From Gerry in Thailand

Hi Pete, I know it’s been sometime since last I wrote and many things have happened. Still receive the CTC news sheets which I enjoy, the old computer keep me in touch with most that’s happening. And is a great asset up in the village where I am spending a lot of my time now that the house is in principle finished, given that a house in Thailand is never really finished, there’s no building regs or planning permission. So one average size house soon becomes a large house if you see what I mean plus extensions front and back, carport for the pickup, and so on. To say it’s a rural existence is an understatement, the peace and quiet is to die for, and there is only Patric and Bosky my Italian friends in the village who speak English and Bosky only just. Pan my Thai partner has good English, so I tend to relay on her not a good idea really because it makes you lazy for learning the native language, and Thai is not an easy one to learn. Now that things have settled down a bit I have started riding again. after a lifetime of riding almost every day to work, a different venue every two or three weeks, and the club riding, I cycled with the west surrey for along time before joining the SWLDA I am discovering the true beauty and pleasure all over again. I think once a cyclist always a cyclist. I have purchased a mountain bike a Fuji .made in Taiwan I think. but its shamano all through with a 8 piece sprocket set and disk brakes front and rear and purrs along.Bosky the Italian man is a keen rider of course, and we have taken to going out for a spin most days, not to far at present around 50_ 60 clicks, most times. Now here ie the really good news, its dry season out here at present and it hasten rained in 12 weeks, perhaps twice, and the sun shines every every day.temp in the 90 degree range light winds sometimes, So we set out at 8 oc in the morning for a couple of hours, the roads in Thailand are excellent.and we ride through the paddy fields from village to village, we are in the Rice producing area on the north east, close to Cambodia, in SA kaew province,our nearest main village is Ta phraya.its like we are in a basin between two mountain ranges,but huge distances, and the traffic is light almost non existant compared with the UK,I am not sure how well Thailand would lend itself to cycle touring, partly because the sun comes up at 7am and goes down at 6pm, constantly, and in the day it gets very hot, and in the winter time cools down at night, no need for to many covers at bed time, and we always sleep with the fan on.No air Con as yet.This is a very poor village as most rural Thai villages are,we do not have a Hotel, Pub or Bars or restaurants, just a few little shops that sell most small things, the nearest ATM is 12 miles away, and the nearest Tescos, just opened in December is 45 click's away, But food is plentiful and fresh with a god selection, in the morning and evening markets, on the main highway through the village. We have most of the creature comforts, satellite TV microwave ovens etc, and I usually cook something for dinner, and Pan looks after the house and takes the kids to school etc, there is hardly Any traffic in the village just the odd pickup and mostly mopeds, so the children play out in the streets, just like we used to when we were kids. Do you remember;;;.And of course life is very inexpensive in the village, you pay the same as the Thais, our combined water and electric bill for the month was 12 pounds english,Oh by the way they do excellent beer in Thailand,for around 80 pence a litre, Thai whisky at 3 pounds bottle, perfectly drinkable.long on the rocks with soda.talking of which its time for the old Sundowner about Now. Cheers to you all at the CTC from Dingo, Gerry Hulbert. 4th Feb 2010. P S if any riders are interested in a possible retirement package in Thailand . I might be able to help them out with information, having been coming here for 17 years, and having a home in the village for the past 4 years.
From Gerry Hulbert

Easy Riders Feb 3rd

Peter took these with his mobile at the Saddlers Arms yesterday--Albert

We had a good turnout at Cobham with nine of us on the actual ride. Led by John C., there was Lynda, Beryl, Fuzz, Mike, Roger, Bill H., with myself and son Peter on the tandem trike. Our lunch destination was The Saddlers Arms at Send Marsh. Up Plough Lane to Martyrs Green,then down Ockham Lane passing Wisley Airfield where my friendly ghosts reside. I realise that on the way we took in Hungry Hill and a few other steep bits but from my vantage point much of this is from memory having gone down this way before!. A good ride however and after a pleasant lunch Peter and I made for home via Warren Lane and Pyrford. The rest were to have tea at Claygate. Thanks John---------------Albert

