Christmas special ride to Hersham

Sunday 7th December. A warmer than average December day, but with Rain in the Forecast, not too much of a surprise, many had elected to go straight to the Pub, with 1 no show, 22 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Lower Sunbury, Walton Bridge, Walton on Thames, to Hersham for our pre ordered lunch at the Royal George (Morgan Collective), ( a new venue for us), – joined by the 1 no show from the start, plus another 6 (29)-, after my speech about Highs, a number of new rides & lows, the loss of our really good friend Bai, also the shared support riders this year, Andrea C & Celia both took up the mantle, left from Bai, helping to lead a group when needed, Steve D then replied with thanks to me for leading so many rides, then announcing that to cel;ebrate my 25 years leading an estimated 1000 plus rides, a collection had been organised, then l recieved a bulging envelope & a card signed by many, many faces, thank-you all – a heavy shower fortuitously occuring during lunch-, but no appetite for a Tea stop, a bit more Hersham, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in Kingston. Total 19 Miles. Special thanks to Steve F for leading group 2, 2 new faces, thanks to John E & Ellie for back marking each group.

Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/3138106

Thre Christmas Jumper collection: Tracey

Bread pudding ride to Northolt

Sunday 9th November. A Bright if slightly chilly Morning, more overcast & a slight headwind afternoon. With 1 no show (possibly lost somewhere in the town, we did speak a little later, but couldn’t quite meet up), with 1 unexpected guest, 22 Cyclists, split into 2 groups, leave via Kingston Bridge, Teddington, Strawberry hill, Twickenham, Kneller Gardens, Whitton- 1 more for group 1-, also pausing for the 2 minutes Silence, then 2 readings from Andrea E, firstly 3 verses from ‘in Flanders Fields’, (John McRae), then 1 verse from ‘for the Fallen’ (Laurence Binyon), Hounslow, Isleworth, Osterley, Osterley Park (Photo Group 2), Norwood Green, Southall, Northala Fields, to Northolt for lunch at ‘the Crown’ (Sizzling Pubs), – a small slip approaching the Bridge over the Canal, soon remounted-, a short bit of Grand union Canal path (Photo group 1), Greenford, Perivale, Pitshanger Park, North Ealing, Ealing Common, South Acton, Chiswick Green, Grove park, Chiswick Bridge, Mortlake, to Palewell Common, – with perfect timing, Ranjeet had just closed, but very kindly agreed to serve some Tea, Hot Chocolate & other refreshments-. Sheen gate Richmond Park, -sadly we observed the Ambulance service attending to a fallen Cyclist, (not 1 of us)-, Ham gate, Latchmere, to finish back in Kingston. 30 Miles, special thanks to Andrea C for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Andrea E for back marking each group.Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3153734

Bread Pudding ride to Pyrford Lock

A Bright but Chilly day, with some light drizzle as we finished, after 1 cancellation, 1 un-cancellatiion, 1 no show, 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton- 1 more for group 1 (20)-, East Molesey, West Molesey, Walton, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet village, Wisley to Pyrford Lock for lunch at the Anchor (Hall & Woodhouse), a bit more Wisley, Wisley Bridge, Ockham, Hatchford, Cobham, (Photo Group 2), Fairmile, to Claremont Lakes for Tea & refreshments, Esher, Littleworth Common (Photo group 1), Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 2 new faces, special thanks to Celia for leading group 2, thanks to Steve F & Andrea C for back marking each group.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2006267

Special Tribute for Bai ride

Sunday 28th September. A mostly overcast day, with occasional light drizzle, after 2 late cancellations, & 1 unexpected guest, 22 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Skerne Rd, North Kingston, Norbiton, New Malden, Malden Manor, Cuddington, Auriol Park- busy with many youngsters coming & going from Football games-, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, Higher Green, Epsom Downs, Tatttenham Corner, to Tadworth, for lunch at the Blue Anchor (M & B),- 5 more joined (27)-, Walton on the Hill, Walton Heath, Lower Kingswood, to Chipstead for a very special extended Tea stop at our good friend Andrea’s home & Woodland Garden- also joined by a few non Cycling friends-, after a few speech’s in tribute to Bai, more Chipstead, Banstead, East Ewell, Ewell village, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 32 Miles, special thanks to Andrea E for hosting the delightful Tea stop, special thanks to Andrea C for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Celia for back marking each group. The Photo montage page is still open, if you have any memories to share; https://photos.app.goo.gl/oZCgUjcP3UeWnQva6

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/3075810

Bread pudding ride to Addlestone

Sunday 17th August. A glorious sunny day saw 21Cyclists- hang on, there’s 1 extra who hadn’t booked (22)-, split into 2 groups, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, – Oh look my Limo, no wait, they’ve sent 2 identical, no there’s even more, turns out they were celebrating 60 Years since the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow first appeared-, Byfleet, New Haw, Rowtown, to Addllestone for lunch at the Pelican, -next to the Wey Navigation-, Victory Park, Chertsey Mead, (Photo group 1), Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton, Halliford, to Lower Sunbury for Tea & refreshments at the walled Garden, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 1 new face, special thanks to Mags for leading group 2, thanks to Ellie & Will for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1868983

A rather ‘unruly group 2’, near Brooklands Museum.

