Sunday Ride: 2nd October 2016

A cracking ride to Painshill for tea. Perhaps it should be called the ‘Des 77’ in honour of our birthday boy. A challenge to the rest of us as we leave the trombone era. Well done Des for making it look effortless.

Tom V took us on a new route out of Chipstead Valley, So new we had to do it twice 😉 through Woodmansterne eventually bumping ito Jeremy as we approached Cobham.

The mooning statue at Painshill rather excited one of the company who regaled us with his childhood memories of Erica Row and her outstanding performance at Twickers in 1982 [Picture: NSFW].

The pub stop was only 2.7 miles further as the crow flies – but we don’t fly. Still Ripley is good diversion to the The Anchor at Pyrford Lock. A delightful canal side gastro-pub though having only one person taking orders for drinks and food on a Sunday rush hour was sub-optimal.

Usually its a straight run home after the pub but Tom had other things in mind as we set off in the opposite direction towards Woking and then snaking south to East Clandon and West Horsley. The return was up Little Switzerland but a fairy caught Maggie’s front wheel as we crossed the A24. a great but unexpectantly longer ride than usual.

The phone box to phone box distance was almost 100km. My door to door was 75 miles – not quite catching up with Des’ birthdays.