Well, what a night that turned out to be. It started well with 9 of us Cocks meeting at Nirvana ready to cycle out to our Christmas meal at the Stephan Langton via a couple of warm up pints in the Abinger Hatch.
On leaving Nirvana there was myself, Ray, Simon, Antony, Charlie, Mike, George, Mark & Huw. Things went wrong ever so quickly for me as before even passing Westcott church it was clear my bike needed urgent attention and wouldn’t last the distance – as the others rode on I decided a quick trip home to change bikes was my best option so off I went.
Having limped home it took only a minute or two to swap bikes over and I knew the planned route was to be up the rookery, along Wolvens lane, down past the waterfall and up to Broadmoor then over to Friday Street and Abinger before returning to Friday Street for the meal.
So with my bike swapped I headed off as quickly as I could to try and catch the others up, I went straight up coast hill which I haven’t done for years on a bike then at the top turned off just before the Wootton Hatch and headed up to the start of Wolvens lane. From here I made fast progress up the lane enjoying all the singletrack along the edge. I then diverted down a ‘cheeky trail’ and just as I got to the bottom my mobile went.
Oh good, I can see its Mark, they are probably calling to see where I have got to. Well, if only that were the case. Mark was telling me that Mike had had a crash and damaged his ankle, not only that it was bad enough that he couldn’t walk and they weren’t even sure where they were as Huw, not realising what had happen along with Charlie and Ray had just carried on.
Mark explained where they had gone and we quickly worked out there location, I was asked to return home to get my car then come and pick Mike up and take him to hospital – well, needs must I suppose but having spent ages organising the Christmas meal to then find that I would be spending the evening in A& E with Mike I wasn’t best pleased.
Well having raced to try and catch the others up, I was now quickly racing back home again, luckily it was mainly down hill so didn’t take too long and once at home Agi had already heard the news from a tearful Magda (they have just moved house and her parents are due to arrive for Christmas, and she is pregnant so not really the news she wanted to hear). I decided to phone Simon to get the latest and was pleased to hear that an ambulance was on its way but they still needed me to go and collect Mikes Bike.
A quick call to the Stephan Langton to tell them we were going to be 2 people short and perhaps a bit late which they were fine about and then Brain arriving just as I was leaving all added to the chaos. I arrived near Wootton house to find Antony waiting with Mikes bike and a paramedic car already in attendance – whilst there the ambulance arrived so I left them with Antony and headed home again with the bike.
Once at home I uploaded the bike and had a quick change as it was now clear we’d be driving to the pub but at least I didn’t have to go to the Hospital unlike my lovely wife. Agi being good friends with Magda offered to take her to the hospital which by now we had been told would be the Royal Surrey at Guildford. So with that Brian drove me and him off to the Stephan Langton where we arrived bang on 8.30, meanwhile Agi went to pick Magda up then on route saw the ambulance still waiting so they waited there for Mike to eventually appear from the woods thanks to the efforts of 3 ambulance workers and Antony, Simon, George & Mark.
These last 4 eventually turned up at the Langton at about 9 so the meal could commence and very pleasant it was too. After several beers and food and lots of chat Helena kindly dropped Brian and myself off in Westcott where we were back home at about 11.30. Agi, bless her eventually got in at about 2.00am having taken Magda home and was able to tell us that Mike had a broken Tibia and Fibia and that the hospital were going to plate it and Mike would be in for a couple of days at least. And so an eventful night came to an end.
