Green Fingers

Maybe it was the rating of easy, for we had a good turnout of eight riders on this weeks ride. Anton, Pete S, Marian, John H, Norman, Mick, Martin and Bob.
The overnight rain had stopped but the wind hadn't - though it wasn't cold. We left Horsham using the golf course/Robin Hood Lane route and then headed over to climb Rowhook Hill. Norman departed just before the hill as he was only out for a short time today. Carrying on, we approached Ellens Green from one direction as the rain approached from the other. We quickly donned our waterproofs and continued westwards. The rain eased off a little as we went along Cox Green Road but as we turned onto Baynards Road it came back with a vengeance. Heading along Knowle Lane the wind and rain became much worse - so much so that water was just streaming down my head and into my eyes and ears! We ploughed on or should I say splashed on and soon arrived at Cranleigh. We parted the waves along the high street under the curious gaze of several people sheltering in shop doorways and bus shelters before hitting the Guildford Road to finally pull up at the lunch stop - Notcutts Garden Centre. At this point Martin left us and headed for home.
On locking our bikes up the rain stopped and as we ate our lunch the sun actually came out to play! We didn’t rush our lunch but were soon back on the road. Collectively we’d decided to keep the route back fairly short and not visit Capel for tea and cakes! Firstly we headed for Ewhurst Green then used the quiet lanes to Walliswood and Okewoodhill. The rain was holding off although, on turning right onto Stane Street (the A29), there was still a fair bit of spray being thrown up by the traffic. The second left took us onto another couple of quiet lanes to the west of Warnham before we traced our steps along Robin Hood lane and across the golf course.
The group spilt up at this point – Mick turning left to his house, Anton to the right to his car, Pete and Marion to the station for the train home. This left John H and myself to ride back to Crawley. We decided to use the main road, and with the wind behind us we were soon back home with just over 40 miles under our belts.
Our next Sunday ride is lead by Pete S and starts from Three Bridges Station at 10:00hrs. It will head North East for a 35 mile medium rated loop with lunch at the Fox and Hounds at Tilburstow. Dress up warm, the weathermen reckon the temperature will only be a few degrees above freezing!

p.s. I visited Dave Galle in hospital on Monday. He seemed quite bright and cheerful although he’s still barely able to move his arms and legs. He told me that the driver of the silver Astra van that hit him is unlikely to get prosecuted due to a lack of witnesses. Surely the road can act as a witness? After all, Dave was travelling North on the B2139 Coolham Road and had right of way over traffic turning onto the B2133. He was struck whilst he was on his own side of the road. The damage to his bike will testify that he was struck from the side and that he didn’t ride into the van. I believe the van driver has said that the low sun made it difficult for him to see – so, on the strength of what he couldn’t see, he put a ton of metal in the same place as a human being! Dave remembers lying in the road, unable to move, tingling all over and the van driver saying “Sorry mate I didn’t see you”! Ironically, CTC are running an awareness campaign called SMIDSY at the moment (SMIDSY stands for Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You).
If you would like to visit Dave it’s very easy by public transport:
From Central London take the Jubilee Line north to the end of the line – Stanmore.
From the station forecourt, catch the blue hospital shuttle bus to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore). It’s free and runs every half hour or so (weekdays only). Here’s a timetable: http://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/patients-families/patient-transport/shuttle-bus-timetable
Get off at the second stop (out-patients) and head uphill to the Spinal injuries Unit (if unsure, ask a member of staff, they’re very helpful).
Coming back, catch the shuttle bus and get off at either Edgware (Northern Line) or Stanmore (Jubilee Line) tube station to travel back to Central London. Each tube journey takes just over 40 minutes and costs about £3.00 each way (off-peak)