Sunday 17th September. After 2 late cancellations & 1 no show, with darkening Skies, 13 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton- collecting 1 more-, Weston Green, Esher, newly resurfaced path to Hersham, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet, a brief visit to the Wey Navigation, Pyrford, Maybury, Woking, – with an internal Sat-nav failure and Mr Google not very helpful, a bit of ‘toing & froing’, at the third attempt-, to Knaphill for lunch at the very welcoming Royal Oak, perfectly timed as the Heavens opened shortly after arrival, much debate whilst eating, eventually a Battersea led rebellion decided to head back to Woking for a Train back to home turf, but 5 hardy souls continued in the Rain via Chobham, Stonehill, Ottershaw to Addlestone for a pause at the Crouch Oak- an 8 to 900 year old specimen-, settling on a shorter route, with no Tea stop & now with the Sun breaking through the clouds, Weybridge, to reverse the outward route via Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Thames Ditton to finish back in Kingston with full Sun. Total 40 Miles, thanks to Andrea & especially Celia for back marking duties, thanks to John D for the Bread pudding. Sorry no Photo this time. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2391904
bread pudding ride
Bread pudding ride to Ashtead
Sunday 20th August. A bright Sunny day, after 1 late cancellation & 2 no shows, due to navigation problem but 1 late booking & 1 unannounced visitor, 20 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside (Photo group 2), Bookham Common (a little bit of soft Mud, & a fallen Tree for group 1), Fetcham, Leatherhead, to Ashtead for lunch at the Woodman (Ember Inns), Ashtead Park (Photo group 1), Woodcote, Epsom, Nescot path, to Nonsuch Park for Tea & Bread pudding,- with group 2 taking an alternative route, due to a sat-nav malfunction-, electing to ride as 1 group for the final stretch, Worcester park, Old Malden, New Malden, Berrylands, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles, 2 new faces. Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2- & a little help from Mags-, thanks to John E & Amy for back marking each group. Special thanks to Christine for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/312617.
Group 2 near St Michaels Chapel, Downside: Bai
Train assisted Bread pudding ride to Ascot
A mostly bright Sunny day saw 12 Cyclists gather at Surbiton station, for an unusual Train direct to Wokingham, with 3 more already on board, with 2 visits to Virginia Water station, then a long wait (the vagaries of crunching 2 different rail journey’s together), upon arrival at our destination, to find 1 of the party having suffered a visit from the ‘P Fairy’, soon fixed, followed by a couple of navigational mishaps, finally escaping the Wokingham area, via Binfield, the edge of Bracknell,- only to lose track of the tail end in ‘the Chestnuts’-, a strategic decision to take a more direct route to lunch via the A329 Cycle path, to Ascot for lunch at the Stag (Greene King),- with a limited Menu due to a broken grill, the staff were surprisingly Cheerful-, then Cheapside, Windsor Great Park (Photo), Guards Polo ground, Egham Wick, Egham, Staines Bridge, Laleham, Shepperton, -now too late for the Walled Garden,- a detour to Walton Bridge & just in time for Tea & Bread Pudding at the ‘Wilde Brunch’, then a plea for help from another customer, Lindsay put her nursing skills to good use, before an Ambulance arrived to take over, Walton, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill Green, Potsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Total 34 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2329421
Bread Pudding ride to Pyrford Lock
Sunday 9th July. With Grey skies to start, followed by Bright Sunshine in the late afternoon, after 2 late cancellations & 1 late booking, 22 Cyclists, split into 2 groups, leave via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton, Molesey, Walton, Weybridge, Brooklands Park (Photo group 2), Byfleet, to Pyrford Lock for an early lunch at the Anchor (Hall & Woodhouse), (with a little confusion over Vegetable deliveries), -conbining as 1 group for a short stretch, Pyrford, Wanham gates, Ripley Green-, Ockham, Hatchford, Cobham, Fairmile, to Claremont lakes (NT) for Tea & Bread pudding, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Andrea E for back marking, thanks to Christine for the BP at very short notice.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2313436
Group 2 near Brooklands Museum.
2 part ride to Morden & Molesey
Part 1, with numbers yo-yoing up & down, before the ride, eventually settling on 10 Cyclists, -no wait, we have 1 transfer from part 2-, left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Raynes park, Wimbledon Chase, Merton park, Morden Hall Park (2 visits & Photo), Ravensbury Park, Morden, Sutton Common Park, to Lower Morden for Lunch at the very welcoming Morden Brook (Greene King), Joseph Hood Park, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 16 Miles, thanks to the new back marker Yee-Liu. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2283507
Part 2 Now with mostly cloudy Skies, saying farewell to 6 & welcome to 5 fresh faces, 10 Cyclists left via Berrylands, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Giggs hill Green, Weston Green- almost losing 1 corner marker, as the tail found a small detour-, Esher, -with more threatening Skies, a strategic decision to shorten the route-, Molesey to East Molesey Cricket Club for Tea & Bread pudding at ‘Miss Polly’s’ Cafe, -now with light Rain-, Hampton Court, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd to finish back in Kingston. Sub total 13 Miles, Total 29 Miles. 1 new face, thanks to Ellie for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2283666
Bread pudding ride to Harmondsworth
Sunday 11th June. A bright Sunny morning, saw a total of 27 Cyclists split into 2 groups, leave via Kingston Bridge, Hampton Wick, Teddington, Strawberry hill, River Crane path, pausing at the Shot Tower to explain its purpose, Whitton, Hounslow Heath (Photo Group 1), West Hounslow, Cranford, Harlington, Sipson, to Harmondsworth for lunch at the Crown, (with a few electing to visit the Five Bells to spread the load), (Photo group 2), then a visit to the ‘Great Barn’,- with 1 more who missed the start, joining group 1-, resuming the ride, Harmondsworth Moor, Poyle, Stanwell moor, Stanwell, Ashford- with 1 person in group 1 suffering ‘Seized Brakes’, forced to abandon the ride, with a 2nd person becoming dehydrated, also abandoning the ride, & 2 others staying with that victim until help arrived-, Sunbury, Feltham, Hanworth, -now with dark clouds, light Rain, but very large rain Drops & rumbles of Thunder-, Hampton, Bushy Park for Tea & Bread pudding at the Pheasantry, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, 5 new faces Special thanks to Bai for leading group 2, thanks to John E & Toni Z for back marking each group, thanks to John D for the BP.
