Bread pudding ride to Little Bookham

Long Ditton

Sunday 20th October, a largely Sunny morning, with grey clouds in the Afternoon, saw 28 Cyclists leave via, Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & greenway, West Ewell, Hogsmill path, Long grove Park, Ashtead Common, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham to Little Bookham for lunch at ‘Ye olde Windsor Castle’,- with a select few opting to visit the ‘Vineries Garden centre Cafe’-, re-gathering, Effingham, Martyr’s Green, Hatchford, Cobham, the Fairmile estate, Portsmouth Rd to Claremont Lake Cafe, (NT) for Tea & Bread pudding, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, (belated Photo), Surbiton, a brief look at the Surbiton Rd & Penrhyn Rd works, to Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 4 new Faces, thanks to Mike for back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/954549

Challenge ride to Woking

HG Wells Statue, Woking

Sunday 6th October. After a night of very heavy rain, a pleasantly dry day, with the Leader a tad late on parade, due to almost forgetting his money ! Saw 12 Cyclists manage to dodge the ‘Half Marathon’, (staying alert for any huge Puddles), leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, -with 1 extra Cyclist, delayed due to a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, finding us-, Lower Sunbury, -with the first of Three encounters with the ‘Palace to Palace’ Cyclists, leading to 1 of our number briefly joining there group, but thanks to ‘good Shepherding’ by Chris F,- Shepperton, 2nd meeting with ‘P to P’, Chertsey Bridge, with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’ & a wrong Spare causing the victim to head for the Train, 😦 Chertsey Meads, Addlestone, Homewood Park, 3rd time with ‘P to P’, (even confusing their Marshal’s by not following the direction 😉), Dunstall green, Coxhill green to Woking, (with confusing Road works, hiding the Cycle lane, 😦), for lunch at the ‘Herbert Wells’, (Wetherspoons), pausing at the Statue for ‘HG Wells’ (Photo), -who lived locally whilst writing ‘War of the Worlds’, hence many links to the Author in & around Woking, and some of the local Cycle routes, named after various Planets, as a tribute to him-, Basingstoke Canal path, Wey Navigation path, Byfleet, Brooklands community Park, Weybridge, Burwood park, to Hersham Garden centre for Tea & Bread pudding, Hersham, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd track to Kingston. Total 38 Miles, thanks to Steve D for back marking, & others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP, 1 visit from the ‘P Fairy’.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/943475

Bread pudding ride to Pimlico

Victoria Embankment & the Elizabeth Tower

Sunday 22nd September, a bright start, with a wet day forecast, didn’t deter 17 Cyclists remember the start from New Malden, via West Barnes, Cannon Hill, Merton park, South Wimbledon, the ‘Wandle trail’ to Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Clapham, Vauxhall, ‘Cycle super highway 5’, (CS5), across Vauxhall Bridge to Pimlico for lunch at the very Popular ‘White Swan’, fortuitously the 1 heavy Shower occuring whilst we enjoyedd lunch, but with light drizzle & more predicted, 3 people decided to find an alternative option, the remainder continued via Westminster, to CS3 & Victoria Embankment, (Photo with ~~Big Ben~~, the Elizabeth Tower, swathed in Scaffolding), to Southwark Bridge, -alas we had all forgotten our ‘Yoga mats’, so were unable to join the fun on Tower Bridge, see BBC report -, Southwark, where a navigational mishap led to Kennington, Kennington Park, instead of Burgess Park, back on track in Loughborough, Brockwell Park, with ‘threatening’ Black clouds, a ‘strategic decision was taken for an indoor Tea & Bread pudding stop at ‘Brockwell hall Cafe’, Tulse hill, Streatham Hill, Tooting Bec Common, Tooting, Colliers wood, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, & the still lovely new track to New Malden. Total 31 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to John E for back marking, and many others for marking corners, as always, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/933539 with the ‘intended route’ marked with Red dashes.

2 part ride to Cheam & Sunbury

Hogsmill open space, West Ewell. credit: Rob R

Sunday 8th September. Part 1. A mostly Sunny day saw 18 Cyclists leave via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & the greenway, the Bonesgate path, Horton Country Park, (with a freshly laid uncomfortable Gravel path), West Ewell, -with a visit from the ‘P fairy’, (a Tack the culprit),- A short bit of Hogsmill Path (Photo), Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, to Cheam village for lunch at ‘Ye Olde Red Lion’, North Cheam, Worcester Park, New Malden, Berrylands to Kingston. Sub-total, 16 Miles, 4 new Faces, thanks to Steve F for back marking, & others for marking corners, 1 vist from the ‘P Fairy’.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/924647

Note: I’ve added a nicer alternative return route, (Red Dashed line), slightly longer, with a level Crossing, which might have hindered our journey, but much more pleasant, if time is not an issue.

