by Alan M » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:05 pm
Well, Goerge and I arrived at 9.02 to find that punctuality is now an Addiscombe virtue and the group had gone - George, Paul and myself tried to chase them down but by Merstham it was clear that Paul T had pulled the main group beyond our reach.
Decisions - George wanted to go anyway and hope to meet up in B - I had already been dropped on the ride to Merstham but they agreed to wait for me at the tops of hills so, after a moment of hesitation we set off - at pace!
I was quite surprised when we saw planes so soon, obviously from the other side of Charlwood - we had been motoring but by the time we got to some hills I was relying on P and G waiting for me at the tops and at the foot of the ultimate hill - big D, I determined to take my own steady pace. We were soon joined at the top by the main group that had taken a more circuitous route.
I hoped that would slow it down a bit but Paul T is a new slimmer fitter version and was giving it plenty, by turns with George who had now been unleashed. We arrived at B as a group and had a convivial lunch spoiled only by the nasty man in the cafe who wouldn't part with his precious tap water for our bottle refills.
The way back was fast again and became a bit fragmented with punctures and other repairs and periods of speedy progress.
Finally, by Redhill, at the church a smaller more calm group congregated for the final push and I was home shortly after 4.
A very good experience reminding me that the longer faster effort makes different demands on my body and mind.
Thanks Paul and others for a great ride.
Alan