A Group 24th January

'And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here'  (W. Shakespeare; Henry V)

A surprisingly modest turn-out at Dorking,  and a curious reluctance to leave.  But, in the end, we had to, and set off into what the forecasters promised to be 100% rain and 50mph winds.  There was some discussion about what 100% rain might actually be, but no debate about direction of travel - we were going downwind.

Off along the Dorking By-Pass, easily indeed, but we did have sympathy for a chap with panniers and billowing rain-clothes who was coming the other way.  It was hard to tell if he was making any progress at all, though he was evidently working hard.

Anyway, just for larks, we thought we'd go over Box Hill, to see what the weather was like at the top.  Not a lot of people about, funnily enough.

The weather was blowy, and wet too, but not as bad as it might have been.  (Well, actually, perhaps it was as bad as it might have been.)  We stopped at the memorial, as usual, to take in the view, but there wasn't a great deal to take in, and turning into the wind wasn't the brightest idea in any case.

So, off downwind again, towards Headley.  We made good pace here, without pedalling too much at all.  Indeed, the back marker was having to brake a bit as he was getting the best of the wind.  Over the top, down to Epsom and JD was waiting to welcome us.

A very pleasant and convivial lunch, doubly so because Colin and Janice dropped in to say hello.  If they thought we were dafties they didn't say so; Janice had very sensibly done her cycling in the gym.

There was some discussion of cycling on to Nonsuch Park for tea, but Janice put a bit of a dampener on that by saying that she thought there were no tables inside.  Looking out of the window, tea outside seemed a pretty poor idea, as the 100% rain was certainly performing by now.

So, off to the station and an early bath.

'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; '  (Bill S, again)

Mark

Author: Mark G

6 Comments:

Simon L 24 January 2018 at 15:33 GMT

Well done to all of you. Although I'm not sure Shakespeare knew much about cycling in the rain when he wrote that line...

mike morley 24 January 2018 at 16:24 GMT

Well done Mark for leading such an intrepid bunch of 5 stalwarts. The wind was so strong over night it blew the door of my garden shed so I took one look at the weather and decided that I did not want to get blown off my bike with all my other aches and pains! Had intended to do Hilly 50 Flyer drop-off's at various cycle outlets but will do Thurs or Fri with better weather I hope.

Dave Vine 24 January 2018 at 16:43 GMT

Many thanks Mark. I guess we all got home in the light, for the first time in 2018, Spring must be on the way.

Frances Stewart 24 January 2018 at 17:38 GMT

Wow great effort puts me to shame - I wimped out to the cross trainer and bicycle shop. Fingers crossed for better weather next Wed.

PaulKelly 24 January 2018 at 18:38 GMT

Dirty days hath September
April June and November
From January up to May
The rain it raineth every day
All the rest have thirty-one
Without a blessed gleam of sun
And if any of them had two-and-thirty
They'd be just as wet and twice as dirty."

Helen Tovey 26 January 2018 at 17:16 GMT

Loving that view from the top of Boxhill:-)5 stars for all of you!!