Nonsuch Park was totally bereft of enthusiastic park runners today due to further cancellations by the organisers. This’ll be the third week in a row the torrential rain has ruined their fun, however three hundred or so runners stomping in the grounds turning it to porridge is not the best look for a park, so that was probably a wise decision from a safety point of view. This made it very peaceful sitting in the cafe watching the rain waiting for Adam Domaingue and Bill Martin to arrive.
Pic: Adam Domaingue.
The group eventually ‘swelled’ into five with the arrival of Trevor Kite and a surprise appearance of Trevor Hughes fresh from his recent, regular attendances at the fracture clinic. The route Bill took us along was wet and boggy, but he kindly avoided anything that might’ve required bog snorkelling equipment. We went out via Ewell and the Hogsmill River, across to the outskirts of Tolworth, Chessington South, Claygate Common and ascended east through Prince’s Coverts. After crossing the A24 north of Leatherhead our final push for the elevenses stop was across a very boggy and deserted Ashtead Common.
The cafe in Ashtead was busy, but Digger Dave Clarke had secured a six seater table minutes before having taken a direct route from home to the venue. He ordered a ‘Full Micky,’ a phrase that has been adopted by us in memory of the late, recently departed Mick Curtis, who always enjoyed his full English breakfast on our rides. Other variations were ordered by the rest of the group and eaten whilst watching the rain fall diagonally outside, thankfully indicating that the wind would be behind us on the soggy return trip.
The ride back was a straightforward dip into Ashtead Common on the north east side and for those heading back to Cheam etc, a splash through the trails of Horton Country Park. For myself having parked in Horton earlier it was back to the car, a lightening strip outside the vehicle because the clobber was so caked it wasn’t coming off inside!, and head for home with the heater on.
A good ride, enjoyable company and just over twenty miles for me.