This would be the last ride I would lead before the clocks go back, so I thought I would go for a long one. Four brand-new puffing stops would be an extra bonus. But could it be done without gate crashing a carnival, fording the Thames, or hurting anyone? Chris, John, Bernie, Lilo and Iain were the potential swimmers / casualties as we set off on the supposedly 45 mile trip to Leatherhead. By chance I had ridden Cranford to Leatherhead earlier in the week and was happy with the route out, but, had driven back by car and so had not checked out a route back other than on a map. Uxbridge to Fulwell was familiar territory and the 15 miles were covered in about an hour and quarter. The first stop was an open air venue, being the café in Kneller Park, ideal in good weather. Lilo departed after tea. Fulwell to Claygate went smoothly, there we had an extra stop on the pretext of seeing the smallest pub in the world. Alex Coombes, the Landlord (also head brewer at the Brightwater Brewery) was just opening up as we arrived and it seemed churlish not to have a beer. The pub has standing room for two, being Alex and one customer. Following a successful if cramped launch Alex has now added a canvas gazebo with seating for sixteen. Recognizing the huge potential of passing Loiterers this tiny pub has secure cycle parking racks for fifty bikes. I challenge anyone to find me a bar in Holland with this ratio of cycle facilities. And the beer was excellent. Onward we went to Leatherhead, via Oxshott Woods, part of the Crown Estate. And so to the Running Horse, picked after a cursory glance at internet reviews and as old school a British pub as you could hope to find, more excellent beer, good food, good prices, what more could you ask. After lunch we left Leatherhead toward Chobham where I hoped to cross under the A3 using Old Common Road, unfortunately this was blocked by gates and we had to detour, by the rather busy and ominously named, Seven Hills Road. More research required for more cycle friendly routes for this area. Afternoon tea was at the third outdoor venue of the day, the tea stand at the new Walton Bridge, luckily still open at four o clock and still not raining. We followed the Thames Riverside up into Staines, and now in home territory the bridle way by the M25, finally clocking up sixty miles on our approach to Uxbridge town centre. All agreed it was cracking day out.