Bread Pudding ride to Maida Vale

Sunday 21st April. A mostly cloudy day, with patches of Sun, with a chilly Head wind, after 2 late cancellations, saw 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, White Lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge- joined by 1 more (20)-,Fulham, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park (Photo group 1), Marylebone, to Maida Vale for lunch at the charming Carlton Tavern rebuilt , Kilburn, Westbourne Park, North Kensington, Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith, Hammersmith Bridge (Photo group 2), Barnes, East Sheen, to Palewell Common, only to find the Cafe had shut early, so waiting briefly for group 2, then Sheen Gate, to the Pen Ponds Cafe for refreshments, Ham Cross, Kingston Gate, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to Ellie & Chris F for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2162317

Group 2 Hammersmith Bridge- will they get nabbed by security ?…..

Bread pudding ride to Eton

A bright largely Sunny day, with a strong blustery wind, after 2 no shows, & 1 very late booking saw 24 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Lower Sunbury, Haliford, Shepperton, Laleham, Staines, Staines Bridge, Egham, Englefield Green, Bishops gate of Windsor Great Park, the Village (Photo group 1), Rangers Gate, Spital Meadow, Windsor, to Eton for lunch at the Watermans Arms, -alas group 1 losing touch with with One of the party-, the Brocas, a brief visit to the Jubilee River path, Datchet, Wraysbury, Hythe end, to Lammas Park for Tea & refreshments, Staines, Ashford, Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 41 Miles, 2 new faces, Special thanks to Steve F for leading group 2, thanks to Celia & John E for back marking each group. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/530830

Update: The ‘lost sheep’ successfully found his way home, albeit via a less scenic route.

Group 1 at The Village Pond Windsor Great Park, with a mystery foreign object ! I blame the Photographers assistant.

Group 2 with a very faint Windsor Castle in the background: Steve F.

2 Part ride to Sunbury & Epsom

Sunday 24th March A mostly bright day, with a slightly chilly wind, after 4 late cancellations, saw 18 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth Common, Esher, Walton, Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury for a superb lunch at the ‘Flower Pot (Brakspear), more Sunbury, Hampton, Bushy Park (Photo), Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 17 Miles, Thanks to Steve F for back marking, thanks to Bai for leading a couple of sections.

Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/2551761.www.plotaroute.com/route/2551761.

Bushy Park: Lindsay

Part 2 Saying farewell to 11 welcome to just 1 fresh face, 8 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor, Cuddington, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, Nescot path, to Alexandra Park for refreshments at Park view Cafe, Ewell village, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 15 Miles, Total 32 Miles. Thanks to John E for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2559381

Bread pudding ride to Ripley

Sunday 18th February, with a ‘Yellow weather warning for Rain’ & Network rail deciding belatedly that they needed to cancel all trains via Wimbledon, not too surprising that 8 cancelled, yet 18 Cyclists did gather for a largely sunny day, so via Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, -a newly completed Cycle path in Cobham 👍-, Downside -a few Puddles & some residual mud on Plough Lane-, Hatchford, Ockham, to Ripley for lunch at the Jovial Sailor (Baron Pubs)- joined by 1 more for lunch (a late starter), & 1 more after lunch (20), Send Marsh (almost a missed turn), Newark Priory (Photo), Pyrford Lock, Muddy lane- sadly lived up to it’s name👎 -, Byfleet, Brooklands park- having to weave through the Funfair 🙄-, a little more mud, Weybridge, Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Rd, to Surbiton for Tea & refreshments at a new venue ‘Ex Cellar’ Cafe, to finish back in Kingston. 32 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading & for wisely going with Plough lane, thanks to Celia for back marking & others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1557141

With Newark Priory in the background: Lindsay

Bread pudding ride to Staines

A rather breezy day, Dry & a lot warmer than of late. With 4 late cancellations & 2 no shows, it was not the record number for a January ride that might have been, still 22 Cyclists split into 2 groups, left via Piortsmouth Rd, Giggshill green- collecting 1 more for group 1-, Weston Green, Esher, Walton on Thames- with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’ for group 1, thus group 2 took the lead-, Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Chertsey Bridge, Chertsey, Thorpe- with a 2nd visit from the ‘P fairy’, this time for an E bike, without the know-how, to remove the rear Wheel, the victim had a long walk to Staines for a Train 👎-, Egham Hythe, Staines Bridge, to Staines for lunch at the rather busy George (Wetherspoons), -swiftly served all the same-, with a much stronger Wind, but mostly from behind, 👍Knowle Green, Ashford, Sunbury, Hanworth, Hampton, to Bushy Park- with group 2 (still in the lead), deciding to forego a Tea stop, thus a rather early finish, group 1 did stop at the Pheasantry for Tea & refreshments-, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, 2 new faces, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to Toni & Steve D for back marking each group, 2 visits from the ‘P fairy’.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2348333

Group 2 Bushy Park: Bai

Wh’d have thought, virtually the same spot, different angle: Lindsay

Bread pudding ride to Pimlico

Sunday 7th January, after 1 late booking & 1 cancellation, with a bright Sunny morning, mostly cloud after lunch, the first ride of 2024 set off from New Malden with 20 Cyclists, via Raynes park, South Wimbledon, the Wandle trail – collecting 1 more-, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common- suddenly with an icy headwind-, Stockwell, the Oval, Vauxhall, Vauxhall Bridge, to Pimlico for lunch at ‘the White Swan’ (McMullens), then Wesdtminster (Photo), CS3, Southwark Bridge, Bermondsey, CS14, CS10, Burgess Park, Camberwell, Loughborough, Brockwell Park, -where the hoped for indoor Cafe, was closed for a refit, so Al-fresco Tea stop & No Bread pudding-, Tulse Hill, Streatham Hill, Tooting Bec Common, Tooting, Myrna Gardens, Colliers wood, a bit more Wandle trail, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Cannon hill Common, Motspur park to finish back in New Malden. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Chris & John E for back marking & others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/933539.

