25 April - 1 May

Mon - Easter Monday.  Kids stayed for brunch and we lazed around garden/house.  Only exercise was some light veg patch maintenance.

Tue - Tandemed to Mt Vernon, then walked to Moor Park and caught the tube back to CW.  Stayed in to await delivery of iPad!   In evening drove to Mt Vernon, tandemed back, then drove back to pick up car - not very green was it?

Wed - Biked to CW for shopping, then into Watford to buy a green papaya and activate my sim card for the iPad.  Came back on traffic free Ebury Way from Tescos. 19 miles.  Then walked into CW for a few bits and pieces.

Thu - 25 miles poodle Amersham to Lee.  I felt tired, but had done nothing the rest of the day.  Royal Wedding Stag Party in evening - champers, hot tub and fillet steak, followed by No 2 grown rhubarb crumble.  Too full to start on the chocolate wedding cake, made and so beautifully decorated by The Stalker.

Fri - The Royal Wedding.  Darvells Yard 'street party' with games.  I came last in the sack race but we did win the tug o'war.

Pascale & Andy visited from Switzerland, we biked to Chenies, hot tubed and Sathied - the classical introduction to the Chorleywood/Darvells experience

iPad doesn't allow blogger edit compose mode, only html.

Sat - Took Pascale and Andy to Northwood tube to avoid the bus replacement.  Cherry suggested a ride tomorrow to Aspley Guise.  In evening went to a Girton medics dinner, good to catch up with others.  Got back at 1:30, at which time it didn't seem such a good idea to go cycling!

Sun - Woke up refreshed, so cycled to Woburn where we had lunch with Chris, Linda and Alice at Lock Fyne.  Tea stop at Bluebells.  Picked up  Chiltern Cycleway on return via Ashley Green to Latimer.  Tired but a satisfying day out.  65 miles in 5:30 hrs cycling.

18 - 24 April: Sark

Mon - Flight from LGW to Guernsey, where we had an outside fish lunch overlooking harbour then cream tea at OGH.  Caught 4pm boat to Sark, met by S&B, then to Petit Champ Hotel, fabulous views over the west of island.  Dinner with Dr Robb and Martins at PC.

Tue - Very clear and sunny.  Boat trip round complete island run by George (very Sarkese) who told us about the bird life, motored backwards into caves,

and dropped titbits about Sark life/Barclay brothers etc. Picked up bikes.  Walked with S&B to Hogsback and Dixcart valley,

 then biked to north of Island.  Tea in Dr Robb's garden, then biked to Pilcher monument and sucked up the sun and views.

Kept being told how unusual it was to have such good weather.  Dinner at Dr Robb's.

Wed - What fantastic weather - clear and hot.  After breakfast cycled to monument and just sat and absorbed the view and noise of birds and light swell.  Coffee at Dr Rs, then cycled with S&B across La Coupee to Little Sark.

Refreshments at La Salboniere tea garden.  Walked to end of headland and had Famous Five picnic of ham sandwiches and ginger beer, just like in the Island of Adventure.  On way back bought some chocolates at  farmhouse where they are made.  Pick up rest of Martins for cream teas at Sue's, where we chatted to her husband George who took us out on the boat trip yesterday.  Walked around headland in front of Hotel PC and finished with sundowner drinks ( a few hours before the sun actually went down) in the hotel garden.

Dinner at hotel tonight.

Sark, in good weather, is like Disney world without people or tat, too good to be true.  Enid Blyton land where kids can roam and have safe adventures.  We keep being told its not like this when it rains and is windy, but we are being very lucky with the weather.

Thu - Queen's real birthday.   I'll stop saying how good the weather is.  But it is fab.  Before breakfast walked from hotel down to sea at Port be la Jument.

Very steep.  Met up with S&B and cycled/walked to Window in the Rock and Port du Moulin cove where we could walk in a clef due to the tide being out.  Lunch at Island Hall as invitees of Dr Robb, which is a weekly event for the island establishment.  The Seigneur and wife were there.  Had gammon and full roast works, then rhubarb and banana crumble.  Talked to aged but erudite Molly who appears to own most of Sark, and who had provided the rhubarb!.  Then onto La Seigneurie gardens where we chatted briefly to Seigneur and his wife who was potterring around the gardens.  Cycled to Eperquerie and walked to end of Sark.  As tide was out I could cross to the island at the tip and scrambled up it, why I did this I don't know as it was knackering.

