Sunday Ride: 10th May 2015

Ten of us turned our for a day that began warm and dull but brightened up. We welcomed a newcomer Gloria for her first club ride and she certainly rose to the occasion! The making of a good rider if she perseveres!

Jim was away so Jeremy led the charge up Marden Park. The exit to the road was partially blocked by a Sportive rider who had come down the hill from Caterham with a little too much gusto and lost it on the sharp left. A safety Marshall was summoning help and it didn’t look too serious. Nethertheless the ride over the M25 and A22 led to some close and speedy overtaking from the racers so it was a relief to take a left onto the A25 leaving them to thunder down Church Lane.

Spring had sprung, birds were singing, dandelions were sprouting and Spanish bluebells were invading. The countryside was alive and a real pleasure to be riding rather than speeding through. We arrived a little early for Chiddingston Castle Tea Rooms rather than the scheduled village shop. There we split as usual.

The runs list had us down for Hartfield which was a little enthusiastic so we decided The Plough at Dormansland would be a better bet. After a slight mishap in the front taking a right and the rear a left we re-united and collected a few more pretty villages before the stop. My mobile camere was on the blink so the above picture is the sole record of the day. About 52 miles.