A Group Ride from Cobham to Guildford and Leatherhead. 8th January 2025.

 Nineteen signed-up for the first ride of 2025. With the threat of icy conditions this was soon whittled-down to eleven in two rearranged groups starting from Cobham. (Brian's valuable pre-elevenses recce confirmed Plough Lane and the alternative, Chilbrook Lane, to be treacherous - so it was decided to follow a more direct route to Guildford, eschewing minor roads that may have been icy). Hans led one group, I led the other.

So instead of a route through Ockham, Ripley, Send, Mayford and Worplesdon into Guildford, the two groups blasted along the A246 Epsom Road as a direct route. Except it wasn't. Short of a challenge we climbed Shere Road towards Newlands, anticipating a descent of Trodds Lane to Merrow only to find  'Road Ahead Closed'. Apparently it was closed to provide a better crossing for golf buggies: it didn't deter us as we circumvented the barriers and made a fast but chilly descent.

Trodds Lane closed - but not for us.

 Once in Guildford Hans led the way to Wetherspoons Rodboro Building which we reached at noon. (This was a rare trip to this 'Spoons, as blog records show only two previous visits by the A Group in 2008 and 2010). It has an interesting history, originally built as a factory manufacturing Dennis motor vehicles, with Wetherspoons converting the building to a pub in 1998.

A chilly start after lunch. (photo Dave V.)

We picked-up the planned route after lunch. Apart from a major flood at the bottom of Green Dene - necessitating a U-turn to Chalk Lane, the afternoon's ride was trouble-free, with evidence of flooding, but scant sign of ice. Four stayed to tea at Charlie and Gingers.

Many thanks to Hans for leading one group with off-the-cuff routing, and to Dave Vine for back-marking my group. Kudos to the other eight - who were determined to mark the start of 2025 with a Wayfarers ride:- Dave W, Clive, Simon L, Patrick, Dave B, Neil C, Daniel, and Simon W. Thanks also to Dave V - and Gill, for the birthday cakes at Cobham.