This happened to me with those guys too.
1st time I’d ridden with them, website /forum/ contact I’d made with them said they were doing a 30-40 mile ride around Coniston and other valleys, so made the long trip to join them (about 20 riders that day)
Most of the way around figure they are actually going on to add a good 15-20 miles on top with no way of shortening the route, I’m blown out and obviously suffering and its below zero, yup just got left to my own devices.
Took me about 3.5 hours to work out how to get back to the cars, and when I got there they had all gone, thanks guys….
wow, very care, much crap given, amaze!