YACF Not The Coronation Camping Weekend Etherley Farm 5-8May 2023

[Canardly]

Have put YACF as a cycling group in comments togther with middle aged plus plus. Payment problem now sorted. (Was a no script issue). Have also booked the two nights.

[ravenbait]

Would love to, but it's about 600 miles too far south  .

Sam

[Kim]

Are people putting YACF as a reference when booking? Or are we just hoping not to end up at opposite corners? Or even hoping that we will.

I knew I'd forgotten to do something.  (Been busy with BHPC things.)

The site doesn't have specific pitches, so hopefully whoever gets there first can designate a corner and the rest of us can join them.

[Canardly]

There are two fields as well.

[Cudzoziemiec]

One for snorers and one for the people who think they don't?

[sojournermike]

There’ll be no cap doffing in our home. Tbh, I’d forgotten all about it until I read this thread today.

Need a plan…

With no cap-doffing in your gaff you could find yourself with a couple of dozen yacf'ers in your garden.   😉

The garden would be welcoming but not sure it’s a two dozen garden! Also, ‘we’ are in the middle of A levels:(

However, I did consider this and it was free last time I looked

https://www.howstean.co.uk/accommodation/bunk-barn/


It might be a good bet sometime actually.

[Ruthie]

All booked up. A couple of rather speedy trains there mind.

[Ruthie]

All booked up. A couple of rather speedy trains there mind.

Spendy AND speedy! 🤪

[Kim]

Excellent.  Haven't seen you for *ages*

[Tim Hall]

Excellent.  Haven't seen you for *ages*

Wot Kim said.

[Wowbagger]

All booked up. A couple of rather speedy trains there mind.

 

[Ruthie]

Excellent.  Haven't seen you for *ages*

I know, it’s ridiculous.

[Cudzoziemiec]

I shall be wearing a royally patriotic cycling cap. Which could be used to crown the YACF king and/or queen – if someone arriving by car could bring a shop mannequin, tailor's dummy, or maybe we could all make a wicker figure...

[andrewc]

All booked.  I should be arriving on Friday at about 13:00.    I've booked 4 days so will stooge around a bit & go home on the Tuesday.

[Polar Bear]

Unfortunately we will not be joining the fun.  We have been invited elsewhere for a non-royalist long weekend.

[Cudzoziemiec]

It's going to be a right royal Puck up!

If the attractive, hand-painted invitation is anything to go by, the coronation will be a neo-pagan rite in which King Charles III is invested as Archdruid, Master of the Hobby-Horse and Lord of Summer Isle.

[ravenbait]

I wonder if any beans will be involved.

Sam

[barakta]

We'll be morris dancing by decree next!

[Cudzoziemiec]

I wonder if any beans will be involved.

Sam

Beans?

[Wowbagger]

I've been wondering about coming by train, but I think it would be a right pain in the arse, especially if I bring the leccy bike, which is very heavy and might require taking up a flight of steps or something. The nearest station, Ockley, doesn't open on a Sunday so that would require a ride into Dorking. Much simpler to come in the car.

[Robh]

Unfortunately I have other plans, otherwise I would have liked to have joined you for this, as it's very much my old stomping ground from when I lived in Woking. At the risk of teaching grannies to suck eggs, etc., I would advise attendees to consult the relevant OS maps and choose your routes carefully, as there are some serious hills thereabouts. Have fun!

[andrewc]

That sounds scary Rob! Best route from Dorking station?  Coldharbour Lane is the obvious one, but is it vertical?

[SoreTween]

That sounds scary Rob! Best route from Dorking station?  Coldharbour Lane is the obvious one, but is it vertical?

This is my old stomping ground too.  Coldharbour is just a long drag from what I recall though I've never been up it fully loaded.  Leith Hill Rd from Abinger is the easiest way up IIRC.  I've no idea what NCN22 is like though, never tried it.  I've survived the A25 along that stretch but it's not an experience I'm in a hurry to repeat.

I can recommend against Wolvens Lane fully loaded (the BOAT), it's very fine soft sand in places which is a PITA wet or dry.  I'm sure I've had to pedal going downhill on sections of that.

[Tim Hall]

I've got up to around 80km/h going down Coldharbour Lane on a tandem.  It is a good drag going up, more so fully laden.  If you want to avoid "scenery" look at going south from Dorking on the A24 (mostly a big wide dual carriageway, not very busy) branch left at Beare Green towards Capel, which is where the A24 went before the Vogons dual carrigeway was built. Right in Capel, crossing the A24 towards Ockley station. Wiggle over the A29 in Ockley onto the B2126 and approach the campsite from the south.

[ravenbait]

I wonder if any beans will be involved.

Sam

Beans?

The pagan iconography made me wonder about associated rituals.

There is the tale of how, in Ye Olden Tiems [TM], there would be a grand feast, and as part of that feast someone would find himself in possession of a black bean (or stone). He became King for a time, and was fêted accordingly. But then, when the time was up, when the land went back to sleep and needing feeding in its slumber, to ensure a fertile harvest the following season, well then. The possessor of the bean might not feel so enamoured of his luck.

Sam