Bread pudding ride to Ripley

With Grey overcast skies, & just a few drips & drops of rain, after 2 cancellations, 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, then via Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile- with group 1 having a visit from the ‘P fairy, thus group 2 took the lead-, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to Ripley for lunch at the Jovial Sailor (Barons pubs), now with Blue skies & some Sun, still with group 2 in front, via Send Marsh, Newark- taking advantage of the ‘closed Road’-, (Photo, group 1), Pyrford, a brief visit to the Wey navigation, Byfleet village, Brooklands Park (Photo group 2), -somehow Group 1 managed to grab the lead back 🙄-, Weybridge, Walton, Molesey, to Molesey Cricket club for Tea & refreshments at Miss Polly’s, East Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 33 Miles, 1 special guest, having last joined us over 10 years ago! Special thanks to Celia for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Andrea C for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1557141

Group 1 with Newark Priory in the background, fortuitously with a closed Road: Lindsay
Group 2, Brooklands Park, Group 1 even tried to Photobomb the shot, but they did snatch the lead back instead: Celia

Midweek ride to Northolt

Wednesday 18th February. Just when I was beginning to think we had passed the worst of Winter, the weather gods, decided to send an Icy blast. so not too surprising, 7 cancelations, & 1 no show, thus only 1 group of 10 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Fulwell, a short bit of River Crane path, Whitton, Hounslow, Osterley, Osterley Park,- with our leader suffering a minor mechanical issue, time to put the ‘spare leader’ to good use-, problem sorted, Norwood Green, Southall, Greenford, Northala Fields, to Northolt for lunch at the Greenwood Hotel, ( a spctacular Art Deco interior), now with a Freezing Headwind, a bit more Greenford, Hanwell, the Boston road path, Brentford & a lovely area with Georgian houses (18th C) (Photo)- the Butts, to Syon Park for Tea & refreeshments at the Clocktower Cafe, Isleworth- to find the Thames somewhat overflowing, (Photo), not being easy to assess how deep until after, we dismounted & walked the short distance on a higher path-, Cole park, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, special thanks to Mags for taking the lead briefly, thanks to Steve D & John E for sharing the back marking duties.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/714331

The Butts, Brentford: Lindsay
Isleworth, under water.

Challenge ride to Downe

Sunday 8th February. A mostly Cloudy but dry day saw 17 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave New Malden, via Motspur park, North Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton, Bedddington Park, Waddon, Croydon, Selhurst- joined by 1 more for group 1-, Heavers Meadow, Woodside, Ashburton Field, Shirley, West Wickham, Coney Hall, Keston, to Downe for lunch at the super friendly Queens Head, a detour to see Down House, home of Charles Darwin, for both groups (photo), then splitting again, High Elms, Farnborough (not that one), Orpington, Crofton, Southborough, Norman Park, Bromley, to Beckenham for Tea & refreshments at Kelsey Park Cafe- despite the Main gate being closed-, with a re-jig of the Groups, 1 returning to New Malden, gr 2 for those who might want to head for other destinations, Elmers End, a strategic decision to avoid South Norwood Park which would likely be quite Marshy after recent Rain, so Beckenham Cemetery instead, South Norwood, Heavers Meadow, Thornton heath, Pollards hill, Mitcham, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 45 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Nigel for leading group 2, thanks to Celia & Andrea E for back marking each group.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/699556

Groups 1 & 2 at Down House: Lindsay

Bread Pudding ride to Woodmansterne

Sunday 11th January. A rather chilly overcast day, with 1 no show, 17 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Beeline (Photo group 1), Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Merton park, Morden Hall Park, Ravensbury Park, Wandle trail, to Hackbridge, Carshalton, Little Woodcote, to Woodmansterne for lunch at the Woodman- also with the 1 no show-, (very swift food service), Banstead, Burgh Heath, a very blustery cold Tattenham corner (Photo group 2), Epsom- with a visit from the ‘P fairy’, the victim deciding to leave the ride, for a more direct route home-, Epsom Common to the ‘Old Moat Garden centre Cafe’ for tea & refreshments, -now very chilly, a slightly more direct route than planned, & just 1 group- West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, special thanks to Celia for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Ellie for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/623630

Group 1 with the ‘Beeline Badger’: Lindsay
Group 2, a windswept Tattenham Corner: Celia