Four of us met at The Cross for a 9.00 am start, Sam, his hernia, Russ and Colin. The day was with the usual September morning chill and Sam complained about his lack of clothing.

We dodged the usual walkers, dogs and joggers up the Centurion Way exiting at Hunters Race and working up to West Stoke. There were the usual roadies out and flashing by. Life quietened after the Walderton turn and it was a traffic free ride to Compton. Sam neglected to take the scenic and life enhancing loop around Locksash so we arrived before the rush at Compton for coffee.

A leisurely refreshment break and chat with Portsmouth riders before working north to South Harting. Sam may have slowed up the hills but not on tother side. Does any village sit more comfortably in its hollow and mould to the contours than Harting? Past the village shop and left to Quebec and grass centred Collins Lane before diverting north downhill to Durleighmarsh on the A272.

The north easterly made us work before the turning to Slade Farm and Hale Common. The narrow sandy lanes were ready to catch the unwary riding 20 and 25 mm tyres as we slewed on large patches of dry sand. Rather too early at The White Horse we waited for it to open, Sam and Russ placed orders for food and coffee with the staff as they arrived for work.   

Replete Sam led off towards Nyewood where we passed Arun Adur heading for Rogate but huddled by the roadside looking startled as we waved and rode on; twas only later Sam realised that we should have rendezvoused at lunch. The countryside had begun to put on its winter coat with neatly trimmed hedges, wide vistas, ploughed and sown fields, grey brown earth. Elsted, Bepton and Cocking were soon up and Sam and Russ talked of stopping for more refreshment (did they?) before heading up the hill to Chichester. I split and cycled east along the foot of the Downs through Seaford College and Bignor Roman Palace for tea. This was fortuitous as Alan and Liz Tyler were also there along with remainder of Sussex taking advantage of the free-entry day. Liz looked every inch the bionic woman with her wrist in a large metal cage following an accident and two broken wrists.

 A short ride to Houghton followed by traffic free ride over the “Kyber” (part off-road to Burpham) before the day’s heaviest traffic at Arundel and a final leg to Barnham via Tortington. 

Colin

Posted by RideLeader at 12:30 BST

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