Auld acquaintance; a Beginners group of six on 11 July

Ray Ward and his wife Chris were in isolation for four months, going on virtual hikes around the pyramids and cycling the tandem around the garden.  So when Ray expressed an interest in trying group riding again Maggie put together a group of us loath to go to Nonsuch Park because of the general public flocking in their masses.  Among other things, it appears that nowadays you can get a licence to drive a big car without having to learn how to manoeuvre or park it, and if you do, the best place to practice your technique is - you've guessed it - the Cheam end of Nonsuch Park on a Saturday where everybody else who lives within walking distance of the place is doing the same.

Maggie is a better selfie-taker than me (see below)

So Ray came to meet with Ken, Anna, Roger, Maggie and I at the Sutton library car park, where there were no vehicles and we were the only six people.  Maggie had mooted our favourite ride up Farthing Down but this met with general disapproval; apparently it involves a hill.  We were asked, what was the attraction?  (Answer, nice ride, nice views, and we know a coffee shop and a clean toilet).  No matter; instead we went towards Dorking where the B Group had discovered on Wednesday that the toilets next to Rykas were open, so off we set.

It was comfortable weather for riding; a risk of rain that never really materialised.  So we followed the wheel tracks of many before us through Ashtead and Leatherhead and along the cycle path alongside the A24.  We got a little strung out on the hospital hill in Epsom and when we regathered at the top it appears that tail-end Charlotte and the back marker had seen Colin and taken evasive action to prevent two Saturday groups intermingling.  On arrival at Rykas who should be sitting at a table all on his lonesome but Godfrey; what a pleasant surprise!  We retraced our steps to the River Mole and from there took the Ashtead Common route home (via Roger's picturesque route), and who should we meet just south of Leatherhead but Terry.

One eye only on the ball!  Five and a half of us by the largest home for small mammals in Surrey

It's a small world, SW London and Surrey on a bike of a Saturday afternoon.  A splendid time was had by all.  Me, door to door, 55.46 Km, 363 metres of climbing, a cup of tea and a whole flapjack.