Only two riders out today with a lot of club riders away for a dirty weekend of off road shenanigans in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Bill Kent and I met in the Nonsuch Cafe on a warmer, but damper day. The heavy rain had been through during the night and now everything was back to slushy and gooey. We avoided the Hogsmill River today knowing the terrain and opted to follow last week’s route to Epsom Common, a route of trails sandwiched between Ewell and Epsom. After crossing the common we were in the northern ‘burbs of Ashtead and heading for Ashtead Park. The trails were slushy, waterlogged and slippery, but at least the waterlogging kept the bike cleaner as the mud wouldn’t stick. We climbed a little before dropping down into the southern side of Leatherhead. The River Mole was in flood and looking very angry and muddy as we passed over the bridge for the last quarter of a mile to the cafe.
Clarke’s is another gem of a popular cafe, good food and good prices. They also extol the use of cash, which I’m more than happy to use anywhere I can. After eating and intellectual conversation that befits us, it was off through the ‘burbs of Leatherhead by our usual route. Up and over the M25 and under the junction slip roads. The A24 southbound from Malden Rushett was bumper to bumper, the fallout of the slip roads A3/M25 junction all being closed all weekend, such fun! We entered the west side of Epsom Common and headed towards Horton Country Park. At the park I bade Bill farewell and left him to ride on his lonesome back to Nonsuch Park.