4th March 1882
It was about 1:30 when I started for the hills, taking as direct a road as I could by Sunbury Waterworks, through the station yard, by the catholic church and “via” Haliford, against a strong headwind, which, however fresh as I was did not notice. On to Walton en route to the railway bridge where I was struck with the beauty of the country. Keeping on across the common I reached the first hill where I had a nice view of Kingston, Esher etc. The road here was very hilly being a succession of hills over which I reached a cross-roads and seeing a little girl, I asked her “where the highest part of the hills was”, and she said “she did not know”. So trusting to good fortune I turned to the right and soon came to a lodge at which I stopped. Leaving machine beneath a tree, by the lodge, I commenced a ramble on the hills towards the top and the beautiful view I had from there repaid my trouble but I wished very much for a telescope, but being without one I had to be content with seeing as far as I could with the naked eye, which was as far as the hills extending from Guilford to Dorking and Reigate with St Anns Hill and Windsor Castle on the right hand, and Kingston and Epsom on the left. While the hills themselves were abounding with natures beauties, firs and evergreens, and I found it a very interesting place. And so I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the Old Lady in the Swiss cottage where I had a little refreshment. She informed me that she had a great many visitors during the summer months and she could hear the Mills Guns at 6 a.m. and after an interesting talk I bid her good day and started a run down hill which was brought to a close by me treading upon a stump of a tree covered with leaves and moss causing me to slip on my back some distance below up a bed of leaves thankful that I had not fallen across the stump and seriously injuring myself.
Proceeding more cautiously I collected a few moments to bring home then reaching the gate I found my horse had not wandered far during the 2 hours I had spent on the hills.
Getting into the saddle again I wandered where to steer for next not caring to return home so soon and seeing a fingerpost pointing to Ripley and Guilford I started that way (time was 4:15p.m) to see what the country was like, pulling up a long hill to a corner, I struck the Portsmouth road. Riding down hill now I overtook a tricyclist riding an old 4 wheeled velocipede worked by pedals and a handle very much like (as a bicyclist we passed remarked) the one Noah rode upon.
Asking my friend a few questions about the roads I left him to peruse my course and after a sharp ride I thought it time to ask where I was going to but could not find a person to ask for some time, but at last I overtook an old man who told me I was in Ockham but could not get back to Walton that night (he evidently did not know how fast I could travel) but I thought I had better make for home. Stopping at an inn for a Ginger Beer I noticed the time was 6 p.m. so I started for Chobham some miles away but was not long in reaching, the road was hard and downhill, I did not stop in passing through only to enquire nth way to Walton. I crossed the River Mole climbed an hill where I came across the 4 cross roads previously mentioned having completed a circle. I knew then where I was so continued my ride over the hilly road. I turned into Weybridge for a ride through Oatlands Park where I reached Walton Bridge then I went towards the “Welcome” and had tea, the time being 7 p.m. After a stay of ½ an hour I set off again over the Bridge taking the lower road to Sunbury where I had to dismount on account of the water and a ½ mile of stones, but I got over them after a walk and was soon passing through High Street, Sunbury en route for Hampton overtaking on the way a brother wheelman whose lamp would not burn so availed himself of mine. Stopping at Hampton on business which detained me an hour after which I finished up with a spurt through New Hampton and arriving safe at home at about 9:30p.m. feeling very tired and weary, but, I had thoroughly enjoyed my ride and without meeting with a fall or mishap of any kind reckoning to have run about 35 miles in 4 ½ hours stopping only oiling machine once on starting and spent about 1 shilling during the ride
William E Bennett.