A Group Report 3rd Feb

Leaving the British Legion at Cobham fairly sharp just after 11, I was surprised at the number for the A group, but the forecast of rain was better than the rubbish we have had for the last couple of weeks.
16 hardy soles were, Jake, Julian, Ray, Pete’s B & M. John’s B & S. Bob, Don, Will, Vic, Dave V. Toni, Graham & Ed.
Starting at a leisurely pace so that none were left behind the pace increased along Plough Lane over the M25, past the Mucky Duck and over the A3 west of Ripley to Sendmarsh and Send. We followed the A247 to Old Woking but turned off for Westfield & Mayford, we avoided some of the A320 to Guildford our chosen lunch destination by doing a loop via Worplesdon Station and finally to Wetherspoons in the centre of Guildford. Pete Barnard broke a spoke on route but met us at lunch.
The 15 miles to lunch took us just a fraction over the hour so there was time for a relaxing meal ready for the briskish return ride.
We took the A246 out of Guildford which becomes the A25 then returns back to the A246 as far as Effingham then left along the parallel Lower Road, to Annie’s in Leatherhead for tea.
Riding to tea the weather turned a little damp so a few decided not to stop, but there were still 9 of us at tea until the remnants of Liz’s B group joined us. It was a pleasure to lead a group of 16 confident riders at a brisk pace. The distance from Cobham to tea was just 28 miles. Mine for the day was 65.
Frank C

B Group Feb 3rd

3.2.10 B Ride report
14 riders left Cobham via Ockham on route to East Clandon. After a small detour via
Ripley we arrived at The Queens Head, East Clandon for a delightful lunch.
The steady climb up to Netley Heath combined with the deteriorating weather conditions unfortunately proved a little too daunting for some of the group. Six of us continued through Ranmore Common and West Humble before arriving at Annie's for a very welcome cuppa (and chocolate cake).
From Liz

Cricket Whites

DA Barn Dance 2010

The DA Barn Dance and Prize Presentation

Petition Link

Petition Link

Old Picture of the Wayfarers

A picture from the old times from my album, I wonder how many people can you recognise, I can see Ray Dare, John Hunt.
Jeff might like to put it in our newsletter.

Mark Roy

Contact List—2010

Pete M has sent the 2010 Wayfarers' contact list to everyone on e-mail. I will bring some printed copies to Cobham next Wednesday for anyone without e-mail; and I will continue renewing subscriptions and taking deposits for the Prezzo lunch on Wednesday 3 March.

Please let Pete M have any updates or corrections to the contact list.

Julian

From Albert

It took my old bones a day to recover from our Wednesday ride and send my entry for the blog but I`ve checked and see it was not 2009 on my heading after all. It is said that the first thing to go is the mind but in my case probably more important bits! Thanks Steph for a much better description of a good if somewhat chilly ride---------------------Albert

From John Bassett

I missed everybody last Wednesday as I punctured back tyre in Hampton Court Road. All went reasonably well, except my spectacles decided to lose the right lens (frame came unscrewed) just as I was inflating the tyre. So I had to return home to Surbiton to get them repaired in Specsavers. I found that the tube itself was not punctured but the valve had lost seal.
I looked in the blog today, A group had a reasonable day, a bit warmer than last week!

My mileage for last year (2009) was 4589, a bit less than for 2008 because I did not take a long summer trip to Scotland on the bike.

See you next month in Cobham
Kind regards
John Bassett.

B Group Jan 27th

Our esteemed leader, John (he only had to ask the way 73 times).

B Group Jan 27th

I arrived at Shepperton completely frozen, confident that no-one else would be so stupid as to turn out on such a cold day. But attendance was no less than usual; and 15 B Group riders set off via Chertsey, (off-road to) Penton Hook, Staines and Wraysbury (5 minutes of very cold rain) to lunch at the 5 Bells at Horton.

After lunch, we proceeded eastward along Horton Road, and Gill kindly led us through the maze of paths which enabled us to avoid having to negotiate the very busy roundabout above the M25, near Heathrow terminal 5. We continued along Horton Road to Stanwell Moor and took the B378 through Stanwell to Ashford. Here, Robin left us for Feltham where one of his clients had summoned him by mobile phone to attend to a factory heating break-down.

Between Ashford and Charlton Village, Bernard punctured, replaced the tube and continued home by train. The rest of us cycled through Upper Halliford to Lower Sunbury, where most made straight for home, hopefully arriving in the dry and in the light. David Salmon kindly invited the remaining few to tea at his home in Hampton. After tea, Judy and I got somewhat lost in Hampton (why could nobody in Hampton direct us to Bushey Park?).

As forecast, the evening rain arrived promptly at 5 p.m., catching me in the last 5 minutes before home.

