Winkworth Arboretum

Todays ride was fairly straightforward: Starting from Horsham Pavilions in the Park, Pete would lead us to Winkworth Arboretum and back. After an uneventful ride over from Crawley, I arrived at the start just as Barbara did. As I was overheating, I stayed outside and kept an eye on our bikes whilst Barbara joined Pete for a pre-ride coffee (I think it was her breakfast as she'd overslept and had to rush out of the house to get to the ride).

No-one else turned up and so we set off - along Hurst Road to North Parade and then west through Horsham and over the Golf course. Just before we went under the A24 a couple of teenage boys on bmx/jump bikes went past us. With their low saddles and lack of gears it was obvious those bikes weren't intended for our sort of riding and it was quite entertaining watching their riders putting so much effort (and discomfort) into keeping ahead of us as we cruised along Robin Hood Lane. Half a mile later they reached their destination - the mud jumps at the end of Byfleets Lane.

We carried on and shortly afterwards "enjoyed" the climb of Rowhook Hill. We passed through Ellens Green on the way to Cranleigh where we crossed over the Downs Link, then the Wey-Arun Canal and then the A281 before going past the entrance to Dunsfold Aerodrome. This is the airfield used by Top Gear and I've always had a hankering to meet Mr Clarkson and ride my bike over his car (in a reversal of a casual comment he once uttered on the show).

As we reached a place called Loxhill the road turned north and also headed up for two (or was it three?) climbs before we reached our destination.

Winkworth Arboretum is a National Trust garden and we obviously weren't the only visitors today - the car park was absolutely choc-a-bloc. Not a problem for us though, we just merrily rode/wheeled our bikes right up to the cafe and chained them up there.

We lunched on tea and sandwiches before going for a walk around the garden. The autumn colours have only just got going and I enjoyed strolling around taking some photographs:

After all that exercise, when we got back to the cafe we just had to have another cuppa and a bite to eat!!!

For the ride back the wind was behind us and we fair sped down the hills we'd laboured up earlier.

In no time we were back at Cranleigh (did you know it was originally called "Crawley" but was renamed when the New Town came into being in order to avoid confusion?).

To give us a bit of variety, Pete headed us back via Ewhurst, where we encountered this device. I think it is a very "pc" bit of equipment as it tells everybody to slow down and doesn't discriminate against those who are going too quick. Accordingly, I got off my bike and entreated my fellow riders to slow down from the ridiculous 10 mph they were clocking along this dangerous piece of highway!

Cutting through Ewhurst we went through Ewhurst Green and Walliswood before retracing our steps down (joy of joys!) Rowhook Hill and back into Horsham.

Saying good bye to Pete and Barbara I then took the Forest Road back home through Colgate and Pease Pottage. As I put my bike away, I realised I'd cycled some 52 miles on an October day without needing to wear thick or waterproof clothes - result!

Next weeks ride is once again aimed at enjoying the Autumn colours and will start from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 09:30 hrs. It will head south from Horsham and (optionally)lunch will be at the Wheatsheaf at Plummers Plain. The total mileage will be a fairly easy 30 and even with a lunch stop we should all be home by 14:00hrs. Come and join us.