The Jolly Farmer

It's been a while since I produced a blog - I've missed the last two rides!


This week however, I was leader - no shirking, I had to be there....


A 10:30 start from Three Bridges station meant that I comfortably got there on time and quickly spotted Norman enjoying his breakfast by the (immobile) mobile café. I'd also received a message from Gordon and Jacqui who were in the coffee shop (along with Frank). Then Eric rocked up, followed by Pete E, then Michael and Christine. Nine riders - not bad, not bad at all. The half ten start and proximity of the pub to Crawley meant that I had selected a very easy and straightforward route. We used the NCN21 route out through Three Bridges, Northgate and the Industrial Estate to Gatwick Airport. We headed through Horley, past the Air Balloon pub and out on Meath Green Lane.


BANG!


The Sunday morning silence was broken by Michaels rear tyre blowing up - although it sounded far worse than it was. Once he'd removed the tube, all he found was a small stone sticking through the tyre and a 4mm diameter hole in the tube. Unfortunately his spare had too fat a valve but Gordon saved the day with exactly the right tube (in spite of the fact that it would have fitted neither his nor Jacqui's bike!!).


We were soon back on the road and after a couple of miles took the right turn across to Salford where we had to carefully cross the A23. Continuing eastwards, we were soon at Outwood and passing the windmill. Now we had the only hill of the day and it wasn't up!  Waahay - I just managed to match the speed limit as I freewheeled down and then we just had a short run along the lane to the pub, The Jolly Farmer.


As we locked up the bikes I was extolling the virtues of the last visit to this pub - good food, good drink, good atmosphere, good fire in the grate - so I was more than slightly crestfallen when the landlord revealed that they couldn't offer any food as their chef had recently left. Still, the beer was nice and cheap, so we had a swift quaff whilst working out Plan B.


Plan B: where's the nearest pub? A quick look at the map, coupled with a determination not to ride further away from Crawley, and we decided to head for The Plough at Smallfield. It only took a few minutes but as we pulled up I was worried that it was bit too posh and 'restauranty' for a gaggle of cyclists. However, I was pleasantly surprised as we received a very warm welcome from the staff who quickly pushed some tables together so we could sit as a group and presented us with a varied menu containing plenty of lighter meal options. The food arrived quickly and was most enjoyable. Everyone chipped in to the various conversations and the time just flew by.


As we left, Frank got us all together for a group photo - an impressive feat that I rarely manage due to the similarity groups of cyclists have with herds of cats!  You can rarely get them all in the same place, at the same time, looking the same way.......

From Smallfield I planned to head towards Shipley Bridge via Church Lane and the small bridge over the M23, but I changed my mind and used a tiny lane from Smallfield leading under the M23. A short, slightly muddy section then led us on to another small lane skirting the moat of Thunderfield Castle in Horley. At the end of the lane I had thought about turning left and following the Balcombe Road all the way back to Crawley but a dose of common sense and a nudge from Eric persuaded me to turn right, head for Horley Station and then use the NCN21 back to Gatwick. From Gatwick we retraced our steps into the Industrial Estate but with a quick detour to use the new linear park / cycle path called Crawters Brook. I've ridden through it about five times now and I don't think I've seen anyone else using it so far!

Our group now started to part ways - Gordon, Jacqui and Pete heading West to use the A23 cyclepaths to Broadfield and Horsham. Norman was next to go, heading up Northgate Avenue. The rest of us stayed together until Three Bridges where Frank, Michael and Christine headed back to their cars at the station. Meanwhile Eric and I used the newly resurfaced NCN20 into Furnace Green for me and on to Maidenbower for Eric.

Our next ride on Sunday 7th December will be an easy ride starting from Horsham Pavilions in the Park at 10:00hrs and heading for a Lunch stop at the Queens Head in Barns Green. There is the possibility that we will use some gentle offroad tracks but all but the most fragile of bikes will be able to deal with them.  Come on, come out, give yourselves some fresh air and exercise, before Christmas really kicks in!!