Author: rogerdodge59

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Belated Dieppe report

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a small contigent of the ‘Bedwell Wheelers with the Trophy

Weekend 27th to 29th June. Day 1, for the real diehards, a small group of three, with 1 added lightweight, only going to lunch, gathered at Westcroft leisure centre, Carshalton, set off via Carshalton Park, Carshalton Beeches, Woodmansterne, to Coulsdon to find the planned Coffee stop closed, so back tracking to the Town centre Cafe, then Farthing down, Chaldon, Bletchingley, Outwood, Smallfield, -with a freshly ‘gravelled surface’, proving uncomfortable, so a short detour,- to Turners Hill for lunch, whilst I returned home, the main party continuing via Ardingly, Lindfield, Wivelsfield, Plumpton, Lewis to Newhaven, for an overnight stay.

Day 2, an uneventful ferry crossing, to Dieppe, France, followed by the usual wecome & greetings.

Day 3, the main event, saw a Warm Sunny day, it was good to see the organisers had found a better measuring stick compared to last Years shorter than expected route, followed by the presentations, with the Neville Chanin Trophy for the largest group going to ‘the Bedwell Wheelers’, (comprising of a large group of KCC Cyclists, together with an even bigger group from ‘the Stragglers’), it seems the ‘Souwesters’ (South west London, CTC), where a little shell shocked at being knocked from there perch, ;-).

Bread pudding ride to Northolt

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Northala Fields, Northolt

Sunday 7th July, A mostly Cloudy morning, with very light Drizzle, followed by a Sunny afternoon, saw 15 Cyclists leave via Kings Rd, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Ham cross, White lodge, Sheen gate, Sheen, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Strand on the green, Brentford, South Ealing, West Ealing, Hanwell, Greenford, Grand union Canal towpath, -with a Duck unwilling to give way, or take flight, slowing progress a little 🙂,- to Northolt for lunch at ‘the Crown’, then Northala fields, (Photo), Greenford, Southall, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Isleworth, St Margerets, to Marble Hill Park for Tea & BP, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & Kingston Bridge. Total 30 Miles, Thanks to Steve D for back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the Bread pudding.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/870952

Reminder !

A reminder to check your Wheel rims occasionally ! I caught this just in time, (those with long memories might remember a Sunday ride, when I didn’t, luckily we’d just passed a Station & even more amazing, the trains were running), don’t leave it to luck.

2 part ride ride to Chessington & Molesey

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Nonsuch Park

Sunday 23rd June, Part 1. A bright morning, saw 15 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, Joseph Hood Park, North Cheam, Cheam Park, Nonsuch Park, (Photo), Stoneleigh, Hogsmill path, West Ewell to Chessington for lunch at ‘the William Bourne’, the Bonesgate path, Tolworth, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub-total 17 Miles, thanks to Ellie for Back marking & others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/860017

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River Thames & Hampton Church in the Background

Part 2. With increasing Clouds, we said farewell to 9, & welcomed 2 fresh faces, so 8 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd track, Giggshill green, Weston Green, -with 1 person having an ‘unplanned dismount’, soon remounted-, Esher, Walton on Thames, Thames Towpath, to Molesey, (Photo), to Molesey Cricket club for Tea & Bread Pudding, Hampton Court Bridge, Bushy Park, Kingston Bridge. Sub-total 14 Miles, Total 31 Miles. Thanks to Chris for Back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/860027

Midweek ride to Send

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Brooklands Park, with the Banking

Tuesday 18th June, a Cloudy morning, followed by Drizzley Showers, before steady Rain set in after lunch, saw 6 Cyclists, leave via Portsmouth Rd track, Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Hersham, -where 2 more joined us, (due to the SW  Rail strike making Trains unreliable), -Burwood park, Weybridge, Brooklands community Park, (Photo), Byfleet, Wey navigation Towpath, Pyrford, (with a Bridleway, having too many Nettles for comfort), Old Woking, to Send for lunch at ‘the New Inn’, then Send Marsh, Grove heath, Ockham, Hatchford, Cobham, Portsmouth Rd to Claremont Lake for Tea & refreshments at the NT Cafe,- although 1 person misread the Signal, & carried on, perhaps to avoid getting too damp,- Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Mike for back marking, & others for marking corners.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/857167

