Lunch at Farthing Common just before crossing the M25. Fruit cake going well. Alicia seems to have strained a ligament in her ankle and the third group are about 3 miles behind. Otherwise all well. The route out of London follows tracks and paths – largely along the small and once poisonous River Wandle. It’s all been cleaned up now and made for some beautiful cycling. All very slow as map reading tracks is not easy in groups.

It’s difficult to philosophise typing with thick fingers on a blackberry keyboard like this but there is a pleasantly subversive feel about leaving London along such secret ways.