Annual Lunch - Final Check

Dear everyone,

We have 73 bookings for our annual lunch. If you are coming please review the menu and the list below to confirm

• that your name is included
• that I have recorded correctly the entrée and main courses which you have ordered

If I have made a mistake or omission please advise me today so that I can correct your order. (If my information is correct you don't need to contact me 😉)

Thanks

Tim C

( click menu to enlarge )

 

Ann	B	Melanzane Ripiene	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Anne	C	Insalata di Salmone	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Anne	W (GF)	Insalata di Salmone	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Arwyn	M	Cocktail di Gamberi	Pesce del Giorno
Bernard	P	Insalata di Salmone	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Bob	P	Funghi Ripieni	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Brenda	B	Insalata di Salmone	Pesce del Giorno
Brian	G	Melanzane Ripiene	Fegato alla Veneziana
Carolyn	B	Cocktail di Gamberi	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Christina	B	Melanzane Ripiene	Pesce del Giorno
Colin	L	Funghi Ripieni	Tacchino alla Milanese
Colin	Q	Cannelloni di Carne	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Dave	C	Zuppa del Giorno	Pesce del Giorno
Dave	E	Zuppa del Giorno	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Dave	V	Insalata di Salmone	Fegato alla Veneziana
David	F	Funghi Ripieni	Fegato alla Veneziana
David	J	Cocktail di Gamberi	Tacchino alla Milanese
Dawn	M	Zuppa del Giorno	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Diane	P	Insalata di Salmone	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Don	E	Funghi Ripieni	Spaghetti Ragu
Ed	S	Cocktail di Gamberi	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Francis	D'S (GF)	Cocktail di Gamberi	Fegato alla Veneziana
Frank	B	Cannelloni di Carne	Pesce del Giorno
Frank	C	Melanzane Ripiene	Fegato alla Veneziana
Ged	L	Zuppa del Giorno	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Geoff	G	Chicken Liver Pâté	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Gill	F	Melanzane Ripiene	Pesce del Giorno
Gill	H	Cocktail di Gamberi	Pesce del Giorno
Gillian	C	Cannelloni di Carne	Pesce del Giorno
Graham	H	Cocktail di Gamberi	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Grant	P	Zuppa del Giorno	Fegato alla Veneziana
Helen	T	Chicken Liver Pâté	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Ian	P	Cannelloni di Carne	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Ian	W	Insalata di Salmone	Pollo Crema & Funghi
James	G	Chicken Liver Pâté	Tacchino alla Milanese
Janice	D	Melanzane Ripiene	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Jennie	J	Cocktail di Gamberi	Pesce del Giorno
John	Bay	Funghi Ripieni	Penne Giardiniera
John	Bel	Melanzane Ripiene	Fegato alla Veneziana
John	C	Insalata di Salmone	Penne Giardiniera
Julie	B	Insalata di Salmone	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Karl	M	Cannelloni di Carne	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Ken	D	Cannelloni di Carne	Fegato alla Veneziana
Ken	J	Zuppa del Giorno	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Liz	B	Insalata di Salmone	Pesce del Giorno
Madeleine	S	Funghi Ripieni	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Maggie	J	Melanzane Ripiene	Penne Giardiniera
Maureen	G	Chicken Liver Pâté	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Mick	A	Cocktail di Gamberi	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Neil	C	Insalata di Salmone	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Neil	W	Cocktail di Gamberi	Tacchino alla Milanese
Pam	J	Funghi Ripieni	Spaghetti Ragu
Pat	D	Insalata di Salmone	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Paul	J	Cocktail di Gamberi	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Paula	B	Funghi Ripieni	Spaghetti Ragu
Peter	B	Melanzane Ripiene	Cannelloni di Ricotta
Peter	S	Funghi Ripieni	Fegato alla Veneziana
Ray	W	Cannelloni di Carne	Pesce del Giorno
Ray	Y	Chicken Liver Pâté	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Richard	B	Melanzane Ripiene	Fegato alla Veneziana
Sandy	B	Insalata di Salmone	Pesce del Giorno
Simon	L	Cannelloni di Carne	Tacchino alla Milanese
Steph	W	Insalata di Salmone	Fegato alla Veneziana
Stephen	H	Cocktail di Gamberi	Fegato alla Veneziana
Steve	D	Funghi Ripieni	Fegato alla Veneziana
Sue	B	Cannelloni di Carne	Pesce del Giorno
Sue	C	Melanzane Ripiene	Fegato alla Veneziana
Sue	F	Zuppa del Giorno	Penne Giardiniera
Terry	L	Zuppa del Giorno	Spaghetti Ragu
Tim	C	Insalata di Salmone	Pollo Crema & Funghi
Tim	G	Cocktail di Gamberi	Tacchino alla Milanese
Tony	Hoo	Zuppa del Giorno	Fegato alla Veneziana
Tony	Hop	Zuppa del Giorno	Spaghetti Ragu

