B Group 6th November

Eventually, by the time everyone had been rounded up, 26 of us left Cobham including new rider Sue Foster and Martin Gandy who joined us from the Easy Riders. A gentle ride through Ockham and along Spring Reach brought us to Lollesworth Lane in West Horsley. Here we took the track through Lollesworth Wood where four deer watched this strange sight for some time before disappearing into the trees. At Place Farm we turned left onto the A246 for a short stretch to Chalk Lane. Green Dene was a delight is all its autumn colours but here disaster struck for Sue when a jammed chain bent her derailleur and then the hanger broke.

After a longish wait ( no mobile signal) Terry and Pam led the main group down Staple Lane to lunch at the Saddlers Arms in Send Marsh. I went back to find Sue about to make a long walk to Horsley station. Tim, Tony Hooker, Bob and I then rode to lunch to arrive while the others were still being served.

The pub did well in spite of the numbers and we were finished by about 2.15. A large contingent then left with Terry to head to Cobham and points beyond while fourteen of us continued to Walton. A couple of delays meant that seven of us arrived at the Riverhouse Barn at 3.45 to find that they had put everything away and were closed. However they quickly changed their minds and served us with a smile so all was well. The message to leaders is that now they nominally close at 4pm it would be worth phoning them if you think you will arrive after 3.30.

My thanks particularly to Terry and Pam for their contribution, Tim for back marking and the map, Peter Tiller and all the others who marked corners. The photo was taken after the Cobham group had left so only includes those going on to Walton.

Author: Brian