Update Re Dot: After a refreshing Drink of Fanta, much refreshed & safely home.
Update from Paula: the shop have confirmed the Brake fluid level had dropped, it can mean in very hot conditions, the remaining fluid gets too hot, causing the Brakes to lock on.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/840250
Group 2 Harmondsworth Parish Church: Bai Kamara
Bread pudding ride to Woodmansterne
Sunday 21st May. A largely Sunny day, after 2 late cancellations, -with our regular leader away (climbing many big Hills in Wales)-, 18 Cyclists left via Berrylands, Tolworth & Greenway, West Ewell, Epsom, Epsom Downs (Photo), Tattenham corner, Burgh Heath, Banstead, to Woodmansterne for lunch at the Woodman (Stonegate Pubs), -with 1 extra passenger (Photo)-, Woodcote, Beddington, Beddington Park, Hackbridge, Wandle trail, Morden, Morden Hall Park for Tea & Bread pudding at the National trust Cafe, Merton park, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes park, New Malden, Norbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 29 Miles. Special thanks to Bai for leading, thanks to John E for back marking & others for marking corners, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/623630
Epsom Downs, near Grandstand
Chris & her new friend….. is it, no it couldn’t be, but there is a resemblance of sorts.
Challenge ride to Dorney
Sunday 14th May. A rather grey morning, with the Sun appearing in time for lunch & Afternoon, after 1 late cancellation, 14 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Stanwell, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, Horton, Datchet, Jubilee River path, to Dorney for lunch at the fantastic Pineapple, -famous for their Doorstep Sandwiches, some did I believe take some home as it was too much in one go-, Summerleaze Footbridge, Fifield, Cranbourn Chase, Cranbourne gate Windsor Great Park, Bishopsgate, Englefield Green- including an unintended tour of the Cricket Green-, Egham, Staines Bridge, Staines, a short stretch of Thames path, Laleham, Shepperton, to Walton Bridge for Tea & Bread pudding at Wilde brunch Cafe, -a slight delay getting all moving, led to 1 of the group leading us ‘off Piste’, which makes a change from the leader going astray 😉-, Walton, Esher, Thames Ditton, Portsmouth Rd, to finish back in Kingston. Total 49 Miles, thanks to John E for excellent back marking, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/141834
You can also watch Tracey’s brilliant video https://www.relive.cc/view/vxOQQB7Qw2O
Jubilee River path, Datchet. Credit Tracey & Lindsay
Bread pudding ride to Effingham
Sunday 23rd April, A day with mostly light Rain after 2 cancellations, saw 17 Cyclists leave via Cranes park, King Charles Bridge, Tolworth, West Ewell, Long grove Park, Ashtead Common, Ashtead, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham to Effingham for the recently re-opened Queen stage for lunch, Effingham Junction, Ockham, Hatchford,- with 2 people deciding to (almost) Swim the flooded road, whilst the remainder of the group taking a small detour-, Cobham, Fairmile, to Esher for Tea & Bread pudding at Claremont lakes, -now with bright Sunshine-, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton to finish back in tthe Market place. Total 29 Miles, Special thanks to Bai for leading a few sections of the ride (and entering the Duathlon), thanks to John E for back marking & others for marking corners, thanks at short notice to Christine for the BP. Sorry no Photo this time.
Bread pudding ride to Harrow
Sunday 16th April, Spring has finally arrived, a dry warm day, sadly nott much Sun, (let’s not be greedy), after 1 late cancellation & 1 un-announced guest, 16 Cyclists left via the Station Bridge, Kingston gate Richmond Park, Sheen gate, Mortlake, Chiswick Bridge, Grove park, Chiswick, Acton, Park Royal, Stonebridge, Wembley, Kenton, Kenton Rec, Belmont, to Harrow for lunch at ‘Duck in the Pond’ (Ember Inns), Harrow Weald, Headstone Manor Rec (Photo), South Harrow, Northolt, -alas a dropped chain led to the tail briefly losing touch with the main party, at probably the most complex part of the ride to cross Target Roundabout-, Northala fields, Southall -with a touch of wheels causing a fall, no injuries, but another slipped Chain-, Norwood green, to Osterley Park for Tea & Bread Pudding, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick & finally, the reopened Cycle path on Kingston Bridge. Total 40 Miles, thanks to Amy for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP.
Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/755785
Headstone Manor Rec & Tulips: Lindsay