One of the more colourful Silver Shadow’s, Brooklands: John R

Bread pudding ride to Harmondsworth

Sunday 27th July. A mostly overcast but dry day, a subdued mood & a Minutes silence following the sudden death of our good friend Bai, with 1 no show, 16 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Stanwell, Stanwell moor, Poyle, Harmondsworth Moor- with a pile of Garden rubbish seemingly deliberately blocking the exit from the path👎-, to Harmondsworth for lunch at the Crown (very good value grub 👍), after a quick visit to the Great Barn, Sipson, Harlington- including a special Water feature in the Subway under the M4, was it a message from our friend now in heaven, to remind us all of a similar incident when he found himself in much deeper water a few years ago?-, Hayes, Grand union Canal towpath, Southall, Norwood Green, – sadly the P fairy had payed a visit to 1, but as we were so close to our Tea stop in Osterley Park, others continued, whilst the repair was swiftly performed-, after pausing at the House for a Photo, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingstoon Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, 1 almost new visitor (6 years or so since last visit), thanks to Chris F for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/840250

Train assisted ride to Windlesham

Sunday 13th July. after 5 cancellations, we settled on 1 group, not 2 as planned, 13 Cyclists left via Woking- including diisrupting a Street party preperations 🎉-,St Johns, Basingstoke Canal path, Brookwood, Bisley, West end, to Windlesham for lunch at the Brickmakers, Gracious Pond, Homewood Park (Photo), Addlestone, Weybridge to Walton Bridge for Tea & refreshments at Wilde Brunch,- alas 1 member had a rear wheel issue, so headed for the Train-, Walton- with a bit of chaos & confusion, somehow the rear of the group had overtaken the front, order soon restored-, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd, to fiinish back in Kingston. Total 32 Miles, thanks to Andrea for back marking, thanks to Bai for being ready to lead group 2. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/608710

Bread pudding ride to Iver

Sunday 29th June. A largely Sunny day, with a hot humid afternoon, after 4 late cancellations, 11 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Teddington, Fulwell, River Crane path, Whitton- joined by 1 more (12)-, Hounslow Heath, West Hounslow, Cranford, Harlington, Sipson, West Drayton, Thorney, to Iver for lunch at the Red Lion (Chef & Brewer), Langley Park (Photo), Langley, Dittton Park, Colnbrook, Poyle, Stanwell Moor, Stanwell, Bedfont, Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton, Bushy Park to the Pheasantry for mostly cooling refreshments, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 36 Miles, thanks to Steve D for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2773

2 part ride to New Malden & Epsom

Sunday 8th June. Part 1, A mostly sunny morning, sometimes with a Chilly breeze, or a mini heatwave, if the wind dropped. 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, via Portsmouth Rd, Surbiton, Tolworth- where a loose bag, led to a delay for group 1, enabling group 2 to catch & pass-, Sunray, Malden Manor, Worcester park, Lower Morden, Morden Park, Ravensbury Park, Morden Hall Park (Photo group 1), Merton park, Wimbledon chase, Raynes park, to New Malden (Photo group 2), for lunch at a new venue, the Royal Oak (Mosaic Pubs), Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 16 Miles, thanks to Bai for leading group 1, thanks to Toni & Neil for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2893390

Group 2, Beeline way with the ‘Acorn sculpture’: Lindsay

Part 2 Still mostly sunny, saying farewell to 10, & hello to 4 fresh faces, 13 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor (again), Auriol Park, Stoneleigh, West Ewell, Epsom to Old Moat Garden centre Cafe for Tea & refreshments, more West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Sub-Total 15 Miles, total 31 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1684604

Bread pudding ride to Camberwell

Sunday 18th May. A rather chilly overcast morning, with warmer Sunshine later in the day. After 1 cancellation, 16 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands- a slipped chain soon fixed-, New Malden- a log-jam with Cars, led to a small detour-, Motspur park, Cannon Hill, Morden, Morden Hall Park, Mitcham, Tooting- collecting 1 more (17)-, Tooting Bec Common, Streatham Hill, Brockwell Park, Dulwich Village, Greendale, to Cammberwell for lunch at a new venue for us, the Fox on the Hill (Wetherspoons), Ruskin Park (Photo), Loughborough, Brixton, South Clapham, Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, a brief part of Wandle Trail, Earlsfield, to Wimbledon Park for refreshments at the Cafe, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking & several others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2899320

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bread pudding ride