In the aftermath of Storm Eunice...

It's the day after Storm Eunice. Saturday. Everything is still. The sky is blue. The sun is shining. I simply must get out there. I planned to ride to Westerham. It was the perfect day. 

English Breakfast at Costa

The ride was good. I opted for the fast way. The 269. It was the weekend and there didn't seem to be a great deal of traffic on the road. I passed a few felled trees and stopped to take photographs and then, as Botley Hill approached, I considered a different ride, the one that takes me into Woldingham. By memory it's something like 15 miles, maybe a bit more, but it would have meant no tea, no stop even, just a circular ride. I was looking for that break at the end, the large English breakfast tea in Costa, sitting there staring at the street outside and eventually contemplating the ride home. 

Uprooted tree on the 269 on Saturday

So I didn't ride into Woldingham, I passed Botley Hill, turned into Clarks Lane and sailed down the hill. There was another uprooted tree so again I stopped to take a photograph and then I continued on my way. Soon I was in Westerham. It was roughly1000hrs, probably a little after. I ordered my English Breakfast Tea and took a seat by the window, looking out at a charity shop across the road. For the past two or three rides to Westerham my bike has been blown over by wind and on each occasion I left it there on the floor, knowing that if I picked up it would be blown over again. Yesterday, I did go out and pick it up because there was a man sitting outside and I felt I ought to pick it up. "Nice bike," he said, and I felt I had to tell him that it was nothing special. "It cost me under £500," I said, but added that it did the job. I went back into the Costa and resumed looking out of the window. The man had clearly injured himself or had some kind of problem as he hobbled across the street to the chemist. I continued sipping my tea and thinking about the ride home. Soon it was time to go and I decided to ride towards the Velo Barn, which was closed, and then turned left on to Pilgrims Lane, crossing Clarks Lane and continuing on Pilgrims until I made a right up Rectory Lane, rejoining Clarks Lane for the last hill, or rather the last obvious part of the long hill that continues all the way to Botley Hill. The only reason not to look forward to the ride home is the long hill out of Westerham, it starts to nag at me as I finish the last few mouthfuls of my tea, but either way it has to be tackled and tackle it I did. Soon I found myself with the big post-Westerham dilemma: do I ride into Woldingham and then down Slines Oak Road and up the other side, or do I carry on along the 269? Of late I've been doing the latter and that's what I did yesterday. The weather held out. I reached home around 1145hrs and then it started to rain. There was nobody in so I thought I'd take a walk in the rain and wind to Coco & Nut. I took Shaun Ryder's How to be a Rock Star with me and when I got there ordered a large cappuccino and a cheese and pesto toastie. I loved it, sitting there, chilling, a coffee and a sandwich on the go, a decent book too. Once again, however, I faced that awful moment when it was time to leave and I had to face the wind and the rain again as I contemplated the walk home. Not a long walk, I hasten to add. Under 10 minutes, but nevertheless an unpleasant walk when the weather's not good. 

Another uprooted tree on the B269 

I wasn't sure what to expect weatherwise on Sunday. Andy and I agreed to meet (as always) in Westerham for our weekly chinwag at Costa and I was looking forward to it. I was awake early (around 0500hrs) but stayed in bed until around 0630hrs and then went downstairs for Alpen with grapes, blueberries, raspberries (five of them) and sliced banana. I made myself a vanilla chai tea in a massive Sports Direct mug and buttered two slices of brown toast. Breakfast is always relatively chilled and today was no exception. 

Uprooted tree on Clarks Lane

By 0800hrs I was ready to go and headed outside. Fortunately, no punctures and soon I found myself in the Limpsfield Road heading for Warlingham and then the 269 to Botley Hill, the same route I took yesterday morning. Andy was there already, munching on a teacake and drinking a large coffee in one of Costa's two-handled 'soup bowls' (as I call them). I ordered a mint tea in a large paper cup and let it cool down before attempting a sip. 

We chatted about lap tops and people who work on them while journeying into work on the train when, perhaps, they should be looking out of the window, deep in their own thoughts. We later departed together riding along Clarks Lane and vowing to meet again next Sunday. I can't remember what time I got home, but once again I avoided getting soaked by the rain, which came later on. It's a bit blowy out there today. Blowy and grey. Gone are yesterday's blue skies and there's little much to look forward to now other than work tomorrow. 

I'm hoping that next week I'll be back on the six-milers. If I can do at least three I'll be happy. I know that on Thursday and Friday I can go out at lunch time, the killer is doing it after work, but I've done it before and I should be able to do it again. Here's hoping!