A group Picnic Ride 20th August 2025

 After carefully planning a route and working out three groups we actually left in two groups. First one led by Dave V who always steps in to help lead a group, as does Brian. Neil W and his charming wife Jenny offered to take our lunch boxes by car to the Brockham Village Recreation ground so we were unencumbered on our ride.

Well, Dave set a cracking pace with Gina, Dave F, Clive, Paula, Karl and Sue C and Brian back marking. I set off just after with Janice, Fiona, Frances, Patrick, Simon W, Mike R, Hans, Dave B, Guy and Ged back marking. We went from Leatherhead to Effingham and then up to White Down, before descending into Dorking, where Fiona left us to return. It was cold at 19 degrees and overcast with grey cloud. My group didn't catch up with Dave's until Newdigate and from there it was a straightforward pull north, through Parkgate and left at Shallwood Cross. We arrived at Brockham at 12.10 and looked forward to a cup of tea or coffee. This was amply provided, including a lot of lemon cake, by Sue F and her helpers.

Everyone then got to enjoy the day meeting riders from different groups.

I think the highlight was when Simon received his virtual award from Sue F which was a Certificate of Lifetime Achievement from Cycling UK for his outstanding contribution to the club as treasurer, Membership Secretary and now more recently IT consultant. He has spent months transferring our blogs onto the new system! An awful lot of work unpaid. I also have fond memories of him collecting our club coin fees in a tin box and riding around with the extra weight! Not to mention his slow circumnavigation of the UK year on year. He is one of the club's stars.

I was going to leave at 2.45 pm to take a route up Box Hill and on to Ashtead GC for tea, but it was so cold the consensus was to leave at 2. By the time we had reached the cafe the sun was out and warming us up again. Patrick, Simon W, and Ged stopped and we were soon joined by Brian. The day highlighted the two best features, of the best exercise a body can get, to help with the immune system and fending off old age and the company of a bunch of goodhearted people enjoying themselves.

Many thanks to Pete B for the excellent photos which I blagged off Whatsapp. Many thanks also for Dave V and Brian who offered to lead a group and successfully negotiated my dodgy route. Finally sincere thanks to everyone who contributes to the club including many who could not attend today.

Steve D