Sunday 11th July. A surprisingly Sunny Morning, with more Cloud later, after 2 late cancellations, 1 no show & with 1 surprise guest saw 20 Cyclists in 2 groups leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, River Crane path, Whitton, Hounslow Heath, West Hounslow, Cranford, Harlington, Sipson to Harmondsworth for lunch at the ‘Crown’ with a few electing for the ‘Five Bells’, also stopping to admire the ‘Great Barn‘, (Photo group 2),
Group 2 with the Great Barn, Harmondsworth: Bai Kamara
then Harmondsworth Moor (with a few ‘slippery patches’), Poyle, Stanwell moor, Stanwell -with new Cycle path 🙂-, Ashford, Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton to Bushy Park (Photo group 1),
Group 1 with a few Deer in the background, Bushy Park: Lindsay Webster
for Tea & Bread pudding at the Pheasantry, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. 29 Miles, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Mike F for back marking each group, Special thanks to Christine for the gorgeous Bread pudding.
Wednesday 23rd June. A mostly Sunny Evening, with 2 late cancellations, saw 10 Cyclists in 1 group leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, Twickenham, St Margerets, Richmond Bridge, to Richmond Hill for refreshments at ‘the Roebuck’, also meeting up with the ‘unofficial Merton group’, the big question, would we get to enjoy a Sunset ? not quite, but pretty good all the same, (Clouds appearing just after the Photo)
Approaching Sunset from the Terrace, Richmond Hill : John E
then with a slight delay for a minor Mechanical problem, via Richmond Park, Kingston, the new Station Bridge to finish. Total 11 Miles, Special thanks to Ralph for Back marking.
Sunday 20th June. A Cloudy, but otherwise pleasant day after 2 late Cancellations, & 1 abandon before the start, due to a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, so 15 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & Greenway, West Ewell collecting 1 extra Cyclist, Long Grove Park, Epsom Common, pausing briefly at a Coal tax Post, also a short chat about Ashtead Common & why it’s owned by the City of London, Leatherhead, Fetcham, to Bookham, -not Pub in Little Bookham as originally planned, it turns out someone should have done a bit more research-, as the ‘Old Crown’ isn’t doing food at the moment, but does have very helpful, friendly staff & 2 Pet Rabbits, so we elected to stay, whilst some had come prepared, others found the local Co-op for grub, then with darkening Skies, Effingham, Martyr’s Green, Hatchford, Downside (Photo 1), Cobham, Fairmile, to Claremont Lake Cafe for Tea & Bread pudding, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton (Photo 2) to finish back in Kingston. Special thanks to Mags for group leading, thanks to Amy & Toni for Back marking each group, very special thanks to Christine for the BP.
A glorious Sunny, if somewhat humid day, after 3 late cancellations, saw 13 Cyclists gather at New Malden, split into 2 groups, leave via Raynes park, South Wimbledon, Colliers wood, – with 1 member of group 2 suffering a ‘brief encounter with some Nettles-, Tooting collecting 1 extra Cyclist, Streatham, Norbury, Thornton heath, Heavers Meadow, Woodside, Ashburton Field, Shirley, Langley Park, to West Wickham for lunch at ‘the Railway’ (Ember Inns),
Group 1 Beddington Park, with newly planted Cherry Trees.Group 2 Lloyd Park: Pete M
then more Shirley, Addiscombe, Lloyd Park (Photo 2), South Croydon, Waddon to Beddington Park (Photo 1) for Tea & Refreshments, a congested Hackbridge, a nicely re-wilded part of the Wandle trail, Morden, Morden Park, Merton Cemetery, Motspur Park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 31 Miles. Special thanks to Pete M for leading Group 2, thanks to Stephanie & John E for back marking each group.
Sunday 6th June, Part 1 A mostly cloudy Morning saw 18 (or was it 19) Cyclists split into 3 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & Greenway, Bonesgate path, Horton Country Park, West Ewell, Hogsmill open space
Group 1: Hogsmill open Space Group 2. Nonsuch Park: Bai K
(Photo 1), Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park (Photo 2), to Cheam for lunch at ‘Ye Olde Red Lion’ (Stonegate), – with a little confusion among the staff on the billing front-, North Cheam, Worcester park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub total 17 Miles. Special thanks to Bai & Steve F for Group leading, thanks to Chris F, Andrea & Amy for back marking each group.
