Platinum rain; Nonsuch Beginners to Cobham, 4 June

 By Paul

The rain was supposed to clear up by midday or so on Saturday and sure enough it was cool and grey and wet when we set out for the rendezvous at Nonsuch, but not actually raining.  By the time we got there, there were two dozen or so riders, the sun had come out, and layers of clothing were being shed.

The short riders were discussing a relaxing afternoon down the river when Nigel did his German train act.  A short, clear announcement of his destination (Cobham) and then precisely on time, leaving with no further fanfare, no whistles, no warning.

Eight of us were paying sufficient attention to jump aboard as he smoothly pulled out of the station, and when we assembled at the edge of the park, decided to abandon our putative plan to split into two groups.  In the nick of time, as ever, Steve W turned up to tag on the back and ride tail gunner for much of the way there so, including young Thomas in his trailer, we had eleven riders, ten bikes (actually, eleven bikes if you count the one that Thomas carries on his trailer, see photo below).  We were strung out along Fairoak Lane through differences in pace, so the size of the group did not increase the risk and apart from the couple of miles along that pot-holed, debris-strewn racetrack for impatient SUVs it was a pleasant ride out, especially because Nigel favours the scenic route past the old mental hospitals outside Epsom and to turn off Fairoaks when we can, and head for Stoke D'Abernon.

Sue and Maggie follow Matthew and son west of Stoke d'Abernon, picture by Matthew

We opted for the country route at the other end, too, over the Mole and the green and entering Cobham Village from the west along Cobham Park Road to begin a tour of closed coffee shops, ending up at the Juice Smith, one that we had not tried in Cobham Village.  It's vegan but hey, it was open and the coffee was pretty good even if the oat milk did not quite go with the tea.  Anyway, I was mending Maggie's puncture, and had just sat down when the heavens opened to make a mockery of the weather forecast and cast a dampener, literally, on the Jubilee fetes we had just passed in Potters Field.  

Shelter from the storm at Juice Smith, Cobham, picture by Sue

So there we all sheltered until the cats and dogs had turned to tiny kittens and puppies, before making our way home against what had become a strong, none-too-Summery East wind.

It was fits and starts on the way home, and we were so late we met with Epsom racegoers trudging home at the bottom of Chalk Lane on Derby Day.  The Platinum Jubilee street party in Ewell Village provided another temporary obstacle but it had been an enjoyable day, even if we did not get home until a quarter past seven, by which time we were pretty hungry.  

A hazard of Jubilee weekend; negotiating a street party in Ewell; picture by Sue

Thanks, Nigel, for leading as you so often do.