Cherry dropped a cycle padlock key and had to go back for it.  Back to PC for drink in garden, then off to Dr Robbs for supper

Fri - Good Friday.  Started off with a little shower but soon cleared to 'normal' weather.  We walked to Duck Pond to see the Easter boat race by the kids - lots of locals there.

Cycled to Moineries (new hotel complex being renovated) and walked out to an odd patch of flat grass (helipad?) then around vineyard fields.  Onwards via a feeble coffee at AJs to Dixcart valley and walked to beach along lovely bluebelled path.

Then back to new renovated Stocks Hotel for cream tea (2 scones each).    Popped in to Dr Robbs to say cheerio, back to PC for reading in garden, then walked out to end of monument headland before dinner.


Sat - St George's Day and Shakespeare's birthday.  Caught 11:00 boat, sat at front, rather chilly in shade and with wind, but great views towards Guernsey.  taxi to airport to catch 14:30 flight, and back home by 16:45.  What  a great holiday its been, thanks to S&B and Dr Robb.  Supermarket shopping for tomorrows lunch.  Sathi's for dinner.

Sun - Easter Sunday.  Arranged cycle easter egg hunt around CW, then lunch with Marshall clan.

11 - 17 April: Greenwich Meridian Trail (76 miles total walking)

We were invited to guinea pig the Greenwich Meridian Trail (Part 1 Peacehaven to Greenwich) by Hilda and Graham Heap http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwich-Meridian-Trail-Peacehaven-Bk/dp/1907172742.

They booked the accommodation and arranged transport of the luggage.  What follows is a Blackberry blog written by Mrs M:

11th April Monday - 9 miles
Beautiful sunny day. Taxi pickup 9am to Watford Junc. Met up with C and L on the train from LB to East Croyden. Took coffees for all of us. Train crowded with holiday parties heading for the coast. Changed at EC for Brighton train Starbucks on platform. Arrived B at 12 30 ish. Hilda and Graham met us and took us to the starting point of the GMT at Peacehaven about 5 miles east of Brighton. Monument on the clifftop marks the Greenwich Meridiean erected for George V.

Set off at 1.15 heading west along the clifftops and then north up the green fields, Telcombe village, farms and onto the downs. 

Great views. Perfect sunny breezy weather.Lunch -pork sarnies from home. Eaten on a grassy bank after we had been going for an hour.

Two hours later kelly kettle brew up for tea with view over Lewes. Hilda came out to meet us and led us via the old priory ruins then Graham joined too and we climbed the grassy knoll for grand  views south to the sea. Up the ancient streets of Lewes to a lovely B and B just off the mainstreet, 

The Prospect, down a steep side steet or twytten! Very comfy rooms on ground floor. Tea in the garden. Shower then met H and G for curry at Charlas.
Hilda led us on night walk around the old byways of Lewes incl quaint windmill house and grand castle and mathmatical tile-faced houses.

12th April Tuesday - 12 miles
Sunny but chilly. Fantastic breakfast in kitchen diner upstairs with wonderful view south. Lynn Wiseman chatted as she cooked b'fast. She had hiked Annapurna and lived on SFO many yrs ago and husband Nick a keen cyclist. He had made the delicious freshfruit salad.
Set off along main st of Lewes at 9:15 am up hill past high grey prison walls. Up to high ridge - chilly wind as we crossed the site of the Battle of Lewes Simon de Montfort v Henry III in 1245 (S won but died a few months later). Lovely views back towards the sea at Newhaven.  Headed down off the hills into Offham then across fields of incipient sweet corn under plastic.  Into Barcombe via ancient church with funeral - white coach and 2 white horses with red plumes. Chris liked the house near the church with upper veranda and room with views on 3 sides.  Kelly kettle brew up in a field near the church. Onwards to Barcombe Cross with a pub (and loo). Missed a little of Grahams route - the rabbit hole.  Fields of llamas and a 2 hump camel. 6 wild deer sped by in a wood. Then more llamas before emerging into someones front garden and then round the corner a bench and a small grassy area with goal posts.  Ate lunch here. A bit of road walking. Then forest and chalybeats spring and Red Ghyll on the ancient brighton to London monks trail where Ken was making old fashioned caravans and benches out of reclaimed wood. He had a b and b took info for Hilda. Bluebells and wood anemones lining woodland floor. Squeeky wheelbarrow of the great tit pops up everywhere.
At last Wapsbourne Manor -dry closet loo-Linda! but trekked on a little to Sheffield Park railway station on the Bluebell line for cream tea at the platform cafe. Found the meridian marker along the end of platform. G came to meet us and take us to the Bull at Newick about a mile away.
Pretty village with pub on green. Our very modern rooms in converted coach house at back. Drinks with G before he left us then shower and little walk around the green. Drinks and dinner veg lasagne me chilli Stu. Bed by 930.

