Cold and bright today and hopefully the last time we will be restricted to cycling in pairs. Paul and Steve are meeting on the opposite side of the road and we see them cycle off through the park. We're on our favourite route to Farthing Downs, passing Chaldon Church and admiring the primulas on Doctors Lane before turning left onto Rook Lane. This road doesn't get any flatter but we're soon at Coffee and Creams in Caterham-on-the-Hill and chatting to a couple who have recently bought bicycles and are regretting living in such a hilly area.
We continue on Rook Lane to the junction and turn left onto Townend. It's 1.7 miles straight ahead now to Kenley Aerodrome.
Kenley Aerodrome was the home of the Royal Flying Corps in WW1 before it became RAF Kenley. English Heritage describe it as the "most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived ". It's a fascinating place to cycle round. We see the Rifle Range, the war memorial and templates of a Spitfire and a Hurricane. We stop at the information boards and as it gets colder we cycle passed the derelict Officers' Mess.
We leave this historic monument at the Hayes Lane exit and at the junction turn left to cycle downhill for 4 Km on Old Lodge Lane. Before the two railway bridges we turn left up Hartley Down, thus avoiding the busy A23. It's a fairly long gradual incline but our efforts are rewarded by another speedy downhill on Stoats Nest Road. Under the railway bridge we turn left onto Windermere Road. We cycle to the end and turn right on a footpath above Farthing Way. We dismount at the lights. It's a busy, confusing junction, and we walk across it to remount on Brighton Road.
We cycle though Coulsdon, noting DD's is closed on Chipstead Valley Road, and are thankful we stopped for tea when we did. Then it's a rightish turn at the lights and we're on Woodman Road and making our way back to Wallington. 21 Miles today and some wonderful descents!
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