National Leave-your-car-in-the-middle-of-the-road Day; Nonsuch 1-o-clockers to Leatherhead 1 February

Dull, grey, cold; anybody would think it was early February as we gathered at the Mansion on Saturday.  The schedule had us riding to Box Hill and Walton but with Roger still not match fit after the installation of his pacemaker I felt that we might end up with a fatality on Box Hill.  Other options were to go up the back way, over Epsom Racecourse and Tadworth, or to take everyone to Rykas and give people the option of continuing or returning via Leatherhead.

There were eight of us, and initially we agreed the Rykas option.  Off we set through the traffic jam to Ewell.  But we all felt cold waiting for Roger to catch us up at the top of Wilmerhatch Lane, above Epsom Hospital.  It was no colder than it has been, on and off, for weeks, but it just felt colder and. frankly, the thought of sitting on the wooden tables outside Rykas was deeply unappealing.

So, once Roger and Anna had joined us, and Roger had got back his breath, I put it to the rest that we might just look for a coffee somewhere warm in Leatherhead and come back over the common.  It was good of them to agree, because this is their weekly chance of a decent group ride.

So we went only as far as Leatherhead, where we split into two for coffee preferences, some to Charlie and Ginger's, some to Lucio's.  At C&G's, Rob discovered he had mislaid his credit card, so he and Stuart shot off home leaving Nigel, Maggie, Roger, Anna, Ken and me to complete the return leg together.

Roger adjusting his pacemaker

Our group on Ashtead Common, headed by "Two Bikes" Ken.

both photos by Maggie

And I don't know if anybody else was aware, but apparently 1 February has been declared National I'll-Leave-your-car-in-the middle-of-the road-and-block-everyone-else Day.  We came across five such instances.

Thanks to everyone for your co-operation and your company.