So ten of us turned into Springfield Road and for the second consecutive week the ride took us along NCN228 through Goffs Park. This time however, when we got into Gossops Green we took a right turn onto Overdene Drive and passed my old school before using the Rusper Road to get to Rusper.
From here we carried on to Capel and then took the Ockley road. A left and right over the A29 and then rounding the corner we were confronted by a Road Closed sign. Fortunately the road we wanted was open - Mole Street. This was a really nice lane that I don't think I've ridden before - I have it on video now:
At the southern end of the lane we emerged on Horsham Road in Walliswood. We carried on south and west to Ellens Green before swooping down through Rudgwick, across the A281 and on down to The Haven. Carrying on we turned left onto Stane Street for the one mile straight (actually it's probably less than half a mile) up to Hayes Lane and into Slinfold. This was the home straight now and just a few minutes later we were at the Garden Centre for lunch.
Mick had ensured they knew we were coming so that we would definitely have a table but as it happens, the cafe is so big that we had acres of space and split into an inside group and an outside group while we ate our lunches.
The journey back took us through Broadbridge Heath up to Warnham and across to Warnham Station. We used the gated crossing rather than the subway (that saved Pete and Marian having to hoist their tandem on their shoulders).
Now our noble band split with Horsham trio turning right and the Crawley contingent turning left and up the hill past the Langhurst tip (or "recycling facility" as it is no doubt now restyled). We then took Green Lane followed by Wimland Road and Wimlands Lane to get to the Faygate Road crossroads. Here the two Johns headed north to stay on the tarmac roads and use Lambs Green to get back to Crawley whilst the rest of us were back on NCN228 and heading along the farm track atop the ridge.
After a gate the track becomes a pressed stone/mud track flashing through the woodland and down to the railway crossing into Bewbush. Crossing the tail of Ifield Mill Pond we were back in Gossops Green and heading through my childhood stomping ground back to Goffs Park. Corinne left us here, then Malcolm leaving just Pete, Marian and myself to negotiate the backstreets of Southgate and head into Furnace Green where the final split occurred and I arrived back home - ready for yet another family do!
Our next ride is our annual 100 mile ride. This year, it's our Crawley version. It will start from Three Bridges Station at 07:00 hrs and head in an anticlockwise loop to the west and south, passing over the Doomsday Green A 281 Crossroads near Hilliers Garden Centre at about 07:45-08:00hrs. The breakfast stop will be at the Bolney Little Chef at about 09:30 hrs. From there it will head east and north to get to the lunch stop, Stepneys Cafe in Maidenbower Pavilion, Crawley, at about 12:30hrs. That will be the first 50 miles done. The second part will start from Stepneys at about 13:30 and be another anticlockwise loop, this time to the north going through Gatwick and up to the Leigh and Brockham area before stopping for afternoon tea at Capel Church at about 16:00hrs. The final 25 miles will head west and south (taking in Weare Street) before turning east and heading back to finish at Three Bridges Station at about 19:00hrs.
Come along, even if you just want to do part of the route or share a refreshment stop. There are some wonderful lanes on the route and company always makes the riding easier.
Here are the Morning and Afternoon route maps (click on them to see full-size):
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