Author: rogerdodge59

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Bread pudding ride to Little Bookham

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Long Ditton

Sunday 20th October, a largely Sunny morning, with grey clouds in the Afternoon, saw 28 Cyclists leave via, Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & greenway, West Ewell, Hogsmill path, Long grove Park, Ashtead Common, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham to Little Bookham for lunch at ‘Ye olde Windsor Castle’,- with a select few opting to visit the ‘Vineries Garden centre Cafe’-, re-gathering, Effingham, Martyr’s Green, Hatchford, Cobham, the Fairmile estate, Portsmouth Rd to Claremont Lake Cafe, (NT) for Tea & Bread pudding, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, (belated Photo), Surbiton, a brief look at the Surbiton Rd & Penrhyn Rd works, to Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 4 new Faces, thanks to Mike for back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/954549

Midweek ride to Woodmansterne

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the London Skyline, from Epsom Downs Credit: Rob R

Wednesday 9th October. A mostly bright day saw 16 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & the greenway, West Ewell, a brief part of the Hogsmill path, Epsom, Epsom downs, (Photo), -with a small tumble leading to a slight ‘exposé’, luckily for the victim, the Camara didn’t record the event 😉,-Tattenham corner, Burgh Heath, Banstead, to Woodmansterne for lunch at ‘the Woodman’, then Wallington, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, the Wandle trail, Morden, to Morden hall Park, for Tea & refreshments, then Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to Kingston. Total 28 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Pete S for back marking, & others for marking corners.

Map:-https://www.plotaroute.com/route/945357

Challenge ride to Woking

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HG Wells Statue, Woking

Sunday 6th October. After a night of very heavy rain, a pleasantly dry day, with the Leader a tad late on parade, due to almost forgetting his money ! Saw 12 Cyclists manage to dodge the ‘Half Marathon’, (staying alert for any huge Puddles), leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, -with 1 extra Cyclist, delayed due to a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, finding us-, Lower Sunbury, -with the first of Three encounters with the ‘Palace to Palace’ Cyclists, leading to 1 of our number briefly joining there group, but thanks to ‘good Shepherding’ by Chris F,- Shepperton, 2nd meeting with ‘P to P’, Chertsey Bridge, with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’ & a wrong Spare causing the victim to head for the Train, 😦 Chertsey Meads, Addlestone, Homewood Park, 3rd time with ‘P to P’, (even confusing their Marshal’s by not following the direction 😉), Dunstall green, Coxhill green to Woking, (with confusing Road works, hiding the Cycle lane, 😦), for lunch at the ‘Herbert Wells’, (Wetherspoons), pausing at the Statue for ‘HG Wells’ (Photo), -who lived locally whilst writing ‘War of the Worlds’, hence many links to the Author in & around Woking, and some of the local Cycle routes, named after various Planets, as a tribute to him-, Basingstoke Canal path, Wey Navigation path, Byfleet, Brooklands community Park, Weybridge, Burwood park, to Hersham Garden centre for Tea & Bread pudding, Hersham, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd track to Kingston. Total 38 Miles, thanks to Steve D for back marking, & others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP, 1 visit from the ‘P Fairy’.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/943475

Bread pudding ride to Pimlico

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Victoria Embankment & the Elizabeth Tower

Sunday 22nd September, a bright start, with a wet day forecast, didn’t deter 17 Cyclists remember the start from New Malden, via West Barnes, Cannon Hill, Merton park, South Wimbledon, the ‘Wandle trail’ to Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Clapham, Vauxhall, ‘Cycle super highway 5’, (CS5), across Vauxhall Bridge to Pimlico for lunch at the very Popular ‘White Swan’, fortuitously the 1 heavy Shower occuring whilst we enjoyedd lunch, but with light drizzle & more predicted, 3 people decided to find an alternative option, the remainder continued via Westminster, to CS3 & Victoria Embankment, (Photo with Big Ben, the Elizabeth Tower, swathed in Scaffolding), to Southwark Bridge, -alas we had all forgotten our ‘Yoga mats’, so were unable to join the fun on Tower Bridge, see BBC report -, Southwark, where a navigational mishap led to Kennington, Kennington Park, instead of Burgess Park, back on track in Loughborough, Brockwell Park, with ‘threatening’ Black clouds, a ‘strategic decision was taken for an indoor Tea & Bread pudding stop at ‘Brockwell hall Cafe’, Tulse hill, Streatham Hill, Tooting Bec Common, Tooting, Colliers wood, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, & the still lovely new track to New Malden. Total 31 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to John E for back marking, and many others for marking corners, as always, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/933539 with the ‘intended route’ marked with Red dashes.