13th April Wed 13 miles
To bakery at 7:30 to choose our sarnies for lunch (Philtania's bakery) great selection breads and cakes B'fast at 8 am in the pub fairly pedestrian but adequate. G arrived at 8:45 took us to start for about 9:20.  Chilly start high white cloud no sun. Cross fields with lambs under Bluebell railway.  Ups and downs pretty woodland. Lovely houses around Danehill. Kelly kettle brew up in a wood at 12 noon about 6 miles into route. Through Ashdown Forest near Wych Cross - debate about route as we sat on bench and admired the view north.
At last breasted a hill and saw East Grinstead in distance beyond Weirwood Reservoir. Lunched adjacent to a sheep filled field. Excellent egg mayo granary roll. Cruised down to reservoir then gentle uphill into elegant (mainly) East Grinstead and Gothic House b and b above CJs cafe. Lovely rooms with high ceilinged Georgian elegance but a bit cold.
Showered and walked out along the highstreet. Found Boots for plasters and tape to fix blisters on big toes. Linda and I checked out the EWM and M and Co and we glanced in Millets
Drink at Devonshire Arms a bit pseud with awful music so headed back to CJs for excellent steak in sandwich followed by openmike live music all washed down with red wine. Bed by 10 pm.

14th April Thurs 13 miles
Woke at 5 and started writing this record. Difficult to remember even one day before!
Very friendly breakfast lady. We sat in CJs for it in the front window. Set off along the mainst at 9:15 ish. Went to the memorial gardens and found meridian monuments and Hall and loo for Stu. No certificates sadly despite Chris enquiring.
Walked through pretty woodland with white wood anemones past the Cooks pond and viaduct opened 1894. Along past large houses and then the railway to Dormans Station. Into Lingfield Park golf course beautiful view with trees then race course and village where we met a lady who could recommend a coffe shop -the place to meet- excellent service - brought us tap water. Toasted t cake amd lemondrizzle. Ordered our sarnies for lunch.  Walked back past the church out of Lingfield houses one with bright purple door. Crossed railway actually over the rails and were in a field of sheep. Through fields meridian marker jiggling with railway. Old Yew tree in the churchyard at Crowhurst. Stopped for lunch in corner of field near railway kelly kettled.  Sarnies were the best ever for Linda. Wood fields pigs road. Oxted mill. Arrive b and b met chris and lesley at The Croft lovely large house with huge ensuite with bath ans shower. Showered then walked into new and then old Oxted. Found a good shop for Esprit bought T shirts Stu  and Chris fell asleep. Walked to Old Oxted and found succour in the Crown delic prawns then lamb for linda pork for stu and pie for chris and cherry.  Ginger dessert shared and coffee 15 min walk back to b and b.

