As we were heading south of Crawley, climbing was inevitable but I tried to find a route that would minimise the amount and be fairly quiet. I opted to head for Turners Hill but using what I fancied would be a flatter route via Rowfant with just a short, sharp ascent for the last couple of hundred yards up to the crossroads in Turners Hill.
On regrouping at the front of the school, a couple of riders reckoned the normal climb up past Tulley's Farm would have been easier, I'm not so sure. After a breather, we carried on and headed west through Worth Abbey. As we rode along we could see the scarp of the South Downs about 10 miles away on our left. In spite of the overcast conditions and the lack of contrast, I could just about make out the V-shaped plantation on the scarp just south of Plumpton Green. It was planted to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
On reaching the Cowdray Arms, we turned left and then a couple of hundred yards up the road, right. After about a mile we passed a small lane on the left, Crawley Lane, which, if you extended it to the right would go straight to Crawley although no such route now exists! There is a convenient bridge for such a route to cross the railway just north of Balcombe tunnel but no public right-of-way apart from a section of bridle way in Tilgate Forest.
Soon after this we reached the road junction near the Water Tower and turned left onto Brantridge Lane. The Wings Aviation Museum is on the right after about 800 yards. We locked the bikes up against the side of the building and went in. The museum very much specialises in displaying and explaining the remains of crashed aircraft from the Second World War although it also has features about the V1 and V2 flying bombs along with a very moving account of a slave labour camp involved in their manufacture.
This photo shows the crumpled exhaust of a crashed Mustang aircraft.
I had a nice chat with one of the museum volunteers about post war commercial flying - she had been a stewardess during that period.
We'd been there about an hour and a half and I could easily have spent another couple of hours studying all the displays but stomachs were starting to rumble. Turning right out onto Brantridge Lane, we enjoyed a nice long glide for a mile or so before a short incline and glide into Staplefield to pull up at The Victory for lunch. There being no spare tables inside, we sat outside and enjoyed sunshine and clouds with the odd spot of rain whilst we chatted, ate and drank.
We'd been there about an hour and a half and I could easily have spent another couple of hours studying all the displays but stomachs were starting to rumble. Turning right out onto Brantridge Lane, we enjoyed a nice long glide for a mile or so before a short incline and glide into Staplefield to pull up at The Victory for lunch. There being no spare tables inside, we sat outside and enjoyed sunshine and clouds with the odd spot of rain whilst we chatted, ate and drank.
There was no avoiding a climb on the way back as we were sat snugly in the Forest Ridges from whence everywhere is the other side of a hill!
I led us westwards through to Slaugham, then Slaugham Pond, past the Wheatsheaf at Plummers Plain, over the Hammer Pond and then turned right onto Grouse Road. Although the 4 mile length of this road is generally all uphill, it's relatively gradual and so we all managed to stay as a group along it. At the top we said goodbye to Barbara as she turned west back home to Horsham, whilst the rest of us headed on into Pease Pottage and then down the hill to K2. Ken left us in Tilgate, Ros was escorted to Maidenbower by Pat and Frank and I guided Val as far as Russell Way.
Video starts at Rowfant, then passes the Cowdray Arms and finishes down Brantridge Lane to The Victory.
Next weeks ride, inspired by the time of year(!) is titled "Summers Day on the Downs Link". I imagined we would be in the middle of a heat wave and could spend a pleasant day soaking up the sun with an easy ride out and back along the Downs Link. Let's keep our fingers crossed!!
It will start from Horsham Pavilion in the Park at 09:30 and will be mainly offroad but suitable for all except the most delicate of bikes. Lunch will probably be at the Cat and Canary in Henfield, although the ride can be shortened or lengthened depending on conditions and who turns up.
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