Wednesday, the 13th B groups report

 Tony's Report

We were lucky; the forecast was Sun, and as it turned out, the forecast was correct. With the day centre closed, it meant gathering in different cafes, but as luck had it, Cafe Enzo was relatively quiet, and there is a railing opposite to lock bikes.
 
My group soon arrived and enjoyed their drinks and chit-chat. Pam, Mick, Jane, Julie, Tim G, and Martin.
 
My route was pretty straight forward: a big loop round and then lunch at the Bridge Hotel, Cherstey Bridge, and then only 9 miles back to tea at Hampton Court. Pam left us just before Ottershaw to visit young Vic White, but did meet us for lunch.
 
Groups gathered in the rec behind the DC. I was the first group away at 10.30, and we headed out to Ottershaw, then onto Foxhills Road and into Stonehill Road up to Gracious Pond Road to the edge of Chobham.

 

Gracious Pond

 

 

Chobham Common

Then over Chobham Common to Lyne and a loop around St Anne's Hill before heading into Chertsey and a slight detour to see Nessy. She had grown and now has 2 humps as well. Then the short ride to lunch, and we were early.

 

Nessy

The Bridge is a great place to take large groups, especially at this time of year, as it means a shortish ride home for the majority.
 
After lunch, we head to some short off-road before Busy Park and reaching Dish at Hampton Court; some had headed straight home. Those that stayed enjoyed drinks, and some had cake. It was nice that Liz joined us for a catchup, as did RayW, and it was nice to see her; she still has grip problems with the hand.
 
Chatting saw time marching on and the sky start to darken, so lights were on heading home. A really nice days ride with 3 great groups. Thank you, Steph and Ray, for subleading and to those who backmarked.

Tony..

__________________________________________________

Ray’s Report

My group left at 10.50 and consisted of Christina, Terry, John, Pat and myself. Paul and Maggie were due to join us, but a cleat on Paul’s shoe had broken and he was looking for a shop to fix it. We set off on our normal route to Addlestone but instead of turning right, Tony’s route took us straight down Hamm Moor Lane then over the railway line via the pedestrian bridge to Bourneside Road.

It was then a case of following the road alongto the end of Liberty Lane when we came across another footbridge, this timeacross the M25. Then onto Ottershaw and Foxhills Road. Here the scenery changedto a more countryfied look, with the trees showing off their autumn colours in thedazzling sunlight. Gorgeous. At the end of Foxhills Road, we turned left alongStonehill Road before turning right into Gracious Pond Road. 

A quick stop for aphoto at the car park and then back to pedalling our way along using Windsor Road,Staple Hill, Longcross Road, Lyne Lane and Almners Road before climbing up StAnnes Hill, well almost. We then had a choice of completing the hill, Tony’s officialroute, or taking a short cut along the top. Everyone voted on the short cut along the top that resulted in us overtaking Steph’s group!!!! Not realising this, we carried onregardless and then almost overtook the first group in Chertsey who had gone off-piste to look at the Loch Ness Monster, now housed in someone’s garden. So, a bitof slow riding to avoid overtaking them and into the Bridge Hotel for lunch.Lunch was served quickly and efficiently with very polite staff.

 Terry left us to return to Dorking and John joined the first group to get home before he needed lights. So, it was now down to 3 of us. We cycled through Shepperton and into Upper Halliford where we entered a track that took us past London Irish practice ground and by-passed Lower Sunbury before rejoining the road at French Street that led us to Lower Hampton Road. At Hampton Court Road we entered Bushy Park via the gate. Then some more stunning scenery before reaching the Diana Fountain. It was then time to say goodbye to the two girls who left to go to Kingston Bridge and home, while I completed the ride, arriving at Dish for a coffee and cake.

Thank you everyone for the company on the ride which was good, plus Tony for the route, John for back marking and the weather that lit up the countryside in the most
amazing way.

Ray Y

____________________________

Stephs group

A brilliant day out with all the quirky shortcuts and sunshine you could ask for on a ride.  The only thing we missed was Nessie - to be visited next time.  A great group - thanks Mick for back marking and Karl, Alan, Bernard, Sabina, and Ian Williamson (the latter having miraculously caught us up after his crossing of the new bridge at Wisley and gave his lovely local knowledge about the sandpits at St Ann's Hill and lots more.)

_________________________

Tony..