Late Autumn Ride, Tuesday 26 Sept.

A STORY TOLD BY FRANK KIPPIN.

I joined the Tuesday Ride led by Des, the rest of the team being Ricky, Asif and  Tomtom. The destination was Horne GC [Round the Horne from the 60s*]. Weather warm with strong southerly breeze and along the lanes, tree debris everywhere.

Des took us up via Woldingham School, a beautiful valley to the top.

Something new at the top of the climb by the school traffic barrier. The adjacent cottage has had a spruce up with Autumn colours – planters, flower pots, plus a cockerel and rude little piglet showing it’s rear end!

Later, via Bletchingley we stop at the famous old, working, Outwood Post Mill (1665), and chatted about our experiences of mills.

Once we saw a Gatwick flight going over it was then Horne GC.  We sat outside with refreshments for an animated catch-up chat. Asif gave us inside info on armed policing, meshing with Des and his Custom & Excise drug raid stories.

Returning we went down Bones Lane reminding us of the spiritual ‘Dem Dry Bones’! We went back via Crowhurst Lane End remembering the Bricklayers Arms, A22 to Godstone Church Town, with a stop at bottom of Flower Lane – a breather before the steep climb!

Asif went ahead to the school back entrance and took our photos as we came up, struggling on the last and steepest bit!

 Then down through the school to the viaduct. No short cut for me up Bug Hill. Followed Des along A22 to Whyteleafe then pushed up Hillbury Rd to Warlingham and Chez Kippin at Selsdon.

Excellent ride, Thanks Des – and no sign of Storm Agnes [Agnes will miss our neck of the woods according to BBC Weather]

Editor’s comment: *Like Frank I am old enough to remember the hilarious BBC radio programme of the 1960s – “Round the Horne” starring the comedian, Kenneth Horne.