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.
The New Malden to Raynes Park off-road cycling and walking route will be opening from 11am on Saturday 13 July 2019. Kingston Council will be holding a family fun day to celebrate the opening of the route.
More information on the opening can be found on the Council’s website.
Why not pop along and give it a try?
Background
The New Malden to Raynes Park route is a new off-road cycling and walking route being built as one of the Mini Holland (or ‘Go Cycle’) projects . These projects involve upgrading roads and routes across the Borough of Kingston to make it easier and safer to cycle and walk. Further information on the Mini Holland/Go Cycle projects can be found on the Council’s website.
The New Malden to Raynes Park link starts next to New Malden station (linking to the existing ‘Cut’ cycle and walking route to Elm Road) and continues parallel with the railway line and then past Raynes Park Recreation Ground to the existing cycle route on Coombe Lane (via Taunton Avenue and West Barnes Lane). It will also be possible to access the route from Alric and Dukes Avenue via a ramp.
Photo of the New Malden to Raynes Park cycle and pedestrian paths in construction (photo dated 26 May 2019)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
In the June 2019 edition:
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’.
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.
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.
Kingston Cycling Campaign 