Sunday 22nd May. A warm bright day, with our regular leader away, ‘enjoying himself’ in Ireland, after 3 cancellations, 18 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Feltham, Ashford, Stanwell, Poyle, to Wraysbury for lunch at ‘the George’,- with a visit from the ‘P fairy (see Photo)-, Staines, Laleham, a brief visit to the Thames Towpath, Shepperton, to Walton Bridge for Tea & Bread pudding at Wilde Bunch, Walton, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in Kingston. Total 32 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading this ride, thanks to Mike F for back marking, thanks to Amy & John E for Marshalling corners etc, thanks to John D for the BP.
Sunday 8th May. A gorgious Sunny day after 2 late cancellations, 15 Cyclists left the Market place via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth, -gathering 1 extra-, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, Effingham, White down, Abinger, to Holmbury St Mary for lunch at the delightful Royal Oak,- joined by 1 more now 17 in total-, brief return to Abinger, Friday Street (Photo), Wotton, Westcott, Dorking, Norbury Farm, Hawk Hill to Bocketts Farm for Tea & Bread pudding, Leatherhead, Ashtead, Ashtead Common, Manor Park, Long grove Park, -with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, soon repaired-, West Ewell, Tolworth, Berrylands, to finish back in Kingston. Total 45 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to John E for back marking & Mike F for marshalling thanks to John D for the BP. 1 P Fairy. Map :- www.plotaroute.com/route/1900417
Sunday 24th April, A mostly Sunny day, with a blustery wind, after 4 late cancellations, with 2 late unannounced guests, 15 Cyclists in 1 group, left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Lower Sunbury, Shepperton, Chertsey Bridge, Chertsey Meads, Addlestone, Homewood Park, Dunstal green -with a very pleasant tailwind-, Chobham, Pennypot to Knaphill for lunch at the very friendly, if slightly slow food delivery, ‘Royal Oak’, then Goldsworth Park & Lake (Photo), ‘slightly astray’ (see red dotted line on Map). Woking, Byfleet, Brooklands for Tea & Bread pudding at Marks & Spencer Cafe, Brooklands Park, Weybridge, Walton, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 40 Miles, thanks to Mike F for back marking, thanks to Bai for being ready to lead a 2nd group, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1881908
Sunday 10th April, a mostly bright sunny day, after 2 cancellations, and 2 no shows, 19 Cyclists split into 2 groups, left via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley Wood, Littleworth, Claremont, – with 1 local resident a little upset that group 2 knew the way out-, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Martyr’s green, to Effingham for lunch at a very hospitable, ‘Queen Stage’ (a term used in multi-day Cycle races for the hardest stage), (Photo group 2), with 1 defection from group 1 to group 2, Bookham, Fetcham, Leatherhead, Ashtead, Ashtead Common, Epsom Common (group 1 photo), to Epsom for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘the old Moat Cafe’, with a defection from group 2 to group 1, also ‘Sat-nav’ for group 2 deciding to retire early, but ‘the Stowaway’ from lunch saved the day, West Ewell, Tolworth, Berrylands, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to Chris F & Mike F for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.
Sunday 20th March Part 1 A mostly bright Sunny morning, saw 15 Cyclists plus 1 unexpected guest, so 16, split into 2 groups, leave via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, -with 1 extra joining group 1-, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Cannon Hill (Photo group 2), Lower Morden, Worcester park, Stoneleigh, West Ewell, a brief section of Hogsmill path (Photo group 1)-, Bonesgate path to Chessington for lunch at the William Bourne (Stonegate pubs), back on the Bonesgate path, Tolworth, Surbiton to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 17 Miles, 1 new face, Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Toni for back marking each group.
Group 2 Cannon Hill Common: Bai Group 1 Hogsmill path, Ewell
Part 2, saying farewell to 8 & welcome 4 fresh faces, 13 Cyclists in 1 group left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Littleworth Common -, – with 1 member suffering a small tumble, swiftly remounted-, Esher, Molesey, to Molesey Cricket Club for Tea & Bread pudding, retraceing our route through Molesey, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd track to finish back in Kingston. Sub-total 14 Miles, Total 31 Miles, Thanks to Ellie for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Sunday 6th March, a largly bright, breezy slightly chilly day, saw 20 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park- with 1 mnore joining group 1-, Mayflower Park (a small nature reserve, next to the ‘Hamptons development’), (Photo’s), North Cheam, Cheam Park, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, Epsom, Ashtead Park, to Ashtead for lunch at the ‘Woodman’ (Ember Inns), -with the leader of group 2 feeling let down by the Pub, due to dietry issue-, a nice tailwind pushing us through Leatherhead, to Fetcham, Bookham Common, Downside, Cobham, Fairmile, to Claremont Lakes Cafe (Naional trust), Esher, Hinchley wood, -with a bit of a headwind-, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 31 Miles. Special thanks to Carl for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Amy for back marking each group.
