The
clocks had changed, so we made an early start from Hersham, on a route planned
by Stephen with invaluable input from Paul and Steph. We left in 3
groups, the Hounds (Paul, Brenda, Diane, John, Tim G, Keith,
Gill, and picking up Terry & Pam along the way); the Hawks (Steph,
Ian, Karl, Dawn, Jane, Gill, Dave & Christina); and the Hares (Stephen,
Tony, Mick, Sue, Colin, Alan & Grant). Fortunately, the weather was
dry and relatively warm.
The Hounds (Paul)
There was a risk
that a ride designed and recced before the clocks went back would prove a
little too ambitious to get us all home in a dark evening. But a
combination of an early start, a reasonably efficient lunch service and good
cycling weather all served to make it work, despite an unplanned detour when
the police closed a section of the route because of a road traffic accident.
A 10am start from
Hersham demanded early rising; as leader of the first group set on a proper
elevenses I was on the road by a quarter to eight. The weather was cool
but dry, as much as we could ask during this autumn of wet presents from the
overheated Atlantic Ocean, and Keith and I had both been pessimistic about our
timings, but the roads were eerily clear of traffic for half term and I
successfully ran an extraordinary gauntlet of timely green traffic lights all
through Sutton, Cheam, Chessington and Ewell. So we were both there early,
shortly followed by Tim G. Diane (bike mended) and Brenda (left helmet
and gloves in the van) followed, Ann sent her apologies, Gill (because she
lives close) and John (because he is invariably and assiduously punctual) timed
it to perfection and off we went on schedule.
Terry was waiting
by the roadside at one end of Weybridge, and Pam at the other, and we had us a
convoy. The leaves and the occasional dog on the towpaths of the River
Wey and the Basingstoke Canal behaved themselves and the peaceful paths through
Horsell Common woods were so passable that Tim C would have been
disappointed. Many of us had never been through those woods before and we
arrived at the Hare and Hounds at West End with the pleasant feeling you get
from discovering a new route to the same place.
It got better; for
there was free beer. Preceding our arrival the weights and measures
inspector had been and the landlord had had to draw three quarters of a pint of
each of his ales; they were lined up on the bar and the weights and measures
man invited us to have them. Well done, Stephen; we think that all ride
leaders should arrange for a weights and measures man to visit just prior to
our arrival.
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| The Hersham Hounds at the Hare and
Hounds |
On the recce I had
found the afternoon ride a bit of a slog home but Stephen had redesigned the
route and the weather was better and this was pleasant, though I must remember
not to cycle too fast for the electric bikers. The only glitch was a policeman
stopping us as we tried to ride along Chobham Lane outside the Defence Science
and Technology Lab. He would not countenance us squeezing through, but
helpfully suggested a detour which turned out to be fairly straightforward and
involve only a couple of extra ups and downs.
Thanks Stephen for
a fine route, and to everybody in my group for your company.
The Hawks (Steph)
We
left promptly at 10.10 and were soon passing through Weybridge. The
Beeline was indicating left onto the Wey navigation - I'd never done that
before so I ignored it and took the next left. It became obvious that I
should have gone where Beeline indicated however I wheeled on and over the
railway bridge to the Coxes Mill Pond (secretly thankful that Ian had left his
electric bike at home). We took a few photos and enjoyed listening to a
local lady tell us about the swans and the cygnets and their escape from
the foxes by building their nest on the island we were just about to
cross.
It
was then that we spotted the Hares (who had taken the correct route on the
towpath ) stealthily making their way towards New Haw Lock. We quickly
mounted up and crossed the lock to rejoin the route, catching them up by the
time we crossed our second bridge to join the Basingstoke Canal. Karl
took the photo and we let the Hares get ahead . The canal path was
beautiful and a very popular choice at this time of year.
Lunch
was enjoyed without any other route problems and we were lucky to be lined up
and ready to go before the Hares had got their bikes unlocked. We had
regained our second place !
At
the double roundabout at Longcross /Staple lane the Chobham Lane route was
blocked off by a police car and we took the next left which was a swift
downhill down Longcross into Chertsey. We rejoined the route at Free Prae
Rd. We had had a bit of motorist angst on the rather busy Longcross but
in retrospect I think this was probably due to the road closure earlier on.
To
reward my team for valiantly putting up with the busy road we took Dockett Eddy
Lane and had a bit of river calm before arriving refreshed and revitalised for
tea at the Marina. I think this last detour allowed the Hares to
jump into second place.
A
great day out, a fabulous route and excellent company.
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The Hawks flying over the Wey Navigation
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The Hares (Stephen)
We
were the last to leave and made our way through Weybridge and - after a sharp
left turn up and over the footbridge - onto the Wey towpath. The canal was
lovely in the calm, early autumn weather. After passing under the M25, we
crossed to the Basingstoke Canal - where we were surprised to find that we had
somehow overtaken the Hawks. After a further stretch of canal, we made
our way via a mix of off-road (a scenic track round Horsell Common) and
reasonably quiet roads to the Hare and Hounds at Donkey Town.
Lunch
was fine - though the free beer had gone - and we set forth for the shorter
ride, via Windlesham, Trumps Green and Chertsey, to the Boathouse near Walton
Bridge in time for tea (and excellent cake), arriving while it was still light.
At one point we were stopped by the police due to an accident, but after
diverting across the M3 on Longcross Road we were able to return via Kitsmead
Lane to the original route.
But
when we arrived at the Boathouse we were surprised to find that we had yet
again overtaken the Hawks, without actually spotting them along the way.
Moral: although, according to Aesop, the tortoise beat the hare,
hares sometimes outrun hawks!
A
varied ride, with good (dry!) weather, excellent company and in good time to
complete in daylight.
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The Hares after Lunch
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