being able to meet again in the Day Centre. It was unfortunate that the lovely lady serving us was on her own when she could have done with an assistant. However she was unflappable and patient and we were all served in due course. We were however somewhat late departing. This was good in one respect, that Madeleine who had had to drive to Weybridge was able to join us for coffee and then find herself somewhere to park in time to intercept us as we cruised past on the way out. Grant had joined us for Elevenses only and Vic turned up just as we were leaving.

Beyond Weybridge Station we took our usual route through Brooklands, though with some improvisation to pick our way through all the merry-go-rounds and other fairground equipment.

Madeleine wanted a different sort of ride

We endured the long straight roads through to Woking where we dropped down to the Basingstoke Canal which we followed all the way to Brookwood. We passed through the station and under the railway line to pop out at the entrance to the cemetery which very few of us had visited before. Mindful that we were quite a way behind the other groups we took our time riding through the cemetery but without any detours to visit any of the many highlights of the place. We emerged onto the golf course, adjusted our helmets, then sneaked around the edge so as not to become targets for grumpy golfers.

We enjoyed riding the roads to Mayford and were soon through Westfield and Old Woking, arriving at the New Inn in Cartbridge where Diane came out to advise us to get a move on because they would only be taking orders until 2:30. It's a very nice pub with a homely ambience and good food delivered quite quickly. Nonetheless it was 3pm when we departed for the afternoon ride through Ripley and Cobham. By the time we reached Esher there were only three of us left and rather than face the prospect of riding home after dark we bypassed Garsons Farm and headed for home.

We were sorry that Sabina and Bernard weren't able to join us after all, so we were just a jolly little group of Pat Dobson, Terry, Madeleine, Anne, Julie and myself. Pat was pleased with her 46 miles, her longest ride since September. Thanks to Terry for back-marking and keeping order in the peloton.

~ Tim C