The preceding day I had gone out with the 'A' group from Betchworth to Westerham, giving the 'B's a head start we all ended up at the cafe together after the 'B's split under mechanical pressure while we had our own map reading blunders while carrying more computing power on our bikes than got the first astronauts to the moon. We were all glad to get there on one piece as the cold morning gave way to blue skies and decent riding conditions after a miserable week, I'd fallen off on the ice on Wednesday and sporting a few bruises and a rear end (on the bike) come unglued and clunking a bit, I only spotted it at the stop and rode home over Woldingham slightly more gingerly where Alan & I said goodbye and dropped back through the Xmas traffic descending on London.
The dinner at the Barley Mow in West Horsley was preceded by a walk through the countryside organised by Dawn Jackaman, twenty hardy souls turned up and set off across the fields where the black faced sheep ignored us as we splashed our way through the mud. It was a splendidly sunny and cold morning, we were all glad to be on foot rather than a'wheel, we stopped after an hour in a gladed wood some resting on the felled tree trunks and others catching the sun where it broke through the leafless trees. On through a wood yard where the wispy smoke from a fire of slow burning sawdust mingled with the trees to give the impression of early morning fog, and over a steep hill of flint where the trees thinned and we broke out with views over Hatchlands Park (NT) we completed the 7 miles in just under 3 hours (2 walking)
The setting for the dinner in a renovated barn attached to the pub was an excellent venue, the food was hearty and plentyful (lots of vedge and not overdone some of the roast potatoes a little on the hard side!)
President Geoff Redhead did an excellent job of MC'ing the official part of the dinner with a attempt to embarrass a cross section of the attended including yours truly but most know i'm quite capable of doing that myself without any help
I was pleased to be asked to present the 2 Up trophy (named in honour of my father Phil Sr) to the winners Roger Jackaman and Andy Hicks and also one (of the two!) regional Time Trial awarded to 15 Yr old Tom Nason for his rides during the season (the WLCA & the SCCU Best all Rounder)
Managed to have a chat with quite a few people (new members & riders who I rarely get to see in the racing season) Graham Collins who's L'Eroica exploits I loved reading about and still want to see the bike who went sailing on the Thames at Walton with my Grandfather. Tom and his dad Jeremy, Who will get to use the fast wheels this week?
Soon it was all over and we were heading back up the motorway (furthest to go always the last to leave) broken bike and trophys in the car
No comments:
Post a Comment