An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

AUTOBIOGRAPHY 93 The next day it began to rain; just before Guildford literally pouring down over the Hog's Back into Farnham and over vile roads to Alton, where over-loaded with clothes and luggage I stopped, having gone about 30 miles without no food. I was too tired to eat, but slept there. This was one of the three or four times in my life I ever have been really tired. Next day, 20th, to Selborne. Frank, Arthur, Dumpie, and Arnott were there already, and Markham joined in the evening. Next day it was very fine and hot, plenty of butterflies. We set to work draining the plot outside cottage. I railed from Alton to Surbitou, and A.L.R rode over from Selborne to Slough, where he got second in the mile. and then rode home, a very good performance indeed. Next Saturday at the Surbiton Sports I saw Sydenham run 9.37 from scratch for two miles on grass, and a week after I bad another wet ride from office to Carsbalton, carrying my luggage, and slept at the "Greyhound," going on May Day by Godstone (lunch "Clayton Arms"), and by steep roads to Oxted through the wood to Edenbridge. A perfect day. (A.L.R. , who was just then in form, won the mile at Horley the same day). On the 9th I had a long ride before lunch-a ring round Shenley, Radlett, Elstree, and Stanmore, :finishing the last 9 miles in 55 minutes, and about 26 miles altogether before lunch, riding both the Bull and Bush Hills. In the middle of the month I rode over to see my old sisters at Hemel Hempstead, and on by Berkhampstead, Chesham, Amersham, Chalfont St. Giles, Chenies, and Rickmansworth (281 miles), slept at the •' Victoria,'' and on Sunday came back by Sarratt, Chandlers' Cross, Croxley Green, Watford, and Stanmore. Later on I took my wife and Mrs. and Miss Quaritch to Selborne, coming home next day by wagonette to Liss, and so by rail. I rode a good deal in Herts. just about this time-one day by Pinner to Rickmansworth, the next day having a pleasant ride by Loudwater anrl Watford, then through woods to right, a lovely if lonely ride to Pinner, and home by Stanmore. With a friend H.H. and his wife and her sister R.P. I had a capital ride at Whitsun from Richmond Station to