I’m sure everyone will be pleased to know that the ‘new’ Cafe at Walton Bridge has finally opened for business, only 2 Years after the building was complete, it’s good to hear that Gino is still in charge, I can’t wait to try it out, maybe this Sunday on our ride from Wokingham.
Author: rogerdodge59
2 part ride to Cheam & Bushy park
Horton country park
Sunday 19th June, part 1, a mostly bright Sunny morning, saw 15 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, the Greenway, Bonesgate path, Horton country park, Ewell village, a very congested East Ewell, Nonsuch park to Cheam for lunch at ‘ye Olde Red Lion’, then North Cheam, Worcester park, Old Malden, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub total 17 Miles, 2 new faces. Part 2, with thickening clouds perhaps deterring some people, we said farewell to 10, and welcomed just 1 new face, so 6 Cyclists left via Canbury gardens, Lower Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, to Petersham gate, a busy towpath to Richmond bridge, Ducks walk, Isleworth, Whitton, Twickenham, Fulwell, Bushy park to the ‘Pheasantry’ for Tea & BP, then Hampton Wick & Kingston bridge to Kingston. Sub total 14 Miles, Total 31 Miles. Thanks to Mike for back marking, also Diane & others for corner spotting, thanks to Derek for the BP.
Evening ride to Richmond
Wednesday 15th June. a bright but cloudy Evening saw 12 Cyclists leave via Kingston bridge, Bushy park, Hampton, Fulwell, River Crane path, Kneller gardens, Twickenham, St Margerets, Richmond bridge to Richmond hill for refreshments at the very hospitable ‘Roebuck’, with 2 extra faces for the return journey, Richmond gate of Richmond park & A very nice downhill cruise to Kingston gate then to the Market place. Total 12 Miles, 4 new faces, thanks to Nick for acting as Back marker.
Bread pudding ride to Send Marsh
near Newark Priory
Sunday 5th June, a bright Sunny day saw 26 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Giggshill, Hinchley wood, Claygate, Fairoak lane, Oxshott, Fairmile, Stoke D’ Abernon, Downside, Martyr’s green, Ockham, Guishill to Send Marsh for lunch at a very welcoming ‘Saddlers arms’, afterwards a slipped chain caused a small delay, before passing Newark Priory, Pyrford, West Byfleet, New Haw, Row town, Addlestone, Weybridge, Thames towpath, to Walton bridge for Tea & BP at ‘Gino’s’, then Walton on Thames, Walton park, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill green, & Portsmouth Rd, including the ‘almost completed’ section of segregated track to Kingston. Total 34 Miles 4 new faces.
Bread pudding ride to Greenford
Osterley house
Sunday 22nd May. A bright Sunny day, saw 30 (yes thirty) Cyclists leave via, Skerne Rd, (in the midst of being relaid), towpath to Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham common, Ham gate of Richmond park to Sheen gate, East Sheen, Mortlake, Chiswick bridge, Grove park, Chiswick, Acton, Acton park, (with a level crossing closure causing a brief split), West Acton, Park Royal, Grand union canal towpath to Greenford for lunch at ‘the Black Horse’, then more Towpath, (where a low hanging branch led to a fall, thankfully only minor grazes to arm & knee), Southall, Norwood green, Osterley park, with a visit from the ‘P fairy’, Osterley, Isleworth, Whitton to Knellor Gdns for Tea & BP, (thanks to Derek, for admirably filling in for John), with some desperate to get back, whilst others were still consuming the refreshments, a forward group led by Steve went via Fulwell, Teddington, Hampton wick to Kingston, with the 2nd group following the same route a short time later. Total 32 Miles, 8 new faces, 1 puncture. Map :-www.bikemap.net/en/route/3553281
Evening ride to Molesey
Wednesday 18th May. A cloudy dry evening saw 8 Cyclists leave via Cranes park, King Charles bridge, Long Ditton, Giggs hill green, Weston green to Molesey for refreshments at ‘the Bell’, whilst distracted by the Football, a glass ‘spontaneously shattered’, with extra time looming, we continued via Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, including the new ‘section of ‘Mini-Holland’ segregation, to Kingston. Total 10 Miles, 1 new face.
Challenge ride to Nutfield
Farthing Down, Coulsdon
Sunday 8th May. A hot Sunny day saw 22 Cyclists ready for the 2nd Challenge ride, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Worcester park, North Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton Beeches, Little Woodcote, Woodmansterne, Clockhouse estate, Coulsdon, Farthing down, Chaldon, Warwick Wold to Nutfield for Lunch at ‘the Inn on the pond’, afterwards as we were about to depart, the first visit of the day from the ‘P fairy’, but many hands soon had the problem fixed, so via Merstham, Gatton bottom, with the next visit from the P fairy, again many hands soon had it fixed, Chipstead, Banstead, East Ewell to Nonsuch park for Tea & BP, once again the P fairy had paid a visit, a very noble John was willing to stay & help the victim, with the main party continuing, Stoneleigh, Worcester park, New Malden, Berrylands, to Kingston. Total 37 Miles, 1 new face, 3 Punctures.