 

 

TriVets 2025 - Wayfarers this is your JFK moment

TriVets is a Cycling UK event organised every three years and open to all Cycling UK members nationally who are 50-years or older. CTC South West London are organising our event on Wednesday 18th June 2025. There will be 100mile, 100k (62mile) and 50k (31mile) rides. So please make a big red note in your diary!

The planning, organisation and running of the day is down to club members. This is a flagship event for us and to that end the organising committee need your help.  We need volunteers to recce the routes, lead on the day and with catering and admin. It will be a long day so even if you can help for just part of it we would be very grateful. 

We are delighted to confirm that our event HQ will be at Dorking Rugby Club in Brockham. More details of routes and timings to follow. 

Mick A has kindly agreed to be TriVet-in-Chief and if you are able to help with planning or on the day please let him  know as soon as possible. marber@blueyonder.co.uk

So, don’t delay, let Mick know what you can do for your club….

Invitation to the A ride from Cobham, 05/03/2025

You are invited to join the ride from Cobham next Wednesday, to attend the Annual Lunch in Tolworth but also to help celebrate International Women's Day.

Obviously no need to choose your meal in advance, about 25 miles to the Resturante Sorrento, mainly on road, some off, but a track, all routes we have done before.

To register, please email me by 18.00 hrs on Monday the 3rd at d.jackson49@aol.co.uk, groups and route will be sent out on Tuesday.

Thanks

Jennie J

Ride Report - the B ride 26th February

 Francis writes…

With my two skilled subbies, Tim G and Mick A, I was ready for 3 groups of 6-7 riders I was sure would sign up to enjoy the free-flowing route from Leatherhead toward Leigh and back.

As it turned out, rider holidays, illnesses and the prediction of bad weather, only 13 signed up in the end. Mick A stood down as subbie but volunteered to be my back-marker.

Come the morning, rain, rain and more rain culled the numbers down to 11 in the starting line-up, but soon enroute, 2 had second thoughts and headed for home and unfortunately another had a difficult puncture to repair on Punchbowl Lane and wisely headed to Dorking station and home.

The remaining 8 of us continued without mishap through the rain and wind for 20 miles via Henfold Lane, up Roothill and an interesting detour round Cudworth to Leigh for a hot lunch at the Plough, where we got served within 10-15 minutes. Such marvellous service.A cheery Maddie joined us to give moral support and have a pint, very kind of her.

                               Tim G sums up the morning ride experience pretty well!

Soon it was time to don our semi-dry clothing and to our surprise, we exited to bright sunshine and blue skies. The 12 miles back to Leatherhead for tea, went uneventful to Brockham then climbing back up to Punchbowl Lane the side when we are usually freewheeling down!

Post tea, the remaining 6 of us headed home in overhead black clouds and soon were pelted with hailstones followed with a marvellous double-rainbow, the icing on the cake for sure.

My thanks as usual to Tim G for sub-leading the second group, our two back-markers Mick A and Alan C for their sterling work all day. Also, all the intrepid riders, Tim G, Mick A, Julie B, Alan C, Alan I, Bob P and new rider trying us out, Guy D, for their perseverance in such changeable weather conditions. 

Ride Report - A Group 26 February 2025

The weather forecast had been getting gradually worse and worse in the days leading up to Wednesday’s ride, culminating in the forecast on the day for 90%+ heavy rain during the morning and early afternoon – the forecast became a reality. It was no surprise, therefore, that: six people decided better of it, one had a puncture before leaving home and another hitched a ride with the B’s to our lunch venue. 

So, 14 valiant souls set off from Leatherhead into the wet gloom. Janice’s fast group was pretty much intact so set off as planned, while the other two groups were combined in to one.

Janice was first off and here is her report:

Leading up to Wednesday the forecast showed a good chance of light rain here and there throughout the day. When the day dawned, or at least when my alarm went off, the forecast had changed to the certainty of heavy rain until early afternoon. Nevertheless, Steve D, Peter S, Simon W, Patrick, Richard and myself dutifully turned up at Leatherhead.

