Caterham starts give us the opportunity to ride on roads less frequently travelled by Wayfarers. We last visited the Darent Valley with Keith in August 2017, so a revisit was well overdue. By a strange coincidence C&M visited the same area only a couple of weeks ago, though by a completely different route.
We had 16 riders booked in, plus Paula who joined us for the first hour before returning to go rowing, and Dave F who came to wave us off. At Caterham I was amazed to see all our riders arrive early to tuck into the pastries, coffee and tea provided by the Westway in their garden. It was all delicious.
Frances’ group set off first, Janice, Andy. Neil Patrick with Fiona backmarking. She reports.
The weather was fabulous for our ride into Kent from Caterham. The centre hosted us very well before we departed. We encountered a gravel spreading truck at the first descent but carefully negotiated it and we're soon heading up Halliloo ascent.
Needless to say we enjoyed a few more of the rolling Kent countryside. In particular it was beautiful through the scent of the lavender fields, near Lullingstone Country park. We arrived at The Chequers pub in Crockenhill just before 12.30. Lunch was prompt and friendly staff.
The afternoon felt hotter as we pushed on deciding to take the alternative route at Knockholt to avoid road closures. Again there was some climbing but soon we were descending near Woldingham.
We had a mishap when we took the wrong turn too soon off Burntwood where Andy came off ahead of us. Fortunately he was able to continue up to Banstead.
A few decided a much needed cold drink and ice cream was needed so we stopped at Cafe Italia.
A beautiful route through Kent. Thanks to all my group for assisting and company.
Neil’s group was next.
Four of us (Peter S, Dave B and Steve D) lined up and headed off. Unfortunately the heat had already got to my brain and I had left one of my flock behind. Luckily Dave V swept Steve W up and delivered him to lunch.
After the precarious descent of a gravel covered Burntwood Lane it was mainly hills and quiet lanes.
Lunch at The Chequers was good and then it was more lanes and sunshine in the afternoon.
We were having such a good time that after The Ridge we didn't descend to Woldingham Station but made a detour to take in Gangers Hill and descend through Woldingham School (now with added vineyard!).
Dave's route avoided going back up the gravelly Burntwood Lane but replaced it with a trip through the woods and a very sticky Salmons Lane. After yet more hills we arrived in Banstead where some went for a cold drink and others freewheeled home.
My group of Sue’s C & F, Gill, Richard, Steve and Paula were the last to leave. The climb up to Slines Oak was an experience most would rather forget, but after there was a long generally downhill stretch along the ridge with Biggin Hill on our right. We were treated to the sight of a solitary Spitfire overhead, which dipped its wings, doubtless in salute to the CTC peloton below.
There were a few more climbs before lunch, but first we had to visit the Darent Valley tourist experience, lavender fields, two castles and a spectacular railway viaduct. Only four of us did the full experience alongside a field of wheat before emerging by Lullingstone Castle, two checked out the ford, but all of us made the viewpoint over Eynesford Castle.
Lunch was served with extraordinary speed, and was well received, if only because it gave us respite from climbing.
The afternoon passed without incident, though not without effort, and remarkably the advertised Knockholt road closure never happened.
Four of my group stopped for tea in Café Italia in Banstead, thankfully air conditioned, while the staff struggled with the challenge of serving four hot drinks and four slices of cake.
Thanks to Frances and Neil for a heroic leadership on a long and complicated route, and in my group Sue F for backmarking.
Finally, apologies to all, the Burntwood Lane hazardous gravel wasn’t there on my recce on Monday. And I was sorry to hear of Andy's fall. Apparently, the route as interpreted and displayed on Garmin was not exactly as I had plotted it, leading to confusion as to the actual route. A lesson learned by me.
PS After parting company in Banstead, I met up with the some of the B riders, back from Sevenoaks having ridden almost the same elevation as us. Kudos.
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