Great day on Saturday spent in the company of about 20 other Cocks celebrating Mr Duffys 55th Birthday.
Back Row - Dave, Simon, Simon, Matt
Middle Row - Paul, Peter, Kiwi Mike, Leo, Ade
Front Row - Duncan, Mark, George, Nick, Mike, Huw, Nashie, Toby
As well as those above Jo, John, Max and Michael also joined us for the ride which took the form of a loop out over the North Downs over to Sheepleas and then on to Newlands Corner.
After Newlands Corner we headed on to St Marthas, Blackheath, Bramley, Cattershall, Munstead Heath and finally to Hambledon where we enjoyed the 1st of our beer stops at the Merry Harriers. This turned into a 2 pint refreshment as it doubled up as the lunch stop too.
Next on the list was the White Horse at Hascombe where pint number 3 was consumed whilst taking over the tables out the front of the pub.
With pint number 3 downed it was time for Huw to lead us on towards the next watering hole which not too surprisingly turned out to be the Kings Head in Holmbury having passed by the Hurtwood Inn which is currently shut.
A slog over Hascombe Hill, some tarmac around Cranleigh then a climb up to Winterfold coming out at Jellys Hollow before desending back to Peaslake. I got delayed a little here chatting to a young lady I knew in the Bus Shelter and then made my way over Holmbury Hill to the Kings Head.
This was the 3rd pub stop and it has to be said all 3 of the pubs so far had cracking beers and were fine fine watering holes and really need to be re visited - (have to find another excuse for a pub crawl ride)
More beers followed but time was ticking by so we had to head on to pub number 4. After some debate it was decided upon the Abinger Hatch which is only a couple of miles away so once again off we all went.
The Hatch was ok, good beer but a bit 'posher' and less pubbie than the previous 3 had been. Still another fine pint followed and with age catching up on us all the 10 pub, 55 mile target was revised down and it was deceided to make a be lline back to the Cricketers in Dorking to end the days celebrations.
Once again we set off and at quite a speed I even got a PR on Deerleap, thats what 5 pints and riding all day does for you or maybe it was just the though of getting home and showerd before joing the rest of the Cocks in Dorking that sped me along.
The rest of the evening was spent with more beers and a take away curry in the Cricketers with Pauls family and some of our better halvesas well as a plentiful supply of beer. Great day and another classic 'Cocks' ride. 44 miles and 5 pubs (but 10 plus pints for some - not me, 6 was my limit).