John Gould

A Group Jan 27th

With keen wind before the start, I resolved to cut the fat from my ride keeping it short and direct. There were twenty between me and TEC Irene as we headed out of the Greeno centre. Thanks to the weather(?) the main roads were quiet before we turned towards Chertsey Meads and a section of NCN4. Up and over St Anne's Hill was a prelude to the modest climbs through Lyne and up to Fan Court and then along the oddly named Accommodation Road. Zigzaging past Emmett's Mill and Mimbridge brought us to Horsell a shade before 12:30 as a light drizzle set in. The pub was empty when we arrived but we soon changed that!

The drizzle had past by when we left. 19 for lunch dwindled on the return with John S despatched towards Woking station, and Irene and Julian disappearing at West Byfleet reached via the very smooth towpath. The Anchor at Pyrford Lock looked packed as were Wisley Gardens. Across the aerodrome and past the Mucky Duck the weather improved with a hint of sun. A dozen made it to Sainsbury's Cobham for the great debate and thence home. A fine day and next up, my dotage starting Sunday.

From Graham hill

A Group , Wednesday, 27 January, 2010

Wey Farers beside the Wey on the way from the Plough at Horsell
Apologies to Graham, Ray and Terry, who were airbrushed out of the picture

(slight technical problem)

Easy Riders - 27th Jan 2010

We met at The Greeno, Shepperton for elevenses with a modest turnout with rather cold conditions. Stephanie led our ride to Hampton for lunch at The Jolly Coopers pub.
We set off passing Shepperton Studios over the motorway. Steph kindly sent me details of the route and much of the way was interspersed with those darned cushion speed bumps which need to be tackled with some care when riding a trike. However no problems occurred and we made our destination in good time for lunch for just the six of us; Lynda, Stephanie, Fuzz, Roger, Bill H., and me. We had experienced some rain en route but managed to find some cover for most of the bikes. I saw Dennis earlier but not at lunch. Pressing on we made for Teddington and a pleasant ride through Bushy Park for tea {coffee actually) at Hampton Court. No prizes for guessing `Five on the Bridge`. I peeled off for home down The Hurst Road where the road surface has collected its fair share of potholes. Thanks Steph -------------- Albert

Freedom Pass

Dear Members,
There is a petition on 10 Downing Street website which is to specifically to protect the Freedom Pass. If you feel the Freedom Pass should be protected see the link below

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/29m4freedompass/
Please pass this on to anyone iwho may be affected by this.

Yours sincerely
John Scott

Easy Riders Jan 27th

A grey old day, starting from the Shepperton Greeno Centre, past the Shepperton Studios where Fuzz informed us that Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart had dragged the African Queen up the adjacent River Ash. Not quite so tropical today so onwards through Littleton, Charlton, the glass and steel triangular construction of the BP building on the Chertsey Road, lots of lone horses in fields, some with coats, some without. Grovely Road to Snakey Lane we grovelled and snaked, eventually turning south through pleasant suburbia of Oak Avenue and Broad Lane into Hampton and a warm welcome at the Jolly Coopers. A friendly pub with a good menu hidden away round the corner from the Bell. After lunch, and the sun began to show through so we enjoyed a ride through Bushy Park to Hampton Court for T. Thanks Albert, we all owe you a cuppa. Also present, Fuzz, Linda, Bill, Roger.
Steph

A Group 27th January

Almost Spring - well, at least it wasn't snowing. Graham led us 24.8 miles from elevenses at Shepperton to tea at Cobham. Moving average 11.2 mph, a bit of climbing with 783 ft of ascent and 1179 calories.

Mark

Easy riders Jan 20th

This was the Wednesday when I had the help of my dear son Peter on the front of the tandem trike. With the cold and drizzle I was glad of a bit of frontal cover. He can certainly navigate to Elleray Hall better than me. There we found a good turnout with Lynda, Beryl, Fuzz, Dennis and several others including Phil who was ride leader. Right at the start we took a wrong turning, that is we two on the mighty machine. However Peter enquired at the police station the route to Ashford where we were due to have lunch at The Kings Head. On arrival, the pub was not one of those out of the way spots and a most welcome sight to we wet and weary ones. It was warm and welcoming and the food and beer helped a lot. Tea was to be taken at The Walled Garden at Lower Sunbury but having found that venue closed we all pressed on to Hampton Court Bridge and had tea at Five on the Bridge. I have attached a few photos I took at lunch---------Albert