Sunday Ride: 12th June 2016

With a long Sunday ride ahead of me, I was appalled to see that we had a heavy rain warning from 10am though 1pm. Unsurpringly, I was delighted at 8.55 when I found myself all alone in the slight drizzle at Shurguard. As I was getting my phone ready to take a selfie I saw the first of a small gang of brave people heading my way. Mark & Steve followed by Ajay & a young lady that he charmed into joining for the day. Last in was TomTom and we were off.

Rather than the 58 mile spectacular I decided to go a long way into Westerham and we headed up the Purley Downs Road to the Sanderstead roundabout in time to catch Frank running late. I’m sure that Frank must have been delighted as we went back up the hill, into Selsdon and down towards Farley Common and back past his house.

The quiet route through Beddlestead Lane was accompanied by persistent drizzle with bursts of something wetter. At the bottom of the descent of Clark’s Lane I heard that Steve was half way up the hill behind me so Mark lead the gang on to Westerham Cyclery while TomTom and I went back up the hill to make sure that Steve was ok.

Westerham Cyclery is a lovely cafe with delicious cake and a friendly welcome. Frank lead a discussion which moved rapidly from General Wolfe to Brexit. After the usual for and against we headed homeward.

While Frank went back more directly the rest of us took the quiet Pilgrims Way to Oxted and then up Chalkpit Lane to Woldingham. A first time for most, a delightful reminder for the Mark and myself of why we don’t go up Chalkpit too often. Still, the long descent back to Ann Summers made it well worth the effort!