Midweek ride to Shirley

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Shirley Windmill credit: Christine G

Wednesday 18th September, a glorious Sunny day saw 10 Cyclists remember the alternative start in New Malden, with a slight delay as 1 member had a visit from the ‘P fairy’ before the start, via New Malden Station to meet 1 extra person at the Raynes Park link, Raynes Park, Wimbledon chase, Colliers wood, Tooting, Streatham, Norbury, Thornton heath, – to find yet another Cyclist, now 12-, Heavers Meadow, Woodside, Ashburton Field, to Shirley for lunch at ‘the Surprise Inn’- with 1 person trying an alternate approach-, with 1 meal needing some extra attention, continuing via the second ‘surprise’, the Shirley Windmill, (Photo), Addiscombe, Lloyd Park, (new Cycle path), South Croydon, Roundshaw, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, Wandle Trail, Morden, Morden Park, to Lower Morden & the ‘Wyevale Garden centre’ for refreshments, Morden Cemetery, Joseph Hood Park, Motspur park, to New Malden. Total 28 Miles, thanks to Steve D for Back marking, & many others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/872467

Evening ride to Esher

Wednesday 11th September, a pleasant evening, with rapidly fading light saw 15 Cyclists leave via Cranes Park, King Charles Bridge, Fishponds, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher park, to Esher for refreshments at ‘the Wheatsheaf’, (coincidentally matching last months venue, thanks to John E for the reminder), Moor lane, Weston Green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Rd track to Kingston. Total 11 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Ralph for Back marking & others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/927347

2 part ride to Cheam & Sunbury

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Hogsmill open space, West Ewell. credit: Rob R

Sunday 8th September. Part 1. A mostly Sunny day saw 18 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & the greenway, the Bonesgate path, Horton Country Park, (with a freshly laid uncomfortable Gravel path), West Ewell, -with a visit from the ‘P fairy’, (a Tack the culprit),- A short bit of Hogsmill Path (Photo), Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, to Cheam village for lunch at ‘Ye Olde Red Lion’, North Cheam, Worcester Park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub-total, 16 Miles, 4 new Faces, thanks to Steve F for back marking, & others for marking corners, 1 vist from the ‘P Fairy’.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/924647

Note: I’ve added a nicer alternative return route, (Red Dashed line), slightly longer, with a level Crossing, which might have hindered our journey, but much more pleasant, if time is not an issue.

Part 2 Saying farewell to 10 & welcome 7 fresh faces, still with Sunny Skies, 15 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd track, Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Ashley park, Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury for Tea & Bread pudding at the ‘Walled garden’, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Sub-total 16 Miles, Total 32 Miles, thanks to Karen for back marking, & others for marking corners, thanks to John for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/924654

Bread pudding ride to West Horsley

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Prince’s Coverts Credit: Andrea D

Sunday 25th August. A hot, (even Sultry) Sunny day saw 23 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to West Horsley for lunch at the Barley Mow, alas they weren’t serving food, the select few that self catered where happy to stay, but the majority who did want food continued a bit further to the ‘ King William the IV’, regrouping after lunch, via  East Horsley, Effingham, Bookham, Fetcham, Fetcham Mill Pond, Leatherhead, Prince’s Coverts, (Photo), Claygate, to Long Ditton, for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Squires Garden centre’, Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 31 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to John E for back marking & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/912831

Midweek ride to Greenford

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Hammersmith Bridge (sans Traffic)

Wednesday 21st August, a bright Sunny day saw 15 Cyclists leave via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, White Lodge, Roehampton Gate, -with the first of 4 Level Crossings, with a long wait, shortly followed by the 2nd Crossing 😦 -, Barnes, the ‘Cyclists delight’, Traffic free Hammersmith Bridge 🙂, (surface not so delightful 😦) (Photo), Hammersmith, Ravenscourt Park, Wendell, Acton Park,- 3rd Level crossing, another age before the Train appeared-, North Ealing, Pitshanger Park, Footbridge to Perivale, Gr. Union Canal Path, to Greenford for lunch at ‘the Black Horse’, afterwards, with the Towpath closed for repairs, (to Ellie’s delight), a detour via Oldfield Lane, & Ferrymead, more Greenford, Southall, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Hounslow, Whitton, to Kneller Gdns for Tea & Refreshments, Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, fourth Crossing, -only a short wait this time-, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Total 30 Miles, 2 new face’s, thanks to Steph for Back marking, and others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/909611

Evening ride to Ewell

Wednesday 14th August, a mostly pleasant evening, with a heavy Shower at the finish, saw 9 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell to Ewell for refreshments at ‘the Wheatsheaf’, the Hogsmill Path, West Ewell, Tolworth, King Charles Bridge, Cranes park to Kingston. Total 13 Miles, thanks to Derek for Back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/903978