Isle of White Randonnee
Isle of Wight near Freshwater bay. Credit Bai Kamara
Sunday 1st May, 65+ Miles, 3000 ft climbing, it can only be the Isle of Wight Randonnee, 5 Cyclists met at the ‘Kite hill’ campsite, Wootton, on a cool, but gloriously Sunny day, with some campers still ‘de-frosting’, taking the ‘clockwise route’ via Havenstreet, Upton, Nettlestone, St. Helens to Bembridge for the 1st Tea stop & checkpoint, also gathering 1 more member, then Yarbridge, Adgestone to Alverstone for the next checkpoint, with 1 member having a’gearshift failure’, (did that slow him down, not a bit of it), Winford, Sandford, Wroxall, Upper Ventnor, to Whitwell for the 3rd Checkpoint, Niton, the long climb to Blackgang, Chale, -where a small detachment took a detour, via Chale green, Kingston & Shorewell-,others Atherfield, Yafford-, Brightstone, Mottistone to Brook, -with 1 member missing both of the quiet options, taking the shortcut on the ‘A’ Road, all back together for Freshwater to Yarmouth, for the 2nd Tea & refreshment stop & 4th Checkpoint, then Thorley, Wellow, Newbridge, Newtown, Porchfield, Gurnard, Cowes for the ‘Chain ferry’ & the 5th Checkpoint, then with some very tired legs on the last big climb, to Whippingham, Wootton Creek back to the Campsite. Total 66 Miles.
A smaller party of 4 Cyclists started from Alverstone, Newchurch, on ‘Sustrans’ route 23, Merstone, Blackwater, Newport to Cowes, the Chain ferry & Checkpoint 1 Whippingham to Wootton & Checkpoint 2, Havenstreet, Nettlestone, St. Helens to Bembridge for Tea & refreshments and Checkpoint 3, then Yarbridge to Alverstone. Total 34 Miles.
PS. 1 other Cyclist starting from Alverstone completed the longer 66 Mile route. Well done all who took part.
Evening ride to Wimb…..,er Ham
near ‘White lodge’, Richmond park
Wednesday 27th April, a very chilly Evening still saw 12, no wait 13 Cyclists leave the market place, to Skerne Rd, Lower Ham, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, Ham cross, then a bright flash, was that li…, yes lightning then thunder, more of the same, still our leader ploughed on, turning towards White lodge, slight bit of drizzle, with sn…, no sleet, but a moment later a full blown blizzard, sheltering under a tree in a thunder storm, not recommended, so lets retreat to Ham for refreshments at ‘the New Inn’, then with light but cold drizzle, via the Tudor estate, to Kingston. Total 10 Miles, 2 new faces.
Bread pudding ride to Little Venice
Brompton cemetery
Sunday 24th April. A mostly cloud covered day with a chilly breeze, saw 23 Cyclists leave via Canbury gardens, Lower Ham rd, Aerospace estate, Ham, Ham gate of Richmond park, White lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes common, Putney, Putney bridge, Fulham, Parsons green, Stamford bridge, Brompton Cemetery, West Kensington, Kensington gardens, Hyde park, Paddington, Paddington basin, Grand union canal to Little Venice for lunch at ‘the Warwick castle’, afterwards back to the Canal, via Kensal green & Willesden to Park Royal, then West Acton, (where the first visit of the day from the ‘P fairy’, caused Tony to abandon the ride as he didn’t have a spare tube, lesson to all me thinks, carry a spare tube for your bike,) Acton central, to Acton park cafe for Tea & BP, then South Acton, Chiswick park, (with a small breakaway being ‘shepherded back on course by Mike), Chiswick green, Grove park, (where the second visit from the ‘P fairy’, being swiftly repaired, but a ‘forward party needing onward travel, led by Steve, continuing), Chiswick bridge, Mortlake, (with a ‘flooded towpath & Road), East Sheen, Sheen gate of Richmond park, White lodge, Ham cross, Kingston gate to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, 3 new faces. Special thanks to Mike & Steve, as well as others for help in marshaling the ride, and of course thanks to John for the BP, and acting as backmarker. The map below is from a new ‘App’, I’m trialing, so let me know if you have any comments.
Kingston Cycling Campaign 