Four riders at Nonsuch cafe today for the ride: Bill Kent, Dave Elliott, Lucinda and myself leading. A chilly day 9°C and intermittent sun, very intermittent! Our route out was through Ewell along the Hogsmill, Horton Country Park – plenty of dogs. Then the west side of Ashtead Common, across the A24 and through the golf-ball-strewn lower end of Leatherhead Golf Club.
After that, we were into a woodland area with no name on the O.S. Maps, that cuts a corner off by running alongside the M25 so we could access Oaklawn Road to River Lane and cross the River Mole to Fetcham.
The River Mole was flowing fast and high after recent rain as we traversed the bridge between River Lane, Leatherhead and River Lane, Fetcham, which is a constant headache for residents each side regarding the mixing of the two on Royal Mail deliveries of letters! Soon we were in the back streets of Fetcham following alongside the railway and a few minutes more we were outside Clark’s Cafe. Alas we arrived just too late and the last table was filled, and so we headed up Leatherhead High Street to our backup cafe which is just as good and not very full.
Hot food and liquids were consumed and various subjects discussed as the cafe filled up and a little while later we headed back out into the cold for the return journey. This was through backstreets of Leatherhead up and over the M25, where Dave headed home to Chipstead. Then a trail alongside the M25 behind a sound barrier fence to Lower Ashtead and across the common. At Horton Lucinda and Bill headed back to Cheam and I headed for the car and home.