Tuesday local ride - started from Stratton Park in the warm sunshine for this time of year
Riders: Clockwise - Tim, Carol, DavidB, Mark, Clive, JohnM, Simon and Mike Anti-clockwise - Lin, Len, SueC, SueP, Rod, Paul, PeterH, PeterB, David and Alistair
Stats: 30 miles, 450m ascent and 12.3mph avge
Route: It was the same route for both groups taking in Oakley, Deane, Micheldever, East Stratton, Totford, Candovers, Dummer, Farleigh Wallop and Beggarwood. Both groups met at the top of Northington Hill, with the clockwise group stopping at Popham Airfield and the ant-clockwise group at Honesty at Dummer Down for coffee.
Thursday away ride - started from Farnham in unseasonably warm sunshine
Riders: Gary, Helena, JohnR, Nick, Mark, Clive, Mick, David and Alistair
Stats: 28 miles, 635m ascent and 10.8mph avge
Route: A nice scenic route on the back roads of Farnham taking us past all the posh houses in Lower Bourne to Frensham Road. Once across the River Wey on the A287 we turned onto Grange Road that took us through the woods past Frensham Little Pond to Tilford Street for the climbs up to Thursley where Mick's tubeless tyre had gone soft again from a previous puncture and required a plug to seal it.
Once on the way again, there was a short off-road section past Witley House to the village of Witley then Mill Lane and the bridleway past Mill House overlooking the lake. Then it was the run down to Godalming past Milford Hospital where we had a leisurely lunch stop at the Wetherspoons in the High Street.
On the road again it was immediately into the climb up Hurtmore Hill where Mick’s tyre needed to be pumped up again. Once through Hurtmore and Shackleford for the long drag over the hill to The Sands. Compton Way was closed for gas mains works, but we were able to squeeze through, riding past the McMansions to the bridleway taking us under the Shepherd and Flock roundabout back to the cars.