Worryingly, when we reached the crossroads a sign indicated that the road to West Hoathly was closed – we needed to travel about 100 yards on that road! After a few moments thought I decided to chance it and so we headed down and then up the short sharp climb out of the village, past what was the Punchbowl Inn but what is now an Indian restaurant called Tarana. At Selsfield Common there were more “Road Closed” notices as we took the left fork – this was the 100 yards of road I was talking about – but the road wasn’t actually blocked until immediately after Vowels Lane and Vowels Lane was what we wanted.
This lane is nice and quiet and after the first 100 yards is all down hill! Towards the bottom it goes past the current most northerly station on the Bluebell Railway, Kingscote. Here there were a couple of vintage single decker buses parked up, so I had to stop and take a picture:
What I think was a Battle of Britain class express locomotive was just visible through the trees (Tangmere?) but I couldn’t get a decent photo of it – I hung around just the other side of the bridge in the hope of a shot but no luck. At the next junction we carried on eastwards and up another gradual climb before turning right onto Saint Hill Road. As we stopped for a breather, Norman recognised a friend who had just parked at the same spot. Chatting to him we found out that the Bluebell was having a “Gala” weekend – this means there would be loads of engines in steam and they’d be running past Kingscote and up as far as the current end of the line, just short of the Imberhorne Lane bridge. We also found out that Tornado (the brand new steam locomotive that Jeremy Clakson got dirty in last year) was supposed to have been in steam at the Bluebell as well (it would need to have been transported on a lowloader to the middle of Sussex) but, due to a mechanical problem wasn’t available – shame. By coincidence I was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Tornado on it!
From, here we went down to Saint Hill Green and then enjoyed the rapid descent to the tail of Weirwood reservoir. Here we turned left onto Legsheath Lane which, after an easy start turns into a stiffish climb up into Ashdown Forest. At the crossroad we could see more signs detailing the road closure at West Hoathly (and we could also see the confusion it was causing motorists and motorcyclists).
After the crossroads we took Twyford Lane on the right. This is another pretty lane that always gives an enjoyable ride (north to south it’s downhill) and I thought I’d illustrate this by filming it on my camera. So, there I am, riding one-handed trying to keep the camera steady and level with my right hand and feathering the rear brake with my left hand. Just as my rear brake was starting to make some grumbling sounds I spotted two horses (with riders) coming up the hill in front of me so pulled harder on the rear brake – b*gger! - it locked up so I desperately abandoned my film-making and grabbed a big handful of front brake. That did the trick and I’d managed to regain control without spooking the horses. Note to self: don’t ride downhill in excess of 30 mph single-handed, holding a camera. Looking at the video later it looks like I’m having a crash! At the bottom the road goes through a ford but it was less than an inch deep today. After a double-back sort of junction we crossed a second ford (equally shallow – mind you, it is the same river). And then the short but sharp (I used granny) hill up to Hurstwood Lane. This goes close to Hurstwood Manor where (I believe) Carla Lane of Butterflies fame lives. Chilling Street followed. This is a ridgetop lane with good views of the next ridge with the spire of Highbrook Church featuring prominently. At this point we joined another road for a few hundred yards before turning right to pass the entrance to Horsted Keynes station. The presence of loads of cars on the verges testified to the fact the Gala weekend was on. I was hoping a train would swim into view as we rolled down the lane but my hopes were thwarted. Just to keep us on our toes there’s another short climb here and then, when we reached Hammingden Lane. I stopped and gave my compatriots a choice: we could either turn right and climb up the ridge to go through Highbrook and on to West Hoathly before using Hook Lane and Cob Lane to get to Ardingly (4 miles, two very steep climbs) or we could turn left to Ardingly (1/2 a mile, one small sharp climb). No contest – the risk of having to look at more “Road Closed” and “Diversion” signs at West Hoathly made left the obvious choice!
Once we reached Ardingly we headed west to go past St Peters Church:
From here the road goes steeply downhill to cross the eastern arm of Ardingly reservoir before a steep climb up the other side. Halfway up my chain managed to shift past the big rear cog and jam between the cogs and the spokes! I’d been concerned about the odd noise that had been developing from my rear wheel during the day and this just seemed to confirm something wasn’t right – I suspected a loose cassette and once I’d got the chain back in place, determined to nurse it back home. Fortunately, once we’d conquered West Hill there was just the gradual ascent of Paddockhurst Lane and Back Lane up to Worth Abbey. After here we forked right onto the bridleway at Whitely Hill to cut across to the B2036 Balcombe Road. Here we said goodbye to Norman as he carried on using the bridleway which would take him through the forest and then onto Parish Lane and Pease Pottage for the shortest route back to Horsham. Meanwhile Barabara and I headed north across the M23 and then threaded a quiet route through Maidenbower to finally arrive at Three Bridges Station just before 13:00hrs – exactly as promised!
Next weeks ride starts from Horsham Park Pavilions at 09:00hrs. Mick is leading us on what will be a very pleasant 50 mile route with lunch at the Onslow Arms, Loxwood and an afternoon tea stop at Capel. This will be an absolute corker of a ride if the weather is nice and sunny. I look forward to seeing you all.
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