Evening ride to Richmond

Wednesday 12th June. A rather damp Drizzly Evening saw 8 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Hampton Wick, Teddington, with the Leader suffering a visit from the ‘P fairy’, the first attempt with a ‘Sealant’, didn’t work, Plan B, the spare tube turned out to have the wrong Valve, but a very kind soul, (Thanks Jon), did have the correct tube, so after a relatively swift repair, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, St Margerets, Richmond Bridge, Richmond Hill to the Roebuck for Refreshments, with a few other hardy Cyclists, mainly from Merton & Ealing, return via Richmond Park, to Kingston gate, to Kingston. Total 10 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to Ralph for back marking. 1 visit from the P fairy.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/852940

Bread pudding ride toThorpe

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Virginia Water Lake

Sunday 9th June. A mostly Bright day, with an afternoon Shower, (albeit heavy shower), saw 17 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Thames Towpath to Hampton Court, Molesey, Walton on Thames, Broadwater path, Weybridge, Addlestone, Lyne, (with 1 of the tailenders having a visit from the ‘P’ fairy, then missing a turn, causing a slight delay), to Thorpe Green for lunch at the Rose & Crown, then Virginia Water and Lake, (Photo), Egham Wick, Egham, Staines, Thames Towpath, Penton Hook, Laleham, Shepperton, to Haliford Garden centre, (Squires) for Tea & Refreshments, (with the Catering dept. having left the ‘Cookies’ at home, 😦), but enjoying a lovely new ‘Water feature’, -well it was lovely from inside the Cafe, with Water pouring off the Canopy, not so lovely if you were with those who decided to forego Tea-, still raining somewhat, Sunbury, Hampton, very weirdly a dry Bushy Park, Kingston Bridge. Total 37 Miles, 1 visit from the ‘P’ fairy, thanks to Amy for Back marking & many others for marking Corners, especially Bai, waiting for the delayed tail prior to lunch.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/849407

Bread pudding ride to Harmondsworth

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Osterley park, Tea stop

Sunday 26th May, a largly Cloudy day, with a few spots of moisture, saw 29 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Feltham, Bedfont, Stanwell, Stanwellmoor, Poyle, Harmondsworth Moor to Harmondsworth for lunch split between ‘the Crown’, & ‘Five Bells’, afterwards, a visit to the fantastic ‘Great Barn, with 1 or 2 people missing out on the ‘Culture’, due to a misunderstanding, and repairing a ‘P’, then West Drayton, the Grand union Canal Towpath, -with the surface improved in place’s, but other parts still in need of some ‘TLC’-, Norwood Green, Osterley Park for Tea & Bread pudding, and Photo, Osterley, ‘the tail’, -briefly taking a wrong turn-, Hounslow, Whitton, Twickenham, Teddington, with the 2nd visit from the ‘P fairy’, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Total 30 Miles, thanks to John E for Back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. 2 visit from the ‘p fairy’.

Map:- plotaroute.com/route/840250

Evening ride to Twickenham

Wednesday 22nd May, a bright Evening saw 9 Cyclists leave via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, Petersham gate, Petersham Rd, Richmond Bridge, Thames Towpath to find option 1- White Swan-, packed to the Rafters, more back streets to Twickenham green for refreshments at the Sussex Arms, with a very green ‘Astroturfed’ garden, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton wick & Kingston Bridge. Total 10 Miles, thanks to Ken for back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/837624

Midweek ride to Wraysbury

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John Milton’s Home, Horton

Wednesday 15th May, Another warm Sunny day saw 15, -no, get the Number of Steve’s right-, 16 Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Lower Feltham, Ashford, Stanwell, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, a little early, so a pause at the one time home of  John Milton (Photo), near Horton, to Wraysbury for lunch at ‘the Perseverance’, then Hythe End, Staines, Thames Towpath, Laleham, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury, for Tea & refreshments at ‘the Walled Garden’, Hampton, Dukes Head passage, Bushy Park, Kings field, Kingston Bridge. Total 31 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Ellie for back marking, many others for marking corners & holding gates.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/832134