It was a bit of a raw, cold day but fortunately dry after constantly changing (and contradictory) forecasts. 17 had signed up though one dropped out before the start and another en route to lunch.
My group of Ged, Steve D, Dave W, Pete Beyer and Richard was first away. At Ranmore we found a lake in the usual place suggesting that rather more rain had fallen overnight than the state of Bookham Common had suggested. It was good to see that the recent road closures seem to have fixed most of the poor surfaces between Sutton Abinger and Holmbury. Our run from Forest Green to the Plough at Leigh wasn't quite as fast as Frances and I managed wind assisted on Saturday but we arrived in good time.
The food was good and the sandwiches came quickly though a slightly longer wait for other orders. On the return we took the Coach Road (a bit sticky in places after the rain) and then got overtaken by Frances' group before Pixhham where Dave and Pete peeled off for home. The remaining four of us stopped for tea at Ashtead Garden Centre.
My thanks to Ged for back marking.
Dave F: My group of Clive, Sue C, and Dave and Jennie set off 5 mins after
Brian as planned. Dave kindly volunteered to back mark. Bookham Common
was surprisingly dry and we elected to go off piste to the top of Church
Lane to avoid the uphill start at the Effingham
traffic lights.
Jennie set an electric pace up Critten Lane with the rest of us
grinding up more leisurely. The bonus water splash in the Whitedown dip
gave several of us damp socks. The promised “easier faster riding from Holmbury to lunch” turned
out to be a bit more undulating than expected , but despite a bit of
mild headwind we made good and uneventful progress to lunch.
The Plough was pleasantly warm in the area reserved for us. We
ordered lunch slightly after Brian’s group and before the arrival of the
chasers, but ours took quite a while to arrive. However the food and
drinks were good and enjoyed by all. Hence we were
the last group away.
The short 12 miles to tea had a bit of sting in tail in the form of
Little Switzerland. By then the leaders legs were increasingly feeling
the strain, so everyone ascended to Headley at their own pace. As no one
wanted to stop for tea, we left it for
everyone to make their own way home from there.
Thanks to my group for being good company, Dave for riding shotgun,
and of course to Brian for another splendid typically Brian ride. Nice
to get home dry (apart from the feet).
Frances:
We were the last group to leave Cobham which included Janice, Patrick, Neil W and Peter S, with Peter backmarking.
It
was a cold damp morning but no rain and we made our way to our first
ascent of Beech Ave where on arrival at the top a large puddle await us
at the start of Whitedown. Undeterred, we pushed ahead and managed to
keep our feet dry to descend Whitedown and onwards to Holmbury St Mary.
Janice had to leave us and she opted for heading over Leith Hill and
after a few discussions we continued down to Ockley turning right to
head for Capel and Newdigate. It was a good run on clear roads to Leigh
where we arrived just after 1pm by which time everyone was ready for a
break and some food. The latter was dispensed with great efficiency and
we were ready for the final push. We had at that stage met the earlier
groups and overlapped when we started to head up Juniper, several of my
group passed me by on that stretch and I was glad to see them again
before final thrash down to Pleasure Pitt Road Garden Centre. We agreed
to continue through Epsom and have tea at The Moat garden center where
fortunately we met another three gents from the B ride, who had not
eaten all the cake!
I left to pick up my car whilst Neil,
Patrick and Peter left at speed down Horton for home. A lovely ride and
group with thanks to Peter for patience in backmarking.
Thanks Brian everyone enjoyed the great route and pub.
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