It was a bit foggy/misty and as we left Crawley and headed over the M23 it seemed to be getting thicker (and colder). We were expecting Old Hollow to be cold and it was, but we were not expecting a King Charles Spaniel to be sitting on the middle of the road - and Frank did not expect that he would have to put so much effort into pedalling in an effort to outrun the crazy pooch! After about half a mile the little dog (how did its legs go so fast?) turned off and rejoined its owners, leaving us to carry on and Frank to get his breath back.
We crossed the A264 into Copthorne then went along Copthorne Bank to head for the Black Corner crossroads. Just before we got there the lady driver of some 4x4 Tesco Trolley told Frank off for riding two abreast - Frank was so surprised by this that he says he didn't manage to get a reply in, so it looks like Mrs "I don't know how big my car is but you cyclists should scurry along in the gutter" has got away with it this time....
We headed west of Smallfield and crossed back over the M23 before turning north at Weatherhill (reminds me of Weathertop in The Lord of The Rings). After two small climbs and a a wiggly lane we arrived at Redhill Aerodrome and the prospect of a nice hot drink. The cafe was quite busy but we managed to find a table for six - right by the window so that we could keep an eye on our bikes - and we were soon tucking into teacakes and mugs of tea.
There was no flying action today - I think these two pictures give some clue as to why not:
Suitably refreshed we remounted and headed south then west to cross the A23 at Salfords. Soon after we joined Lonesome Lane and headed north before slipping through the southern outskirts of Reigate. Reigate - famous for two things (as far as I'm concerned) - (i) it's where I bought my Kona (ii) The Cure recorded the scream at the end of a track on their first album in Reigate Tunnel.
We followed Slipshatch Road as it became Clayhall Lane and then turned right onto Flanchford Road. After a small uphill section it was an equally small downhill before the road emerged into more open country, occupied by a golf course. We then turned right onto Bonny's Lane which led us up to the lunch halt, The Skimmington Castle.
We hadn't booked a table and all the tables were reserved, but the landlady managed to fit us in - though we had to promise to vacate the table by 13:15 hrs. Not a problem, we had about an hour to eat our lunch and have a pint - easy!
Pete and Marian arrived a couple of minutes later having taken a different route from Reigate in order to "case a joint" on the way ( although Frank suggested they were perhaps reliving their youth).
As promised, we finished before 13:15 and were back out on our bikes. It was still misty but the sun was making a gallant attempt to break through.
We headed west along Trumpetshill Lane and Wonham Lane to arrive by The Dolphin at Betchworth. From here we turned south then west again when we reached The Seven Stars. The next left took us southwards once more until Parkgate and The Surrey Oaks. Here we turned left down the hill and left again onto Blanks Lane and then Stan Hill.
As you can see, it was still misty as we made our way through Charlwood and passed the Half Moon and The Rising Sun before hitting the Ifield Road which took us all the way back to Crawley Town Centre
It wasn't long before I was back home with about 40 miles on the clock - very pleasant and not at all arduous.
Next weeks ride starts from East Grinstead Railway Station at 10:50, although there is the option of leaving Three Bridges at 10:00 hrs to ride the Worth Way across to East Grinstead.
From East Grinstead we will head south to have lunch at The Bessemer Arms at Sheffield Park Station on the Bluebell Railway. I've been told that the ride there is easy but that it's a little hilly on the way back - I reckon that could be a cue for a rail trip behind a steam engine!
Hopefully the Indian Summer will continue over next weekend and give us yet another pleasurable days cycling, see you there!
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