 |
Articles from the Newsletter
November/December 2005 |
The
three must-get-beers (Pat, Willie and myself) met D'Artagnan (David) at
the Newhaven ferry terminal, following a gentle ride south on Friday whilst
David was at work (ha ha!). This year's Dieppe Raid was notable for the
cancellation of the SeaCat ferry and the consequent 4 hour Channel crossing,
which meant that we were later than usual arriving in Dieppe, which in turn
meant that we were not able to visit our usual auberge for lunch. We did
pass it, though, on our way out of town for an abbreviated ride on the Saturday
afternoon before exploring the avenue vert the disused railway line which
has been dedicated to non-motorised traffic (including a substantial number
of in line skaters wo were apparently disappointed that the avenue vert
didn't continue across the Channel; we tried to explain about Sustran's
cycling routes' crushed lime or beaten mud surfaces and how inappopriate
they would be for in line skaters). We also passed, on the way out of Dieppe,
the cycle shop for which discount vouchers had been supplied, and were glad
to have noted it, as Pat's rear mech broke as we returned towards town and
he was able to get a quick and inexpensive repair/replacement done on the
spot. During
the Sunday ride we had to squeeze breakfast in somewhere as the Tourist
Hotel declined forcibly to commence serving breakfast earlier than half
past eight, which, for those seeking to complete a 140 km ride before five
o'clock, would have been a leetle too late! We kept meeting a group from
the Mid Sussex riders but we saw them off on a final uphill to the Aliermont
ridge before mixing with the competitors in a Triathlon on the way back
off the ridge. We found that we had to work hard to overtake them; and that
was just the runners! The constant topic of conversation over the weekend
was the weather, dry but cold, most unseasonal. This led, among other filings,
to a less than leisurely lunchtime break in the grounds of the usual chateau,
as no one wanted to hang around too long. As a result the four must get
beers got back exactly on time for the presentations. These were followed
by a quick shower and a visit to a local bar or three before the formal
meal. Monday saw three of us going shopping we never did reach the Decathlon
store, nor did we (because we'd left our brains behind) use our vouchers
for the chocolate and cheese we bought at the Auchun hypermarket; Willie
avoided all this by going for a ride and meeting us for a beer or three
back in town. A leisurely ride to a B&B near Hailsham and, on the following
day, a somewhat lumpy ride home rounded off another excellent weekend. Thanks
to Willie for fixing the accommodation and the navigation; I'm sure I still
owe him a beer from somewhere ........
About two months ago I received a phone call from the Merton Sports and Social Club, an organisation which assists the blind and visually impaired, asking if I would join in a tandem ride to Eastbourne, based on a Saturday overnight stay. I agreed, although the date was the same as our Rouen friends' visit to us, based on whether my usual stoker, Kathy Young, was prepared to push me down there. Upon arrival at the centre in Colliers Wood I found about six other tandems in various stages of adjustment to accommodate the various captains and stokers. No route had really been established. Just after 9.00 am we all set off via Sutton to collect one further tandem couple and made our way via Coulsdon and over the Farthing Downs. Kathy and I stopped here at around 10.00 am to await the others at Chaldon cross road. Approaching 10.30 am some other teams drifted up and explained that one tandem had suffered a bad puncture and had no spare tube. Following a minor discussion about world problems and cricket scores and an unsuccessful repair, everyone now diverted to Redhill to obtain a new tube. It was now mid day before everyone had managed to re assemble, check cricket scores once again and catch up on more recent world news. Off we headed towards Bletchingley to congregate again, and head off for Dormansland via Lingfield. Kathy and I set off on our own at this point, advising that we would make our own way to Eastbourne. A quick refreshment stop at Lingfield and we continued via Holtye where Kathy's mobile phone rang to advise that the others had just reached Lingfield. On we pressed to Hartfield for food and drink from the village store, prior to the long haul over the Ashdown Forest. My roll was barely edible owing to the bread tasting of reconstituted polyfilla and cardboard. The time was now around 2.30 pm when we set off. Those who know what a grind the Ashdown Forest is on a solo can imagine what a draining experience lugging a loaded tandem is. As we approached Fairwarp and the choice of routes now on offer to continue our ride, I told Kathy that as time was now getting on we would continue on the A22 unless it was too busy or dangerous, rather than start planning a route. Continual starting and stopping on a tandem is a real pain and dragging it over any real hills can be a real struggle. In the event the road was not too busy, well surfaced and, equally importantly, well graded. We arrived at Eastbourne around 5.00pm, fortunately with not only the name of the hotel but also the address, as the Tourist Information Office, although closed, had a list of hotels posted in the window but not showing ours!! Fortunately a street map indicated a 5 minute walk with the bike so we