Leaving Pulborough railway station we headed west on the A283 to make our first crossing of the day over the Old Stopham Bridge (1) . We then doubled back over the Arun using the new Stopham bridge (2) before diving left up a sharpish off-road climb through some pleasant woodland. As the bridleway levelled out so it became sandy and keeping our bikes from squirming around became our main preoccupation - although I did manage to admire the extensive view of the South Downs to our right. Regrouping in the sunshine near Park Farm we then headed north along Coombelands Lane for about a mile before heading west and through a ribbon of woodland to cross the Arun (3) just upstream of Pallingham Lock where the Wey Arun Canal joins the river. At this point Jeff caught his handlebar on a post and gashed his leg slightly as he was catapulted off his bike. He had some plasters with him and administered his own first aid in the best traditions of mountain biking self-sufficiency! From here, we climbed through a couple of fields and some woodland to emerge onto a road and head down Horsebridge Hill.
Turning right onto another bridleway, we travelled through a woodland and then traversed another couple of grassy fields before crossing the river (4) and then the dry canal bed . From here a couple of farm tracks brought us out onto Black Gate Lane for a short while before taking a bridleway along a private drive and then down a hill to cross the canal and then 100 yards later the river once more (5) . Last year that 100 yard stretch of path was under a good 18 inches of water - today the water level was at least two metres lower!
A slight gradient then took us through Harsfold Hanger and past Harsfold Farm to emerge on the A272 for a short ride into Wisborough Green and a stop at The Coffee Cup cafe for elevenses.
Refreshed, we carried on north and east from Wisborough Green along Newpound Lane and then north along the B2133. Colin found another bridleway that took us through some woodland, up and over a couple of fields and past a pair of lakes to arrive at Malham Farm. From here we continued north through more farmland and woodland before popping out onto Drungewick Lane. Another crossing of the canal was soon made as was a tributary of the Arun, but not the main river itself. Turning right onto the Loxwood Road, we headed east for a quarter of a mile before heading south on another bridleway, past Newhouse Farm to cross the Arun (6) just before Gibbons Mill . From here it was just a short ride to the lunch halt at The Blue Ship in The Haven, where we were met by Barbara, Edwin, John, Alan and Liz.
After lunch, Colin lead us along a couple of lanes and down a quiet woodland bridlepath to emerge back out on Okehurst Road and meet a couple of our road-based lunch colleagues. Then, after Bignor Farm, we left them to the tarmac as we headed west over a couple of fields for our next crossing point (7). Once again, last year this area was covered in water but today all the water was neatly contained within the river banks. The route runs alongside a dry stretch of the canal before crossing it on a bridge by a ruined lock. From here a farm track led us the couple of hundred yards up to the scene of last years accident - we noticed that the track seems to have had most of the potholes filled in and was relatively smooth. We were now back at Malham Farm and retraced our earlier steps as far as our next bridleway just north of Newpound Common. Heading east, this track skirts around Loves Farm and it's "Beware of the Dogs" sign. Sure enough, one of the dogs came running over, barking its silly little head off but we ignored it as we went on into the woods. We popped out of the woods at Loves Bridge, described on a nearby plaque as the loveliest bridge on the Wey and Arun Canal. Unfortunately there's very little water in the canal at this point - I believe the landowner is against the restoration of this bit of the canal - sad really as a restored canal looks really good and is a very positive feature in the landscape. By contrast, the bridge over the river(8) is quite plain. heading east we came out onto Okehurst Road and followed it south as it became Rowner Road. At Rowner Farm we passed to the left of a large barn and then through a small copse to emerge at some kind of metal weir on the river - I've no idea what it's used for but it's a fairly substantial structure. We crossed here (9) and heading due west came to Rowner Lock on the canal. There were several people working on it repairing the stonework, and it was almost completely drained thereby affording us a good view of the amount of engineering involved. One gentleman came over and gave us plenty of information about the lock and indeed the whole canal. He also explained that they were not going to be replacing the lock gates as there was no water upstream and lock gates deteriorate more rapidly when not in the water. We now continued westwards, past Paplands Farm and back onto the road at Newpound Common where we took Newpound Lane past Fisher's farm back to Wisborough Green and another stop at the Coffee Cup cafe.
At this point I had to make my goodbyes as I had to be at a family birthday party back in Crawley for 16:30. Heading south from Wisborough Green I took the bridleway past Harsfold Farm and crossed the Arun one last time before regaining the tarmac on Black Gate Lane. I missed my intended right turn into Pickhurst lane so ended up using the A29 via Codmore Hill to get back to Pulborough Station with just about 30 miles on my speedo. Within the hour I managed to drive back home, get washed, changed and get over to Ifield Wood to celebrate my nephews 5th birthday. So that was all the boxes ticked - great day out on the bike, get to birthday party.
Thanks Colin for what is one of my favourite rides - I've done it three times now and each one has been different but all have been immensely enjoyable - don't change a thing.
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