Freezing cold this morning with a dusting of snow on the ground. It's my ride, John Owen and Chris Kinsey decide to follow. The whole route is undulating. I need those hills to raise my temperature. We go up Tilehouse Lane, then another climb to Chalfont Common. Our coffee stop is Ozzie's at Little Chalfont. As well as refreshments it's a chance for Chris to dry out his shoes on the radiator. He did stop short of doing the same with his socks. There is definitely more snow on the hills than in the valleys. Trouble is by this time most of the stuff on the trees is melting and precipitating on us. There's also plenty of puddles and the occasional flood to negotiate. Lunch is at The Crown Inn, Penn. Not wanting a roast, I go for soup of the day and a baguette from the starter menu. The soup is fine but the baguette is in fact two tiddly bits of crusty bread. At least my lack of nourishment now gives me an excuse for a Chinese later on. After our sumptuous repast we head south through Beaconsfield and Littleworth Common. John has developed a puncture in his front tyre. Very fortunately it is a slow one because he hasn't brought a spare inner tube. Chris has his own problems with an extremely worn bottom bracket (might explain his slow progress on the hills). Misfortune doesn't always come in threes however, and my bike's ok. We limp onward to Uxbridge via Farnham Common and Iver. An interesting day. Mental note to put on more layers next ride. Regards Bernie G.