With a recently refurbished Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben): Lindsay

Christmas special ride to Thames Ditton

Sunday 10th December, with several lightweight or Fairweather Cyclists (albeit some with very good health reasons), with a dry start, but only 2 minutes down the Road, the drizzle started 👎, a total of 22 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Malden Manor, Cuddington, Stoneleigh, West Ewell, Chessington, Claygate, Hinchley wood, to Thames Ditton, -for lunch at a new venue forr us-, also finding another 13 guests, the Limping Fox, very welcoming, friendly staff & great Food & Drink, after thank-you speecch’s from myself, with a thankyou Book for Mags, (supplied by Amy), a special prize for ‘Lifetime achievement’ for John Dunn, together with a collection to thank him for all his efforts from the last 24 Years & his fantastic company (we do still hope to persuade him to join us once in a while), with Bai saying a few words of thanks to me on behalf of everyone, for my leadership over the year, with many then heading for home or Train, 15 were still happy for an afternoon Ride, a slightly shorter route than planned via Ember court, Molesey, to Molesey Cricket club for Tea & Bread pudding at Miss Polly’s, -almost losing 4 people because of a Lights problem-, return to Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in the Market place. Total 21 Miles, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Jon W for back marking each group, & an extra big thank-you to John D for all the BP’s over the past 24 years.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/527788

Group 1 near Hogsmill River: Lindsay

Group 2 almost exactly the same spot, how did they know ? : Bai

2 Part ride to Chessington & Kingston

Sunday 26th November. Part 1. After 2 late cancellations, a mostly cloudy morning saw 16 Cyclists leave the Market via Kingston Bridge, Thames Towpath, Hampton Court, Molesey, Molesey Common (Photo), Esher, Littleworth Common, Claygate, to Chessington for lunch at the North Star (Ember Inns),- joined by 1 more-, more Chessington, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 15 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking & others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2086965

Part 2 With some very light Drizzle (or Mizzle), saying farewell to 8, hello to 5, 14 Cyclists left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Cannon Hill Common, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands, Cranes park, to the Guildhall, -also with 2 special guests John’s Girlfriend Anita & his Brother Peter-, to share Tea & Bread Pudding with the Mayor of Kingston (Councillor White), in the Mayors parlour, also the Mayor said a few words in Tribute to our wonderful Bread Pudding maker, John Dunn, who has decided he needs a rest from Cycling & ‘slaving over a hot stove’, after almost 24 wonderful years, – I know l speak for all who joined today’s rides, & all those who have ever enjoyed Johns company and/ or the delicious Bread pudding, we are going to miss you!! Total 12 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking, very special thanks to John for the BP, thanks to Jon White, the Mayor & Brian the Mace bearer, for inviting us for Tea. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2451305

The group with Kingston Mayor, & 2 special guests: Brian, Mace bearer

Mayors Consort Jon, John Dunn, & Mayor, Diane White (L to R)

Bread pudding ride to Little Bookham

Sunday 12th November, with light Drizzle to start, & slightly heavier Drizzle after Tea, after 4 late cancellations & 1 no show, 17 Cyclists were asked to walk away from the Market place, to Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton- joined by 1 more recruit, Hinchley wood, to pause for the 2 minute silence at 11am, followed by a reading of ‘For the Fallen’,by Laurence Binyon, ‘They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old from Andrea, then Esher- with a slipped Chain swiftly sorted-, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, Bookham Common, to Little Bookham for lunch at Ye olde Windsor Castle (Chef & Brewer), only had capacity for the 8 booked in advance, despite the website suggesting other meals could be taken in the Bar area 👎, more Bookham, Fetcham, (Photo), Leatherhead, Ashtead, Ashtead Common, Epsom Common to Epsom for Tea & Bread pudding at Old Moat Garden centre Cafe, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, thanks to Celia for back marking, thanks to Toni & Bai for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1814953

Bread pudding ride to Brockley

Sunday 22nd October. With the Kingston half Marathon, starting in the Market place, a New Malden start seemed best. A gorgeous Sunny day, with 2 late cancellations, 17 Cyclists left via the Beeline, Raynes park, South Wimbledon, Colliers wood, a newly resurfaced path in Myrno nature reserve, Tooting, Tooting Bec Common- joined by 1 more member-, Streatham Hill- dropping by to say hello to 1 regular currently indisposed after a recent op-, Tulse Hill, Brockwell Park, Dulwich, Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park, Nunhead, to Brockley for lunch at the’ Brockley Barge’ (Wetherspoons), – a quick adjustment to 1 gear shifter-, more Brockley, Ladywell fields, Catford, Pool river path (Photo), Lower Sydenham, Cator Park, Beckenham, South Norwood country Park, South Norwood, Heavers Meadow, Selhurst, Thornton heath, to Norbury for Tea & Bread pudding at Moon under Water (a 2nd Spoons of the day), Lonesome, Mitcham,, Morden Hall Park, Morden, Morden Park, Lower Morden, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 32 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking, thanks to Chris F & Yee-liu for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2415136

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bread pudding ride