There was some discussion amongst the A’s as to whether we should just go home, take a short cut to Newdigate or stick with Plan A, the original route. My valiant group decided on Plan A and so it was off to the hills for us.

My legs were still tired from Monday’s recce but it was necessary to ignore that as the hills began more or less straight away:  Lower Road, Calvert Road and Green Dene in quick succession. The rain was heavy, the potholes many and the gravel plentiful so I’d warned my group that my descents would be slow and cautious.

After Combe Lane it was onward and upward again as we rose out of Shere and the lengthy climb of Hound House Lane. By this time the roads were more akin to rivers.

After a few more minor bumps we had the pleasure of the slight descent into Newdigate and the joy of finding The Six Bells pub. Lunch was quickly served and the sandwiches were both substantial and very reasonable.

Janice's cheerful group

Damp and chilled we didn’t linger for long and went back out into the rain ready for the ride homewards.

My group was second away:

We were a little late leaving Leatherhead, as it took a bit of time to sort out who was doing what. But my group of Dave V, Dave W, Sue C, Diane, Andy C and Simon L set off to make a start on the various climbs that would culminate at Pitch Hill at the end of Hound House Lane. Neil C arrived as we were leaving, but he would catch us up later as we were starting the long climb up Hound House. From the top of Pitch Hill it was relatively fast and mostly downhill for the remaining 8 miles to lunch.

We arrived somewhat damp at the Six Bells in Newdigate where we were re-united with Gina who had joined the B’s for their morning ride that conveniently passed through Newdigate.

Lunch was very good. My ham sandwich had almost too much ham in it, and I have to say that the staff at the pub were a delight to deal with when I was making the booking. However, the radiators could have been a bit hotter – our gloves, etc. remained damp.

As we were getting ready to head out for the afternoon ride the clouds started to break and some very welcome blue sky and sunshine made an appearance for Andy to take this photo of the group.

Clive's cheerful group

After lunch we had a straightforward run, without any more rain, to Ashtead via Punchbowl Lane, the A24 cycle path and Leatherhead. Unfortunately, our arrival at the footbridge in Leatherhead coincided with kicking out time at the zoo so we had to walk our bikes to avoid all the school children. Along the way Gina, Simon and Sue peeled off to head for home leaving five that made it to tea at the Ashtead Park Garden Centre.

Thanks to Janice for leading the other group, Dave W and then Dave V for back marking my group and to everyone for remaining remarkably cheerful and upbeat throughout.

B Ride Invitation 26th February

The route next Wednesday will be 19.6 miles in the morning from Leatherhead to The Plough pub at Leigh. The afternoon ride is about 12 miles to Lucio's for tea, back at Leatherhead.

A few hills along the way but they are relatively short. 

The Plough pub does not require pre-ordering. Here's a link to their Menu.You order and pay for your drink at the bar and orders for food are taken at your reserved tables.


AM: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49666942

PM: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49670949

I will have my trusted subbies Mick A and Tim G on hand to guide us round the route.

If you would like to join the ride, please email me by end Monday evening. Thanks.

Look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Francis

Ride Invitation - A Group Leatherhead 26 February

Next Wednesday's ride is from the Fairfield Centre in Leatherhead. We will make our way to The Six Bells in Newdigate for lunch, via Shere, and Ewhurst.

There is no need to pre-order but here is their menu if you want to be prepared.

It's about 23 miles to lunch and then 17 miles to tea at the Ashtead Park Garden Centre.

Let me know (clive.janes@gmail.com) by Monday evening if you would like to come.

"B" Ride Report Redhill to the Old Moat 19th February

Bernard writes....

Leading a ride involves a number of skills… but which exactly? I turned to a veteran leader for some advice and met up on a wet February morning in their favourite café. After a couple of hours of chit chat and mid-way through a generous slice of chocolate cake the advice came, “Keep them happy!” “You mean tell them jokes?” “No… (munch, munch…swallow…pause) know their minds…a rider is not just a pair of legs, arms, torso and a head stuck on top. Within each spheroid there is a unique universe; you need to make each and every spheroid align with each other but most importantly with yours (more munching followed by a swallow…the cake was no more).” At that point my companion rose “Gotta go…got some shopping to do.” I stared at my chomped vanilla and gooseberry tart (my favourite since childhood), but my appetite had gone. My mind had for as ever as I could recall been a jamboree of all sorts of odds and ends becoming ever more cluttered as the years passed with no discernible order. If I couldn’t even organize my own mental attic how was I going to, what was it…align it…with all the others’. (At this juncture in her proof-reading Sabina said I might have to get to the point because people might not want to read a whole book about my cake eating habits! And so dear reader I’ll skip forward fast to make some progress…)