checked in at around 5.30 pm. An hour later we were back down in reception drinking the bar dry. The others arrived around 8.00 pm and after their attempt to drink the bar dry and after various false starts to find a restaurant, at 10.00 pm three taxis arrived to drive us a 3 minute walk away to a burger type eatery where owing to a mixture of tiredness and being slightly beer logged I was defeated by my plate of food. Following breakfast next morning, people were still milling around the bikes after 10.00 am so Kathy and I set off on our own via Hailsham to avoid the A22. In Hailsham we became completely lost ending up heading towards Pevensey. On re entering the town centre the others were to be seen checking their map. Enough ~ we joined the A22 again and retraced to Hartfield for a pub lunch, spotting VP Neville Chanin with a large group near Duddleswell descending the other way. Next stop Edenbridge for a drink and quick bite how this town has changed now, with its own bypass and much residential development. Through Merle Common and up through Tandridge I took the left fork to the A25 missing my link to Tandridge Hill and Warlingham and instead was now obliged to use the Caterham bypass. For reasons of safety we used the laughingly signed cycle path and returned to my house via Purley at around 4.00 pm. This now would allow me to join our Rouen friends for their evening meal. After a wind down and change I offered Kathy a lift back to her home. Not possible her house keys were left at ColliersWood and we would have to wait for the return of Roy, her partner. A phone call to establish the whereabouts of the others informed us that at various points they had all returned by train. Roy would be back at Colliers Wood around 7.30 pm! I duly dropped Kathy off at Colliers Wood with Roy and decided to forget the evening meal, explaining to Philippe Simon from Rouen by e mail the unfortunate reason. On hanging up the tandem in the garage and giving it a quick check I noticed that a spoke had broken in the back wheel, requiring a good push to get it past the brake blocks how long had it been like that, I wondered ..........
Rouen’s Visit to Surrey to ride with the East Surrey DA
by Keith Wawman
On
the morning of Saturday September 10th 2005 I travelled by train to Newhaven
for the 11 o'clock ferry's arrival from Dieppe to meet our friends from
Rouen, arranged with Robert Bellini. Philippe, Pierre, Mare and Christian
decided to cycle to Coulsdon, so 1 sent them the best route through the
lanes (after looking at my large scale map). I travelled in Phlippe's car
to guide them to Coulsdon, stopping for lunch at the Five Bells at Chailey,
making checks from time to time that the riders were on the route shown.
They did well to arrive by 5 pm at the Memorial Park Coulsdon, where we
sorted out hosts for the weekend two couples stopping at Purley Cross Hotel
(pre booked), Robert and Georgette Bellini with Roger and Wendy at Ewell,
Philippe Popili with Mike at New Malden, Pierre Murvil at Old Coulsdon,
Christian Descottes and myself with Marilyn and Keith at Purley. (Surprising
how far we were all spread out over Surrey.) Sunday morning we all met up
at Coulsdon at 9 am, all arriving promptly with their hosts for the 80km
ride. Roger Smith was only able to ride with us part way as he had to fly
to a meeting. We started off with 19 riding over Farthing Down. We made
our way to Henfold lakes just in time to meet the club run leaving our ride
arrived a bit late due to a puncture we also managed to stop and look at
the progress of a Surrey League circuit race. The ride to lunch at the Cricketers
at Ockley was quite eventful Mike Bedford had a rear blow out the tyre was
a write off. Luckily Pierre had a fold-up replacement. Roger went flying
back to hand over. In the meantime we discovered that Phlippe was missing.
??? We continued on to lunch hoping he was with Mike and Mo (but he was
not see the last issue's abridged report re Keith Butler kindly chasing
around). But we did all find George, the much photographed fish in the Cricketers'
pond. Keith made a decision due to time and threatening weather to go straight
to Brockham to have tea with the vicar unfortunately this meant cutting
out a quick look at Denbys Vineyard. Our French friends were most impressed
with the assortment of cakes at Brockham some were bought and taken back
to France. Still our misssing rider did not turn up. Well, we all kept together
via the lanes back to Coulsdon where we did find our missing rider Philippe
waiting. He said he had a lone ride and had lunch in a pub in Dorking wow
was I pleased. Sunday evening we all proceeded to the Travellers Rest at
Chipstead for a meal where 22 sat down together. The party now included
Sue Pennington and Wendy. During the meal I made a small presentation to
Robert the Rouen Club organiser, Andre (85) the least young Philippe the
most unlucky for going off route, Nichole the only French lady, and to Sue
so nice to see her she was a great help with the menu translation! I musn't
forget the two non cycling ladies they had a good day's shopping in Epsom
with Wendy. Monday morning all met up at Coulsdon for final farewells the
same four riding back to Newhaven, accompanied part way with Mike Sutton.
All the others travelled with cycles in cars. Another good Entente Cordiale
weekend over. And was I pleased it all went so well. The next day I received
an email all enjoyed this weekend.
P.S. Next year you must all try and visit Rouen.