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

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