Sunday 15 July 2007 dawned bright and breezy and Bob Starey turned up at my place topless to ride with me to Brockham for an 11 o'clock start, what a hairy chest he's got. When we got there the organisers had published the start as 12 noon! Meanwhile Irene bless her cotton socks, soon to become soaked cotton socks, had turned up at 10 o'clock believing that was the start time. Irene had been expecting other friends to join her but in the end she rode alone looking like a flower pot man in her waterproofs and flower pot mans hat on return. Thank you Irene for brightening our day, you were the only CTC member that rode.
Colin & Shirley turned up at the start to show support and help some of the very young starters set their saddle heights to something more rideable than the very low positions that mums & dads preferred before they proceeded on to another event they were assisting with. David and Dawn also turned up to lend their support complete with Tandem after their morning Downland ride.
We had a total of 16 riders mainly local families from Brockham and 2 from Reigate. The excessive amount of paperwork produced in anticipation of a massive response was an over estimate on my part. Only one family returned to collect their certificate and they only completed the 5 mile section if that? Slightly disappointing but hopefully most enjoyed it. It's perhaps not surprising that few returned due to a very heavy rain and hail storm that enveloped the green around 2.30pm. Within minutes the seat Bob, Irene & I sat on was awash with water. Bob and Irene donned their waterproofs and I along with Brian sheltered under the church Litch Gate only to have to hang onto the wall as the water rose to ankle level. It was great to see Brian turn up and support the event which he had created. Although the event was supposed to finish at 5pm, we abandoned it at 3.30pm as no more riders had turned up since the 12 noon rush, we were soaked and wanted to punish ourselves further by riding back up Pebble Hill, which we did creating one long tailback of cars as we rode away from the torrential stream still running down the gutter. Bob flew ahead and Brian returned to Banstead via Walton Le Hill having waited at the top of Pebble Hill for me. I had, had a bad night Saturday with some food poisoning and was feeling grim all day.
Doreen from the village fete committee obtained a box of Surrey Cycle Maps, which were abandoned under the flooded garden seat soaked. I have said to her that if they are found I will retrieve them but so far no response! Sorry Lord for such a waste (and SCC rate payers) but you sent the rain in the first place!
Bob has some wonderful photos on his camera of the rain, if I can get them blogged I will, meanwhile my offering is above. Note the box of maps under the seat b4 rain.
Author: Pete
