Fourteen riders assembled at the last minute venue change of Mercers Park for the ride today. We left on time collecting four more from the Inn on the Pond on the way.
We were joined by newcomers Sarah and Adam as I led the way onto the N21 route.
As we rode I overhead a smattering of conversation which went something like this. Blah blah tarmac blah blah level blah blah tracks so decided on a last minute change to the planned route.
Arriving at Brewer St we left the N21 and headed uphill to Bletchingley (renamed belchingley in one of Garry’s emails)
At Bletchingly we left my planned route and took the track East behind the village which leads to THE HILL, a fearsome lump of land which proved (as I expected) to be unrideable in the wet conditions. I think It’s the only time I’ve seen the whole group dismounted.
The track behind Tilburstow Hill proved to be pretty dry with little mud, up onto the top of Tilburstow hill and down the fast, wide track to the old A22 crossing over and uphill past the church, over the motorway and onto the second tough climb of the day. I have a mental block on this having ridden it in the past but now hitting the same groove and lump of rock I seem to have hit on the last few tries. Terry was extremely pleased to get past me and onto the top without mishap, well done terry,(and the rest who managed it).
After the slight downhill track leading to Flower Lane the group headed uphill arriving at South Hawk car park via the North Downs Way. From here we took the wonderful downhill rush to Marden Park turning right onto the track on the East side of the valley (passing Russell Kingdom) to the Woldingham posh tea stop..
After tea and cake Terry headed back home (ten minutes away) and John Twitchen let the train take the strain (and his bike) having already ridden from Epsom that day.
The route back was the usual N21 over Gravel Hill where I left the group to return for a well earned tinny and the bike a well earned shower. I assume the rest got home safely without me!
I reckon the distance was about 22 miles.
Frank