Worth it

Sarah, Fiona and I had a lazy morning chatting and eating pancakes for breakfast. We went our separate ways at lunchtime, although Fiona accompanied me and the bicycle down as far as East Croydon. I was glad of her help on the Norwood Junction stairs (it's a nightmare carrying a bag and a bicycle up and down stairs - hooray for stations with ramps or lifts!)

At Three Bridges, I set off on a cycle adventure following a route on my Cyclestreets app. Four miles later, I'd be in Crowley Down for a friend's garden party. The instructions on the invite were for car drivers or to take a taxi from the station. It was such a nice day that I thought cycling might be better and I wasn't wrong. The route mainly followed the Worth Way, a disused railway line. It was gloriously green, with thrushes, great tits, robins and sparrows in abundance. I took a few wrong turns, but easily corrected myself.

The party was fantastic and it was a perfect day for it - so much sunshine. I met friends who I hadn't seen for far too long, caught up with people who I'd met briefly many years ago, and enjoyed really interesting chats with new folk. I won't leave it so long to catch up this time. Plus, the hosts of the party (and the reason for the party) are leaving for the Alps. I'm going to be straight over there for a holiday! They think they're going to have to build a 10-storey house to fit in all their visitors.

Fred spent the night in the Isle of Wight on a two-day trip cycling around the island, but he made it to the party and we cycled back together in the evening sun. We were caught in a rush of bikes at Clapham Junction and almost couldn't get on our train home. The night bicycle ride was on from 12am to 6am and people were travelling with their bikes to the starting point by train, so it was just a little crowded.