From Helen
Fifteen rolled up to the Mansion House, mostly early on this bright sunny morning, and we were able to depart almost on time at 9.50 am on Saturday 10 May. There were fewer runners than usual, so negotiating our way across Nonsuch Park to Sparrow Farm gate was not difficult, and we divided into 2 groups for the journey to coffee at Walton-on-Thames. Bernard kindly agreed to sub lead the second group and Karen and Lilian were backmarkers.
From Sparrow Farm Road, we rode downhill through Cuddington Park and under the cattle grid railbridge at Lynwood Drive. Through to Salisbury Road, then Manor Drive through Malden Manor and Tolworth, turning left at Sainsburys on the corner. A couple of backroads, short ride along a main road then right up a short incline and then the joyful swoop down Ditton Hill. Our route was then mainly flat via Weston Green, through the waterworks (nicely tarmacked path before the timber depot these days) and then Walton Park, and the last couple of miles to Walton bridge. Here we were at coffee by about 11.15, all on schedule and gladly met with Pam, who joined us for the ride to lunch.
Our route to Ripley took us along the Wey Navigation, always leafy and pretty at this time of year. The towpath is single file most of the way; it can be a little rugged at times, with lots of tree roots. In this dry spring there are sandy patches too, and of course other people, mainly dogwalkers and mostly cheerful and tolerant. There are occasional watercraft too! The benefits of mainly peaceful cycling along by the sunlit water, observing little families of geese, ducks and moorhens, and sweet birdsong in the woodlands alongside, made for a very pleasant ride to lunch at the Seven Stars.
We crossed watermeadows brilliant with buttercups along the last couple of miles, stopping briefly to see damselflies and mayflies dancing along the bank, and for a photo near the ruined priory.
Wey Navigation near Ripley
Lunch was good, some delays before all our orders were taken, but food all arrived in reasonable time and we ate and drank well.
We left around 3.15 pm, relaxed, refreshed and ready for a fairly easy ride home via Effingham and Bookham commons. However, our leader (me) passed the Guilshill turnoff, so we found ourselves in West Horsley, took a left turn, then a right to East Horsley, and then followed the busy Guildford road about a mile, from the Duke of Wellington to Dirtstead Road. The exhilarating ride down the quiet lane to the Plough at Effingham, followed by another enjoyable swoop all the way down Lower Road, was reasonable reward for our unplanned detour, I feel!
We gathered at the railway bridge by Leatherhead's Conservation area at 4.40 pm. Some needed to get back, and tea places would be closing shortly, so it was agreed we would press on home. We followed the railway through lower Ashtead and across Ashtead and Epsom commons, Stamford Green, Manor Park Road and Longmead through to Ewell and Stoneleigh, just a few back to Nonsuch with final farewells shortly after 6 pm. Thanks to everyone for a most enjoyable day, and especially to Bernard, Lilian, Karen and Pam for your support. We were so lucky with the weather, and it was great to share the pleasures of local cycleways and countryside with you.
Looking forward to Diane's ride to Worthing on 14 June and I hope to see you again.
