In the bright, clear Autumnal sunshine only 6 intrepid cyclists chose the Middle Ride and hurtled west under the M40 and round the Bucks golf course, through picturesque Denham Village and up Rectory Lane to the Chilterns and the Epilepsy Centre Cafe – a new venue ? Nice coffee ( served by Pipa, a friend of Lawrie Hart’s son ) here Terry awaited us. Amid much banter Stuart outlined the three lunchtime pub possibilities – then onwards under the tube bridge, across the A403 and down Stony Lane, so steep that our eyebrows flattened; up into the lovely village of Latimer where Cliff pointed out the grave of : "The horse ridden by General de Villebois Mareuil at the battle of Boshof, South Africa 5th April 1900 in which the General was killed and the horse wounded. Brought to England by Major General Lord Chesham KCB., in 1900, died 5th February 1911.” Not too many people know about that then ....

A stiff climb with huge views over the Chess valley, past Latimer House and church and then swooping runs through the Chilterns to Ley Hill green with its two pubs side by side, leftish descending hard into Chesham. We walked through the market stalls (despite Cliff’s anguish) past the Beer House to lunch at the Red Lion. A quick detour along the dried-up Chess to look at the Queens’s Head, ( great beer but total Thai food now!) and then a long, hard slog up Fuller’s Hill only relieved by more views – left into Chesham Bois, the complications of Amersham on the Hill and a swift stop to limber into the woods – here we lost Cliff who continued on downhill and home via the Apple Tree while our leader searched for him in circles endlessly! Leaving the woods to a massive view/vista over Old Amersham, Shardeloes, Coleshill, huge! huge! huge! But an exceptionally stony / flint path which punctured Steve Cull’s front tyre twice (?) repaired while we all investigated the hundreds of WW1 white crosses and tried to impress the Kiwi gal walker with our knowledge, rapidly falling silently as we realised she knew more than us ...... the monument itself surrounded by tight hedges, an impressive and meaningful sight - Terry & Stuart unveiled an “all-religions” flag in an effort to indicate how futile persecution is - down into Old Amersham where the leader briefly lost 4 riders and nearly his authority and control when the dreaded “black spot” was attempted – on past the Saracen’s Head, the old hospital, through the giant hogweed path and then a hard climb up into Coleshill. Good to see the old windmill - zooming down to the Harte, Stuart’s front tyre blew – swift replacement and then home along Botterell’s Lane and Narcott with thousands of school children assembled ( surely they can’t all be getting lifts home from yummy mummys in Chelsea tractors ?) General dispersal home ......

A great day to be out in the crisp sunshine with a good bunch of friends, excellent ales, huge views over the Chilterns, historic sites, swooping downhill runs after searing uphill climbs – makes one feel great to be alive