By the morning of the ride I was confident. I had read the titles to various self help books (I have found that the title to most self help books is a good summary of its contents saving you the trouble of reading the book itself); ‘Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway’, ‘Think and Grow Rich’, ‘The Mountain is You’ and so many others. But above all I had purchased a yellow Tour de France Leader’s jersey for the occasion and my mind was in order with one aim…to get everyone to the end of the course. How hard could that be? And then I took in the throng of my fellow riders… each spheroid resting aloft shoulders containing a unique universe unto itself. Some smiled, others laughed, others chatted, others limbered up and so on. I had no idea what was going on in anyone’s mind…and with this realization any hope of aligning any mind with anyone else’s was fast fading.

This is where the benefit of having top rate co-leaders works wonders. It genuinely filled me with confidence and enormous gratitude that they were there in that room ready and willing to support me on this ride of mine. And with that the alignment began…I looked over at the veteran adviser who gave me the thumbs up. Everyone, including me, was there to have an enjoyable day out cycling…we were all…all of us…at one!

And so, the groups took off from Redhill Methodist Chapel’s café staffed by really nice people who made us so welcome. The sun was out, a chill in the air to add a bit of spike to our cycling and we made our way to the Surrey Hills. We pedaled along familiar roads which were like old friends; Trumpets Hill, The Street and Old Reigate Road to name a few. We had to ride along the busy A25 for a couple of miles or so but soon we were over into Pixham Lane and into Westhumble. It was all pleasantly flat until what I call ‘The Brute’ came upon us…no way of avoiding…more commonly known as Bagden Hill. This is a hill which you do well to walk up never mind cycle. On the plus side it was just before lunch and we soon arrived at the Vineries where we were all accommodated most warmly by the restaurant manager to whom I am most indebted, bearing in mind that this was already a really busy time for him being half term.

It was then a straight ride into Cobham where one or two riders peeled off and then finishing at The Old Moat in Horton Lane, which is always a great place to go being superbly staffed by volunteers and helping those with mental health issues…a really great cause.

Having volunteered to plan and lead this ride, it forced me to get to grips with RideWithGPS which is superb for planning rides and to link this up to my Garmin Explore 2 which is equally good. If anyone wants any help with either or both, I will be very happy to share my knowledge (which is not by any means comprehensive).

A very big thanks to my co-leaders, Julie and John A, to my back marker Steph and to my co-riders, Su F, Sabina, Terry, Keith and Mick A (who joined after lunch). Sabina recced this ride three times with me…advised about dangerous roads to avoid and partnered me to make this ride as best as could be. Three recees because the first was much too long and hilly, the second too short and the third which was the actual ride.

                                           Profile of The Brute, Bagden Hill, courtesy of veloviewer.com

Thanks,

Bernard

Ride Report 'A' groups - Wednesday 19th February 2025

 Well, this cold weather drags on...& on...& on.

Any promised warmth failed to materalise, indeed the Met Office suggesting a mere 7°, (feels like).

But 20 riders were not deterred & met at Redhill's Methodist Centre.

Clive's group was first away:

 My group, comprised of Gina, Richard, Karl (welcome to the A group), Brian and Daves F and W, were the first group off at 10:35.  From Redhill we headed in an easterly direction towards lunch at The Royal Oak in Staffhurst Wood going through Bletchingley and Lingfield along the way. About half way to lunch, along Byers Lane, a loud bang was heard coming from the direction of Brian's front wheel. Dave W stopped to assist Brian with the puncture and the rest of us waited further along at the junction with Brickhouse Lane. While there the other two groups went past us; first Ged's group then Andy's. The rest of the ride was uneventful and I think we were all ready for lunch by the time we arrived at The Royal Oak.  

After lunch Andy's route took us North towards Oak Park for tea via Godstone (avoiding the sink holes). Along the way Dave W, Gina and Karl peeled off for home. So, four of us arrived at Oak Park and joined Andy and Neil C for tea and cake at the cafe before heading home.

Thanks to Andy for a very enjoyable route, in some rare sunshine, along roads and lanes that were mostly unknown to me. Thanks also to Brian for back marking and to my group for the company.

