REFUELLING

Some things go together. Bikes and coffee, winter Sunday rides and pub roasts, clear skies and a full tank... You get the picture. 
Between life in general and lousy weather on weekends, I haven't managed to ride much lately, so I was in almost as desperate a need of a ride as the bike by the time the skies and my schedule cleared. Sometimes the best way to refuel my battery is a good ride. I'm really not that different from my bike.  
As usual after a hiatus, the engine growled and yawned for a bit before waking up properly, then purred very happily all the way to a coffee shop I'd passed previously, but never tried. It had looked promising, so I made a mental note and luckily managed to remember that. It's not a massively long ride, so is great for winter runs or busy-life runs, when you really need a break from everything but can't afford to take a very long one. 
Southdown Coffee and Wine in Brockham off the A25 has paved parking - no slippery gravel here - and the coffee is good. I can recommend the pastries, too. The staff are friendly, and wished me a safe ride when I left. Places with pro-biker staff and good coffee are to be treasured. And frequented, in the most literal sense of the word, so as to help to keep them in business.