Part 2, A slightly brighter Afternoon, with late Sun, saying farewell to 7, but hello to 7 fresh faces, this time split into 2 groups of 9, after an admin mix-up, leave via Skerne Rd & Path, Thames towpath, Aerospace estate, Ham lands, Teddington Footbridge, Teddington, Bushy Park, Hampton Court Bridge, -with a small detatchment of group 2, extra thirsty, taking a short cut-, Molesey, to Molesey Lock Cafe, with a ‘sedate service’, for Tea & Bread pudding, Thames Ditton, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd & Cycle track to Kingston. Sub total 11Miles, Total 28 Miles. Special thanks to Carl for group leading, thanks to Bai & John E for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Sunday 23rd May. A Blustery day, with a few short but heavy Showers saw 15 Cyclist after 1 late cancellation, split into 1 Group of 8, 1 of 7, leave via Portsmouth Rd Track, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to Ripley for an early lunch at the ‘Jovial Sailor’, with a fantastic canopy covering most of the Garden, -very handy, because a short Deluge from above, & somehow Group 2 got fed first, so they could leave first-, Send Marsh, passing the remains of Newark Priory, Pyrford, West Byfleet, Byfleet (where another Deluge for gropup 2, let group 1 almost catch the tail, thus time for a group 1 Photo),
Group 1 Brooklands ParkGroup 2, Wey Bridge, from Brooklands Park: Carl S
Weybridge, Broadwater path, with a Fallen Tree, anyone got a Chainsaw ?, can’t go around it, can’t get under, we’ll have to lift our Bikes over the obstruction, now ‘Groupo Compacto’ as the Giro de Italia riders might say, to Walton Bridge for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Wilde Bunch’, Walton on Thames, Molesey, Thames Ditton – with Group 1 Leader not watching the tail, so initially unaware that 1 person had suffered a mechanical, leading to an alternaive route home- (a reminder to keep an eye on the back marker, even if we are almost back to the finish), Portsmouth Rd & track to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, Special thanks to Carl for leading group 2, thanks to Steve D & Mike F for Back marking each group, Thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1559849.
Note: For those familiar with the New Malden Raynes Park link, Kingston & Merton Council’s are looking for a name for this delightful route, there is a short-list of 4, I believe a 5th option will be added soon, but for now here is the link, open until June 2nd:- https://kingstonletstalk.co.uk/name-the-route , after further thought, Beeline way will be an added option.
Wednesday 19th May after a few Showers, a largely Bright evening saw 8 Cyclists, with 2 late cancellations, leave via Cranes park, Tolworth -including a short stretch of the new Cycle Path-, Old Malden, Motspur park, Raynes park, to New Malden for Refreshments at Woodies,- with a visit from a ‘Special guest’,- then Norbiton, Kingston & the new Bridge next to Kingston Station, to finish back at the Market place. Total 12 Miles, 1 face returning after a very long interval, thanks to Mike for Back marking.
Wednesday 12th May, A largely Sunny day, with a few light Showers, saw 15 Cyclists, with 1 cancellation, split into 3 groups of 5 leave via Portsmouth Rd Track, Thames Ditton, Molesey, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands Park,
Group 2, Brooklands Museum and Concorde’s nose: Mags Mckinlay
Byfleet, New Haw to Addlestone for lunch at the Pelican, a lovely Wey Navigation side Pub, Chertsey Meads, Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton, Sunbury, Hampton, Bushy Park for Tea & refreshments, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Total 30 Miles 2 new faces, special thanks to Mags & Mike F for group leading, thanks to Dave P, John E & Steve F for back marking each group. Alas it was Raining the couple of times I thought about a Photo for group 1, but if any others have Pics to share, do let me know.
Sunday 9th May, a very pleasant sunny day, much warmer than of late, saw 23 Cyclists, with 1 cancellation, split into 4 groups, but all groups seemed to play a version of Musical chairs at various stages of the day, (group 2 not being quite ready, so they were demoted to group 4). Leaving the Market place via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Raynes park, South Wimbledon, Wandle path, Earlsfield, with Group 3 suffering a visit from the ‘P Fairy’ meaning Group 4, now became group 2 ?, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Vauxhall, Camberwell to Burgess Park for a Picnic lunch, pausing earlier at the Lime Kiln, the Camberwell Beauty Mosaic & also ‘Silent Raid’, an Art installation in memory of a Zeppelin raid from WW1,
Group 2 or was it 4 ? with the Lime Kiln, Burgess ParkGroup 1 with the Camberwell Beauty, Burgess ParkGroup 3 Brockwell Park
continuing via the Surrey Canal Path, Peckham, Dulwich, Brockwell Park, where an unfortunate coming together between 2 members of group 3, with 1 Bike unridable, & a slight Shoulder injury, meaning a Taxi ride home was the best option, thanks to members of Group 2/ 4, (if you’re keeping up), for there assistance, meanwhile ahead, due to an impromptu Loo stop, group 4/2 had briefly taken the lead, which was a surprise for group 1, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, Tooting Bec Common for a Tea & Bread pudding stop, Tooting, Mitcham, Morden Hall Park, Morden, Morden Park, Lower Morden, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands, to finish back at Kingston. Total 34 Miles. Special thanks to Bai, Carl, & Steve F for group leading, thanks to Toni, Steve D, Ellie & John E for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.
CasualtyUpdate: Having spoken to Tom this Afternoon, he is in good spirits, looking forward to getting back on the Bike & joining us on a ride in the near future.
Thursday 29th April. Well there’s a thing, KCC having a Midweek evening ride on a Thursday, but as Pubs are still adjusting their opening & closing times, it seemed the best idea this month. A Bright, if slightly chilly evening saw 16 Cyclists gather, after 2 late cancellations, with 1 extra from the wait list, split into 3 groups, at 5 Min intervals, go via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Lion gate, Hampton Court Bridge, to East Molesey for refreshments at the always reliable Bell, with 1 special guest already waiting, then, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 8 Miles, 2 new Faces, special thanks to Jon & Ralph for group leadership, thanks to John E, Andrea & Steve F for back marking each group.