Sunday 20th February, a very blustery day, after five cancellations saw 16 Cyclists, split into 3 groups, -group 1 getting away a little to quickly for 1 member-, leave via a cleverly designed route, with many twists & turns, so we didn’t have too much Headwind, at least I think that was the reason 🙂, Cranes Park, King Charles Bridge, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Giggshill green, Thames Ditton, Molesey, Walton, Walton Bridge -group 3 joined by 1 more Cyclist-, Shepperton, Laleham, Thames Towpath, to Staines for lunch at the very Hospitable ‘Wheatsheaf & Pigeon’, (now with a nice Tailwind at times), Ashford, Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton Hill, to Bushy Park (Photo group 3) for Tea & Bread pudding at the Pheasantry, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 28 Miles, Special thanks to Carl & Bai for leading groups 2 & 3, thanks to John E, Chris F, & Ellie for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.
Note: Alas my Camara seems to have given up, hence no group 1 Photo.
Sunday 6th February, a very blustery day, but otherwise dry, apart from 1 short afternoon shower, having a record 27 registered for this Challenge ride, but with 5 cancellations, also 1 of group 1 missing the start, but arriving in time to join group 3, leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, North Cheam, the Wrythe, Hackbridge, -group 1 joined by 2 more Cyclists-, Beddington Park, Wallington, Waddon, South Croydon, – with the long climb to Sanderstead, leaving 1 member of group 1 deciding to ‘de-layer’ some clothing-, Hamsey Green, Warlingham, to Old Farleigh for lunch at ‘the Harrow’ (Vintage Inns), after a surprise presentation Card & Evans token to John E for his impending 80th Birthday the next day,
Presentation to John for 80 fantastic Years: Christine G
-group 1 missed a turn, (maybe it was more scenic, 😉), thus enabling group 2 to take the lead-, Fickleshole, West Wickham, Shirley, Ashburton Fields, Woodside, Heavers Meadow (Photo group 1), Thornton heath, to Norbury for Tea & Bread pudding at the Moon under Water (Wetherspoons), -somehow group 3 missed a turn for the Tea stop-, Mitcham Eastfields, -where groups 1 & 2 became 1 super group,-, Morden Hall Park, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 44 Miles, 1 new face, very special thanks to Bai & Carl for leading groups 2 & 3, thanks to Mike L, Chris F & Andrea for back marking each group. Thanks to John D for the BP.
Sunday 23rd January. An overcast grey but otherwise dry day, after 2 Canncellations & 1 late addition, 18 Cyclists, in 2 groups, left via Skerne Rd, Latchmere, Ham gate Richmond Park, White lodge, -with group 2 suffering a visit from the ‘P Fairy’-, Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney- with a ‘Sat nav misdirection for group 2, Putney bridge- with 1 more joining group 1-, Fulham, Parsons Green, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Marylebone, -with a minor navigational hiccup for group 1-, to Maida Vale for lunch at the recently rebuilt Carlton Tavern ( link to Wikipedia), Kilburn, North Kensington, Shepherds bush, Hammersmith, Hammersmith Bridge, Barnes, to East Sheen for Tea & Bread pudding- Alas the Cafe had run out of Milk before the arrival of group 2-, Palewell Park Cafe, Sheen gate Richmond Park, to Kingston Gate, to finish back in Kingston.Total 29 Miles, 1 new face, Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to Ellie & Andrea for Back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP. Apologies, no Photo for group 1this time.
Sunday 9th January. A very Sunny morning, with some clouds in the Afternoon, after 1 cancellation & 2 no show’s (1 would make there own way to lunch), saw 18 Cyclists, split into 2 groups, leave via the Beeline, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Colliers wood, Tooting -with 1 more joining group 1-, Streatham, Norbury, Thornton heath, Heavers Meadow, Woodside, Ashburton field, Elmers end, to West Wickham for lunch at the Railway (Ember Inns), Shirley, Addiscombe -with a minor navigational hickup for group 1 allowing Group 2 to join the photo stop in Lloyd Park -, South Croydon, Duppas hill, Beddington, to Beddington Park, for a very S…..l….o….w Tea stop & Bread pudding, (group 2 wisely electing not to stop for Tea), Hackbridge, Wandle trail, Morden, Morden Park, Lower Morden, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 31 Miles, special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to Mike F & John E for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.
Kingston Cycling Campaign 