Four riders met at Horton Country Park for the MTB ride. Mick Curtis and Trevor Hughes met at Cheam with Paul White and Dave Clarke meeting them at Horton. The day was overcast, damp and cold with very little chance of us seeing any sunshine during the day.
With Trevor leading the ride we went out to Ashtead Common north side and across the A24, Leatherhead Road into Prince’s Coverts. At the bottom we crossed Fairoak Lane and entered Limekiln Woods, then turned left onto the Birchwood Lane bridleway. This took us under both the Claygate railway line and the A3 just before the Oxshott junction. Soon after we were on Esher Common climbing towards West End Common. On Esher Common Trevor found a nice boggy bog and we all ploughed through it like we were at the Somme. West End Common was a little kinder to everyone except Dave Clarke who lost out to Gravity at one point, but was unhurt and so we carried on. Soon after Barry Gregory appeared in front of us and we trundled on to Garson’s Farm for elevenses.
After suitable fuel and discussions on to immunise or not to immunise?, food allergies etc, we headed out towards Hersham Golf Course area and a bridleway that took us to the bridge crossing the River Ember. Barry Gregory turned west and headed for home and so we were back down to four riders again. Soon after we were in Thames Ditton and crossing onto Littleworth Common and along onto Arbrook Common. We then climbed up to Claygate and across the Common heading for Barwell Farm. As we crossed the A3 bridge more heavy high powered car engine exhausts could be heard below, alas the Esher area seemed to be plagued with nut jobs in sports cars flying around all day long! We detoured on arriving at the Leatherhead Road and went south west past Chessington World of Adventures heading for a little bridleway that cuts off the corner at Malden Rushett leading you out nearly at the back of the old Horton Hospital buildings. This made a nice change from the usual route past Chessington South Station. Soon we were back in Horton Park where I was parked up and almost on top of Trevor’s front door, the group split with Mick Curtis alas having this time to do the final five or so miles on his lonesome.
Good ride, for me just under twenty miles, for the rest around thirty at a guess.