Followed 5 minutes later by Ged's group:

Brian swapped groups at elevenses - but we gained Frances after lunch, maintaining our quota of seven riders. What promised to be a change in the weather, with warmer temperatures, didn't really materialize. Despite some sunny spells it remained resolutely cold, with my Garmin reading 2 degrees, feels like -0 degrees! It was good to warm-up on the early climbs. Maybe Spring will arrive next week!

We made good progress towards Lingfield, on roads not often frequented - at least not in the direction routed by Andy. We crossed into Kent at Oxted, but apparently arrived back into Surrey for lunch at the Royal Oak, a popular and busy country pub, but with very good food and service. The twisty St Piers Lane was a delight; Jackass Lane - as predicted by Andy, was a muddy challenge; and after the climb up Flower Lane the descent through Woldingham School grounds was well earned. Sue C, Frances and Peter S, peeled off at Woodcote, leaving Neil C, Dave B, Steve D and myself at Oaks Park Cafe.

Thanks to Andy for a very interesting and usual route, to Peter for ever-dutiful backmarking, and not least to Neil for helping-out with the sub-leading.

My group was last away & included Patrick, Andy H, Neil W, Janice, Frances & guest rider, Jason.

I came with a stripped down bike (no 531 here), the bare minimum in a small rucksack & some weight loss.

The first of two climbs (source - Garmin) was Pendell Road up to Bletchingley.

This of course can be avoided by taking NCN 21 to Brewer Street but it does suffer from being muddy at this time of year.

At the top, Frances decided to ride at a slower pace & Janice was kind enough to keep her company.

We meanwhile sped on passing Brian, front wheel off, assisted by Dave W.

St Piers Lane (highlight) could of been a disaster as hedge cutting was in progress, always an anxious moment !

The Royal Oak pub at Staffhurst Wood, or Merle Common but definately not Oxted is in the middle of nowhere surrounded by farmland.

Acquired by the Grumpy Mole group, it's a busy place by country pub standards & I think broadly speaking folk were happy.......just don't have the so called "Croque Monsieur".....catastrophe !

The sun would of made all the difference descending through Woldingham School but it did briefly appear nearing Oaks Park, as noted by Patrick.

I was happy to wait for all the groups, to chat, drink more tea & above all ... rest.

Not gonna lie.......I was kackered!

My thanks to Neil for backmarking my group, Clive & Ged & everyone else for their company.

Royal Oak 10 years ago, from left Dave Stott, Ken Day, Jeff Tollerman, Paul Day - maps no Garmins!

Jackass Lane

No words.....

Annual Lunch - the Order Book is closed

Please note that we can't take any more orders. We will have a full house on 5th March.

Thank you

Tim

 

Annual lunch and competitions deadlines

Annual Lunch

Bookings for the Annual Lunch are going very well and we almost have a full house for 5th March. So please get in touch with me as soon as possible if you are intending to come but have yet to pay and advise me of your choices from the menu.

See this invitation for full details.

Last Orders will be taken up to 6 p.m. on Tuesday 18th Feb.

Mileage Competition

Mileages submitted for 2024 will no longer count in the competition but if you wish to send us your mileage for 2024 (and any preceding years) please do so. Your scores will be added to the League Table.

Thank you

~ Tim

 

Invitation to a B group ride on 19th February

Good afternoon everyone,

Attached below is the ride for this Wednesday starting at Redhill Methodist church, lunch at the Vineries near Effingham and finishing at the Old Moat.  Depending on how many riders there are on the day there will be three groups leaving at 10.30 am, 10.40 am and 10.50 am.  Please could you reply to confirm that you will be doing the ride to allow us to sort out the groups.  Thank you and have a great weekend.

All the best

Sabina and Bernard🚴😊

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49665663

 

Invitation - 'A' Ride Redhill Wednesday 19th February 2025

 Hello fellow Wayfarers,

Please do join me on Wednesday for a ride on familiar & less familiar lanes of Surrey.

Lunch is at The Royal Oak, Staffhurst Wood & tea is at Oaks Park (shuts 4pm)

Here is the route:

The highlight is St Piers lane:

I'm asking for your choice from the menu below:

Other menus are available : https://www.thegrumpymole.co.uk/oxted/

Please email me andycoxhill@ntlworld.com with your food choice by 6pm Monday 17th February.

Tuesday morning I'll send out times/groups as per usual.

I look forward to seeing you.