15th April Friday 17 miles
Set off after brekka 0800 teddy bears in the garden mark the zero meridian to look at  the nearby Huffhouse where Andy -fellow b and b-er was drilling 3 boreholes.  Left Oxted via Munchies in the high st for sarnies. Then walked across fields to cross M25 then steeply up North Downs across brambles and barbed wire - the way Stu decided to go off route. Past a large walled house with brick balls on the top of wall along a track and down into a quiet valley where paragliders were practsing their manoevers. Up another even steeper hill to kelly kettle brew up on top.  Across fields to picturesque church. Then a bit of road before stopping for a drink at the White Bear at Fingleshole.
Through New Addington - lots of rubbish spoiling the vast green areas. Then on to built up Hayes where we had a Costa before marching on thru suburbia to Bromley Millets to buy cycle T shirts.
Taxi from Bromley South to the hotel Bromley Court. Hot spa and then dinner accompanied by an Abba trbute band. Also a wake and a wedding happening so a very busy and noisy hotel. Bed at 10. Slept well

April 16th Sat 10.5 miles
Buffet breakfast Taxi pickup at 845 to take us to Bromley South about 2 miles away. Headed to the Churchill theatre past the shops then into the gardens.  Beckenham Park golf course was beautiful. Stopped for coffee at the Georgian mansion club house -sadly in poor repair lovely view of golf course. View of Crystal Palace
Walked to find the Edward V111 post box which some of the party missed! - boring flat walk but soon followed by the beautiful riverside walk along the Pool and then Ravensbourne River  to Ladyfield Gardens where we were recommended to have coffee by a family out for a walk with their 5 young sons  Which we did. Chris and Stu had an ice cream.  Brilliant sunshine all morning. Walked on through streets to Lewisham cross busy interchange then up the hill to the large houses of Blackheath and the green open heath -lots of preparations for the London marathon portaloos and metal barriers. Across the heath to the gates of Greenwich Park where Graham and Hilda met us. Photoshots on the meridian then down the hill and to the Thames to complete the walk at the Greenwich tunnel under the Thames. Met up with Hannah and Jonnie and had celebratory lunch at Baba's - excellent omlettes and cava from the off licence next door.
The End


Went to Sathi for dinner


Sunday 17 April
Clean up and pack for next mini-adventure!


Tried to go to Green Dragon at Flaunden for dinner, but they had run out of food, and advised us to try The Royal Oak at Bovingdon where we had a good meal in homely surroundings.

4-10 April

Mon - A tree man came and cut down the dying tree in the back garden.

I took the opportunity of his truck to pull up the hedge in front of the house and throw it in, then raked and seeded with grass.  Better than going to the gym!  Now you can see the front flower bed as you enter the yard, much much nicer.  Wore shorts, but it seemed cold.

Tues - Trained into Kennington to kick-off the work on Jon's flat.   Rainy, grey and cold. Can't believe the forecast is clear, sunny and 20 deg tomorrow.

Wed - Well, call me a Thomas yesterday (as my Stalker did in the comments), but it turned out to be clear, sunny and 20 deg.  Changed the oil in the tandem Rohloff hub, cleaned and tensioned the chains.  Took my time, following the Thorn instructions to the letter.  About 3pm went for a solo ride up and down all the roads in Chorleywood, 18 miles and as CW is in a steep valley, lots of ups and downs and no cruising:

Then when Stoker came in from work, had an evening cycle around CW for 6 miles.  In evening saw 'Time of our Lives' (Alan Ayckbourne) at Watford Palace, his usual very clever comedy format with 3 times transitions on the stage.

Thur - Sunny start to day.  Loire shakedown ride from Amersham to Bluebells TeaShop at Marsworth.  (20.5 out, 15.5 back) 36 miles in total, all rode extremely well.

Bluebells massive pudding like scones fuelled us up for the Ashton Hill climb (including seeing an Aston Martin), then fast run back.

Plus for us the 10 miles round trip CW-Amersham, so 46 miles in total.  Didn't get back in time to se Chalet Girl, so hottubed and carbo-loaded with pasta and a bottle of wine at The Peppermill.


Fri - Cycled with the Stoker to Mt Vernon for work and pick, then train/brompton into Kennington.  Dozed and missed stop on train back so had to cycle back from Chalfont & Latimer!  then into Mt Vernon to accompany Stoker back home.  36 miles in all for me.  Broker spoke on Dahon Cadenza so ordered from Dees Cycles.

Sat - Picked up spoke from Dees and fitted (on back wheel non-sprocket side so easy).  Drove to Bluebells for lunch with G&N.  Lovely sunny weather and views.

Sun -  Sunny day.  Carbo loaded with hand of pork for sunday lunch for our Meridien Walk next week.  Short walk around CW Common.