Westward Ho!

A nice, simple ride today using a few of the lanes to the west of Horsham. I managed to arrive at Horsham Pavilions in the Park five minutes early but couldn't see any bikes I recognised.  Then Norman pulled up and ........ that was it.

We headed off along Hurst Road and continued west across the golf course and out onto Robin Hood Lane. We used the usual Byfleets Lane, Strood Lane, Guildford Road route and then climbed up Rowhook Hill - sometimes the hill is really hard work, today it seemed relatively easy.

We next used Furzen Lane across to Ellens Green where we turned left and then, just before arriving in Rudgwick, we took Cox Green Lane. This lane crosses over the Downs Link before turning sharp left near the old Baynards Station. I nearly missed the next turn onto Knowle Lane, but this took us north and west until we turned onto Wildwood Lane. Although the skies were blue, there were still quite a few puddles on the road - this wasn't too much of a problem until a chelsea tractor overtook us and sent the entire contents of one puddle all over me!

By the end of the lane I'd dried out and we turned left onto the A281 for the short burst down to Alfold Crossways. Here we headed out on the Dunsfold Road which skirts the Top Gear airfield before arriving in Dunsfold itself.

Now we headed south to Plaistow before turning east to go through Ifold - a strange place, it's quite a large village but almost all hidden away on private roads. From here we continued east, then turned north to the lunch stop at the Onslow Arms in Loxwood.

As we were a little early, Norman and I talk a short walk along the canal as far as a set of lock gates. We were surprised (and a little disgusted) at the amount of dog poo along the path but what was most disgusting was the amount that had been bagged up but then just hung on a twig or bush! These dog owners are morons - perhaps I ought to work on my dog-control chip idea a bit more!

The pub doesn't do sandwiches on Sundays but both Norman and I found something suitable on the menu and had a couple of ciders to go with it.

The route back was shorter - we headed up into Loxwood then east across to Tismans Common before a short stretch of A281 and a right turn onto Haven Road. At the end we turned left onto Stane Street for one mile before taking Hayes Lane down into Slinfold. From here we headed east then north to Broadbridge Heath. Soon after we were crossing the golf course and back in Horsham.

Forty minutes later I was back home in Crawley - just as a clap of thunder announced a torrential downpour! Close shave - as I didn't want to get wet, I left my bike in the dining room rather than venture out to the shed. My mileage today came in at just under 43 miles.

Next weks ride on Sunday 29th April will start from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs. Led by Frank it will head east with a lunchstop at The Castle in Chiddingstone. It will be about 40 miles and relatively easy. Please come out, we're already more then a quarter of the way through 2012!