A petition - on a subject of interest to many of us

Mags McKinlay has brought this project and a petition for it to our attention:

Hi Tim

I'm contacting you with regard to a local campaign which is gaining momentum here in South West London, to fix the missing link on the Wandle Trail at Earlsfield.  I'm sure that many members of SW London CTC are familiar with this route and would be interested in supporting the campaign by signing the attached petition which explains the background and current situation.  Could I ask you to share this with fellow cyclists.                        

Here is the link:

https://www.change.org/p/fix-the-missing-link-in-the-wandle-trail

With best wishes

Mags

 

Ride Report A’s to Knaphill 12 February

When planning this ride a couple of weeks ago I had hoped we could enjoy some signs of spring, early flowers, maybe a little warmth in the air, even a little sun. On the day we had neither rain nor wind which is excellent for cycling, but otherwise continuing cold and grey, grey, grey.

For the route from Teddington I had looked for the least urban roads out of west London, which took us to Chertsey, leaving only the selection of a pub for lunch.

And so I found The Garibaldi at Knaphill, last visited by us under Dave B’s leadership in 2019, and ripe for reappraisal, supported by its inclusion in this year’s CAMRA Guide. And as it turned out, it was the most organised pub I have ever visited, although it took us a few minutes to realise the organisation would only work if we sat in our allocated seats and didn’t move around too much.

My group of Dave F, Diane, Sue C, Richard and back-marker Jennie (thanks Jennie) set off first and arrived at lunch just after Neil C’s last group. The morning had passed pleasantly and uneventfully, just what a leader needs; the highlight being the yellow gorse blossom on Chobham Common, the only colour in a vista of grey and mist.

The excellent lunch was swiftly served and just a quickly consumed, meaning we were back on the road after only 43 minutes (a record?). On the way out the landlord spoke of his experiences riding the Downslink Challenge charity cycle ride, Knaphill to Brighton and back off-road, which the pub organises in support of Woking Hospice. No mean ride.

 

After lunch we had a short, swift-ish, ride back by-passing Woking, and across Wisley bridge to tea at Cobham, where I left the remaining riders at Gail’s warming themselves with hot drinks.

Dave W’s Group left next.

I am pleased to report that the 10.40 group (Janice, Dave B, Steve D, Patrick, Clive and me) had an event-free ride, unless you count essential nose-blowing stops as events!  I just about managed to keep up with the others as we cruised along Dave's clever route which integrated familiar and less-familiar sections into a bit of a mystery tour!  Patrick detached himself from us after Chertsey, alleging he had to get home for work (I wonder if hadn't found the pace a little too fast....?!!!), but, apart from that we were thankfully free of excitement until we reached The Garibaldi at 12.30.

After the briefest of delays while we got ourselves in the landlord's mindset, lunch was astonishingly well-organised - this must count as one of the fastest 'A' group midday turnarounds ever - and I did a double-take when paying my bill which was very reasonable to say the least!

To avoid frostbite, photo stop delays were kept to a minimum when leaving the pub, but it still struck very cold as we set off on the shorter ride back to Cobham and tea.   Once again, Dave surprised us with a route which combined familiar and unfamiliar bits in an unexpected juxtaposition, but we kept our heads, and a steady pace, and were at Cobham at about 2.30.

It is always a pleasure to sub-lead (if you can call that what I did!) on a well-organised ride, so many thanks to Dave V for master-minding the whole thing.   Definitely one to repeat, I would have thought.    Thanks to Clive for back-marking all day, and thanks to my group for putting up with it all, for keeping 'incidents' to a minimum, and for their company!

And then Neil’s group.

I had the pleasure of leading the third group (Simon, Ged, Mike, Brian and Peter). We may have been the last away but we were a disciplined and experienced team. Dave had arranged for dry weather and empty roads and we made good progress. Peter S had volunteered to back-mark and a mere glance over my shoulder or in my mirror rarely failed to show Peter's hi-viz overshoes. Even the traffic lights seemed to be on our side.

Occasionally I would wonder if I had been down a road before, but usually after a while I realised I only knew it in the other direction. The weather was good for February but too cold to stop on Chobham Common and take in the enchanting views of central Woking. After the quiet sweep around the lanes to avoid Chobham we just had one more hill to take us up to The Garibaldi.

Lunch was served promptly with military precision and we were on our way again within an hour. Ged escaped from the group and so does not feature in the obligatory photograph.

 

Now the roads descended gently all the way to Wisley and so good time was made. After a couple of short rises it was more downhill to a leisurely tea at Gail's in Cobham.

Thanks from me to Dave and Neil for so-ably leading their groups. And to everyone who came out to share the experience.