The published destination for G3 was The Milk Churn. It was obvious that the tea room would not be able to handle the thirty plus riders who were gathered. Bryan offered to lead a ride to Sumner Ponds and I took a select group (Sophie, Jill, Nick, Billy and Francis) to the Grey Dove in Walton-on-the-Hill.
We took a loop through Charlwood and Rusper and headed for Newdigate, meetin Bryan's crowd coming in the opposite direction. Blackbrook Road, Punchbottom Lane and Pixam Lane took us to Mickleham where we ignored the crowds on Box Hill and turned by Juniper Hall where the dreaded call at 'flat!' disturbed the peace. Some tyres slide easily onto the wheel rim; other are a lot tighter. This one took the combined efforta of Nick and Francis to force it on. Finally, we continued up Lodgebottom Lane to Headley. Another climb took us to our destination (which is 'on-the-Hill').
The Grey Dove was voted a 'posh stop', china cups, not a mug in sight (no greay spoons for the select group!). Billy than headed off for a quick tour of Sussex to clock up his 100 miles for the day. The rest of us returned through Kingswood, Chipstead (where Francis peeled off for home), up Hazelwood Lane, past Fanny's Farm shop) and along Rocky Lane to reach the A23.
Usual cobimation of a good ride along the lanes in excellent company.
Mike Ormerod