40 + London to Brighton Ride. Saturday 10th August 2013
We made it, and thanks to our excellent tour guide, in the form of Derek, we had a great day.
Five of us caught an 8:0’clock train from Hertford and met Derek at Liverpool Street, from where the ride began.
After a brief photo call on Southwark Bridge, we set off at 9:15 am to face the London traffic.
- We followed the “Cycle Super Highway 7” out of central London -- a wide blue painted lane for cyclists on the A3. This was quite busy, though apparently less so than on a Sunday (when more street markets are operating ?). An earlier start may have given us a quieter exit from London.
- Traffic became much quieter beyond Mitcham (about 12 Miles)
- After 17 miles we stopped at Mayfield Lavender farm , nr Banstead.
Here we had coffee/tea, and Chris bravely chanced one of their lavender flavoured scones.
The heady fragrance of Lavender was everywhere, except around the lavender painted Portaloos, which had distinctive bouquet of their own.
- Derek then led us through some truly beautiful quite country lanes – all flat of course (!), and we could really appreciate the fine weather we’d been blessed with.
- Our Lunch stop was just short of 30 miles at the Red Lion Pub on Turner’s Hill (a mere pimple on the backside of the downs)
Guess who broke down on the busy B2028. A dislodged derailleur meant that Jenny had to spend much of the rest of the journey on the small chain ring, with legs going round like propellers.
In this picture Jerry is standing ready to repel borders as Derek makes temporary adjustments. Ann is offering advice.
This was not the low point of the day however. That had happened earlier when, following the rest of the group through London, I was unable to stop (for fear of losing contact) to pick up a £5 pound note laying in the gutter. I shall have to take counselling
I’d really like to say this is me reaching the top of the notorious Ditchling Beacon, but that picture would be too disturbing for publication. In fact 50% of us did cycle to the top of Ditchling, and 50% didn’t. Exhaustion and senior moments meant we failed to regroup at the critical ice cream venue at the top; so no rewards or commiserations.
- Next Stop Brighton. This was a welcome long roll down the Beacon into Town. Arriving at the sea front at 5.30 p.m. we were amazed by the number of people, and general bustle of the place. Chris failed to keep her promise of going for a bathe in her Lycra, so Derek and I sulked and also refused to go in, even though we had carried our costumes. The others kept quiet.
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| The Pier |
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| The Brighton Belles |
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| The Brighton Beaus |
- Jerry, our pace maker, had decided to make a weekend of it, and at this point, made his farewells and cycled off to meet his wife who had driven down. Derek led us to a fish restaurant, where we ravenously tucked into fish ‘n chips.
- After Anne had bought her Brighton rock (not the available abusive option we noticed) for her grandchildren, we cycled our way through the gathering low life of a Brighton Saturday evening to the Station, (one young debutante with legs up to her armpits was heard to remark “ s’nice ere, init”) and caught the 7.30 train to London Bridge. For complex reasons we stored our bikes in, what we later discovered, was a no go area for bikes near the toilets on the train. Our bike guard (Chris) therefore doubled up as toilet attendant and made many “passing” friends in that capacity.
- Again Derek shepherded us on our bikes, this time on a 10 min ride back to Liverpool Street, then said his farewell. We caught a 9 pm train arriving in Hertford just before 10 pm.
So, it all went like clockwork and we had a splendid day in which I registered 67 miles. We owed everything to Derek and his unerring knowledge not only of the route, but also of trains and eating places. Thank you Derek.
Where shall we go next …………………
Ray