Part 2 Saying farewell to 10 & welcome 7 fresh faces, still with Sunny Skies, 15 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd track, Giggshill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Ashley park, Walton Bridge, Shepperton, Haliford, to Sunbury for Tea & Bread pudding at the ‘Walled garden’, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge. Sub-total 16 Miles, Total 32 Miles, thanks to Karen for back marking, & others for marking corners, thanks to John for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/924654

Bread pudding ride to West Horsley

Prince’s Coverts Credit: Andrea D

Sunday 25th August. A hot, (even Sultry) Sunny day saw 23 Cyclists leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Hatchford, Ockham, to West Horsley for lunch at the Barley Mow, alas they weren’t serving food, the select few that self catered where happy to stay, but the majority who did want food continued a bit further to the ‘ King William the IV’, regrouping after lunch, via East Horsley, Effingham, Bookham, Fetcham, Fetcham Mill Pond, Leatherhead, Prince’s Coverts, (Photo), Claygate, to Long Ditton, for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Squires Garden centre’, Surbiton, to Kingston. Total 31 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to John E for back marking & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/912831

Challenge ride to Old Farleigh

Ashburton Field, with the Crystal palace Masts Credit: Ian G

Sunday 11th August, a mostly bright, Sunny day, with a gusty Breeze, saw 22, with 1 more joining us as we exited the Market place, so 23 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, New Malden, Motspur park, Joseph Hood Park, Pyl Brook path, Benhilton, Wrythe Green, Hackbridge, Beddington Park, Wallington, Waddon, South Croydon, Sanderstead, Kings Wood, Warlingham, to Old Farleigh for a splendid lunch at ‘the Harrow’, then via Fickleshole, -with a minor Road rage incident, causing 1 of our party to take a tumble, 😦, – but spirits lifted with a Flypast by a fantastic Spitfire, Coney hall, Shirley, Ashburton Field (Photo), Woodside, Heavers Meadow, Thornton heath, Norbury, Lonesome, Mitcham, to Mordon Hall Park for Tea & Breadpudding, then Morden, Cannon Hill, Raynes park, the new link to New Malden,- with everyone loving the new route,- the Cut, Mount pleasant, Norbiton, Farefield to Kingston. Total 44 Miles, 2 new faces, thanks to Steve D for Back marking, and many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP & thanks to Ian for the Photo, thanks also to Mike for some of this route.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/821611

Train assisted ride from Wokingham

Smith’s Lawn, Polo field, Windsor great Park, credit: Jon White

Sunday 21st July. A largely overcast day, with some brighter spells, & some threatening clouds at lunch. With Network Rail having scuppered the original plan for today’s ride, a valient 26 Cyclists, made there way to Wokingham, leaving via the Holt, Cantley Park, the Warren, Binfield, Priestwood, Wick Hill, Chestnut path, Harvest Ride, Chavey Down, (very un chavey ?), Mill ride, North Ascot, Ascot Racecourse, with a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, swiftly repaired, Cheapside, to Sunningdale for lunch at the very hospitable ‘Nags Head’, (finding 1 extra person, already enjoying a Beer, later joined by 1 more, but also 2 of the original group departing), with 1 meal delivered a bit late, Blacknest gate of Windsor great Park, Smith’s Lawn Polo field, (Photo), the Totem Pole, Virginia Water gate,- with a Park Ranger recognising our Leader as ‘a Legend’, 🙂 -, Virginia Water, Lyne, Bretlands, Addlestone, Victory Park, Portmore park, Weybridge, to Walton Bridge for Tea & BP at Gino’s, -with a change of back marker, due to other commitments,- Walton on Thames, Walton park, Esher, Weston green, Giggshill Green, Portsmouth Rd to Kingston. Total 34 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Karen & John E for back marking, and many others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/243158

Bread pudding ride to Northolt

Northala Fields, Northolt

Sunday 7th July, A mostly Cloudy morning, with very light Drizzle, followed by a Sunny afternoon, saw 15 Cyclists leave via Kings Rd, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Ham cross, White lodge, Sheen gate, Sheen, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Strand on the green, Brentford, South Ealing, West Ealing, Hanwell, Greenford, Grand union Canal towpath, -with a Duck unwilling to give way, or take flight, slowing progress a little 🙂,- to Northolt for lunch at ‘the Crown’, then Northala fields, (Photo), Greenford, Southall, Norwood Green, Osterley Park, Isleworth, St Margerets, to Marble Hill Park for Tea & BP, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & Kingston Bridge. Total 30 Miles, Thanks to Steve D for back marking, & many others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the Bread pudding.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/870952

2 part ride ride to Chessington & Molesey

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.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/860027

Bread pudding ride toThorpe

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.

Map:-www.plotaroute.com/route/849407

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bread pudding ride