SHERE 20/01/07

Winter cycling is all about the weather. Who wants to get soaked on a
leisure ride when there's no need? The early morning downpour had
stopped by the time we all left for the station but the forecast was
still threatening rain. What a nice surprise when it turned out to be
a lovely day with a clear blue sky!

We got off to a bad start when a dim-witted railway employee struggled
with the concept of Group Save. It's pretty simple - 4 people travel
for the price of 2. We had 6 travelling and whilst he scratched his
head, did sums on a piece of paper and looked puzzled, the train
pulled in. We had to hold it up by placing a bike in the doors until
we managed to get him to hand over the tickets.

Our 7th rider was waiting for us at our destination. The route from
Dorking to Shere is nearly all off-road. Within 5 minutes we were on
the Pilgrim's Way, a track that climbs steadily up the North Downs.
Although it can be hard to find and isn't a public right of way, the
track is well maintained and has several benches installed so you can
sit and admire the view. We had a good rest at the top and then
coasted downhill to Land Barn farm and into Westcott village.

The lanes around here are all about pretty cottages, massive mansions
and great views with hardly any traffic. We we soon off-road again and
skirting the Wotton Estate, former home of John Evelyn, the famous
diarist of the 1600's. Most of these tracks have recently been
resurfaced and one has been widened considerably. They're all part of
a future Sustrans route to Cornwall.

The heavy rain had left some places muddy but it started to take its
toll when we skirted around the back of Gomshall. A group of passing
mountain bikers were completely covered in mud and our own bikes were
starting to collect a fair share of Surrey soil. Once we hit Shere, we
headed straight for the Tillingbourne ford to wash our wheels before
grabbing the outside tables at the White Horse pub.

Shere is a beautiful picturesque village and was recently the setting
for the Cameron Diaz and Jude Law film, Holiday. Service at the pub
was much better today than our Christmas week experience and the food
is lovely. We grabbed chocolate and cake from the village shop
afterwards as there's nowhere else to get sustenance from when you're
in the middle of a field on the way back!

It seemed silly to go through the worst of the mud again so we rode
along the busy A25 to Abinger Hammer and then retraced our steps. The
leisurely pace gave us time to check out what I had always thought was
a war memorial in the Abinger Roughs. Turns out to be a monument to
Samuel Wilberforce, son of slavery campaigner William, who had died in
a fall from his horse at that spot.

It's always quicker coming back and despite a puncture (a thorn) it
seemed we were back on the Pilgrims Way in no time. Another bench stop
for a rest and the views and then it was all downhill back to Dorking
station. We enjoyed it so much that no one minded that it took 3
trains to get us back to Mitcham Junction.

Out for 8hrs in total, 17 miles of cycling. See the pix on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157594490302223
or
http://tinyurl.com/232e5m

===

Apologies if anyone emailed me on the PHC address this week. I had to
move the website to a different server and the mail took a long time
to migrate over. If you've got any of the Aviators pages bookmarked
from our website, you'll need to update them to their true address of
http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk

Next week's ride visits 16 parks or open spaces in Merton. You're
bound to see something new! Pub lunch. 9:30 at the library, details on
the website.

Cheers
Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189