A Ride Leader has to be resourceful and ready for all eventualities but I was somewhat taken aback after being handed a note, purportedly from Alexander Martel’s mother, asking that her precious son be spared “hills and going fast”! Five shillings in new money accompanied it. Patsy and John Mall scrutinised the scrawl and with their years of uncovering student fraud quickly dismissed the request. We made the miscreant “tail-end Charly” and set off west. It’s always pleasant ambling through the Bucks Golf course and especially so when the gate is open into Denham village. A long but enjoyable uphill incline along Old Rectory Lane and a good swoop downhill into Chalfont St Peter.

Terrific value in the church hall – coffee and cake at £1.20 – and so many happy Christian ladies chatting away. Here Terry was awaiting us with the vicar, was he going to bless the bikes or hear Terry’s confession ? (Not enough time !) On along Narcott Lane’s cycling path, past the White Hart and up into Bottrell’s where Alex’s rear wheel tyre went flat – suspecting another schoolboy prank we made him change it himself with shouted advice from Ray and others. A good hard climb into Coleshill with discussions on the windmill and Red Lion. Wonderful whoooshing descent and sharp right onto a narrow bike track overgrown with huge cow parsley through which we scraped. A hearty welcome from Kerry the hearty landlord at the Saracen’s Head, four cracking beers on tap and our meals served up instanter at a long table in the garden. Steve’s chips were astronomically priced and too far away for me to pinch.

Bit of a post-lunch-uphill-slog through Amersham and the bumpy bike track back to Little Chalfont but then some great zooms downhill glides in the little lanes avoiding cars up to the Vache. Everyone bashed along the permissive pathway to the Captain Cook monument and were well rewarded with White Ensign, sextant, map of Australasia, telescope, compass etc and huge views back to the old manor house where the de la Vache family lived from 1411 – Admiral Sir Hugh Pallister erected the monument in 1777.

A great downhill run to Maple Cross and then home dispersing – an excellent day spent in excellent company.