Midweek ride to Deptford

Wednesday 15th May. A mostly cloudy morning, with much more Sun in the Afternoon, with 1 late booking, 15 Cyclists left New Malden via the Beeline, Raynes park, South Wimbledon, Colliers wood, Tooting- joined by 1 more (16)-, Tooting Bec Common, Streatham Hill, Tulse Hill, Brockwell Park, Loughborough, Camberwell, Burgess Park- pausing briefly to chat to Sustrans-, to join C10 via South Bermondsey, back of Millwall FC, Folkestone Gardens, to Deptford for lunch at the Dog & Bell, then a fairly new C4, NCN425, Greenland Dock, & Russia Dock woodland (former Surrey Docks, a real delight), Rotherhithe, & the Brunel Museum, a brief visit to the Thames Path, Bermondsey, Potters Field- near Tower Bridge, only to find the intended sculpture for the backdrop to our Photo has been moved (see before & after below), the Borough, Waterloo, Lambeth, the Oval. Clapham Common, to Wandsworth Common for refreshments at ‘the Skylark Cafe’, Earlsfield, Wandle trail, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes Park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 33 Miles, thanks to Ellie for back marking & others for marking corner. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2532828

A previous view of Tower Bridge,

With Tower Bridge today, lacking our friends & there ‘Tandem’.

Midweek ride to Effingham

Wednesday 17th April A mnostly cloudy day with some Sun & a blustery Wind, saw 18 Cyclists leave the Market place via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth & the Greenway- extension to Tolworth Station almost ready by the look of things-, West Ewell- joined by 1 more (19)-, Horton, Ashtead Common, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Bookham, to Effingham for lunch at ‘the Queen Stage’, (a Cycling term for the toughest stage in a long multi day Cycle race), Effingham Junction, Martyr’s green, Hatchford, Cobham, Fairmile estate (Photo), Portsmouth Rd, to Claremont Lakes Cafe (National trust) for refreshments, Esher, Hinchley wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton to finish back in Kingston. Total 28 Miles, thanks to Toni for back marking & several others for marking corners. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/523447

Fairmile Estate, with my *ahem* Country Cottage in the background, & our new LCC flag: Lindsay

Midweek ride to West Wickham

Wednesday 13th March. A dry & cloudy day, with a mostly useful tailwind on the outward journey, saw 13 Cyclists leave New Malden on the Beeline, Raynes park, Wimbledon chase, South Wimbledon, Colliers wood, Tooting- joined by 1 more (14)-, Streatham, Norbury, Thornton heath, -with 1 motorist upset that we were using the ‘contra flow cycle lane’-, Heavers Meadow (with the entrance from Selhurst Rd a mudbath), Woodside, Ashburton Field, Shirley, Elmers end, Eden park, to West Wickham for lunch at the Railway (Ember Inns), more Shirley, Addiscombe, Lloyd Park (Photo), South Croydon- with a jammed chain needing some delicate adjustment-, Waddon, Richmond Green, Beddington Park, to Carshalton for Tea & refreshments at ‘Sassis in the Grove, – with 1 member suffering a visit from the ‘P Fairy’-, the Wrythe, Benhill, Pyl Brook path, North Cheam, Motspur park, to finish back in New Malden. Total 31 Miles, thanks to Chris F for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1579827

Update: I’ve added a link for ‘Edward Lloyd’, an innovative publisher who’s Son gave the land for Lloyd park to Croydon.

Midweek ride to Ashtead

Wednesday 14th February, after 1 late cancellation, with some light drizzle to start & a strong Headwind for a large part of the Morning 👎, 20 Cyclists left via Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton, Hinchley wood, Esher, Fairmile, Cobham, Downside, Bookham Common- with a minor navigation hiccup, leading to a different part of the Common-, Fetcham, Leatherhead,to Ashtead for lunch at ‘the Woodman’ (Ember Inns), Ashtead Park, Woodcote, Epsom, ‘Nescot path’. East Ewell, Nonsuch Park (Photo), to Cheam Park for Tea & refreshments, North Cheam, Motspur park, New Malden, Berrylands, to finish back in Kingston. Total 31 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking & sevaral others for marking corners.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/312617 (see red dotted line for intended route)

Midweek ride to Northolt

Wednesday 17th January. After a freezing cold night, how many would be brave (or even foolhardy) enough to ride, & would it be safe ? A quick pre amble on local Roads, with no Ice to be seen, I decided we should be OK to go, after 10 cancellations, 6 brave Cyclists left via Fairfield, the London Rd track, Norbiton, Kingston gate of Richmond Park, to Sheen gate, Motlake, the first of 4 level crossings, set the trend, -at least a 3 Minute wait at each👎 -, Chiswick Bridge, Grove park (2nd crossing), Chiswick Green, Acton (3rd & 4th crossing), Ealing Common, North Ealing, Pitshanger Park, Perivale, Medway village, – a missed turn, not quite hiding in plain site-, Greenford, to Northolt for lunch at ‘the Greenwood Hotel (Wetherspoons), (and a delightful Art Deco interior), -a very congested A312, Petts Hill, due to HS2 work-, Northolt Village, then a more pleasant surprise, a new Cycle path, still under construction, but 1/2 Mile already usable 👍-, Southall, Norwood Green, Osterley Park (Photo)- with Ducks & other water birds doing some Ice dancing in the background-, Osterley, Hounslow, Whitton, to Kneller Gardens for Tea & refreshments, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton wick, Kingston Bridge, to finish back in Kingston. Total 30 Miles, special thanks to John E for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/909611

Osterley Park lake, with ‘Ice dancing Ducks’: Lindsay

Midweek ride to Hammersmith

Wednesday 13th December, a mostly grey day, with light Drizzle, after 2 late cancellations & 1 late booking, with a late realisation that Teddington Footbridge would not be very user friendly, whilst undergoing some maintenance work, 16 Cyclists left via Fairfield, Norbiton, New Malden, Coombe, Ladderstile Gate of Richmond Park, to Roehampton gate, collecting 1 more (17), Barnes Common, Putney, Putney Bridge, Bishops Park, Fulham, to Hammersmith for lunch at the ‘Plough & Harrow’ (Wetherspoons), now into a chilly Headwind, to go with the Drizzle, on the superb ‘Cycleway 9’, to Chiswick green, Dukes Meadow & the new platform under Barnes Bridge (Photo), Strand on the Green, a bit more C9, Brentford, to Syon Park for Tea & refreshments, Isleworth, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish back in Kingston. Total 26 Miles, thanks to Yee-liu & Celia for back marking.

Map:- http://www.plotaroute.com/route/1033328

Midweek ride to Wraysbury

Wednesday 15th November. A bright Sunny slightly chilled day saw after 1 late cancellation & 1 extra unexpected guest, alas 1 person left the Market place in the wrong direction, maybe following a different group, so 16 Cyclists left via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Staines, Hythe End, to Wraysbury for lunch at the George Inn (Gastro Pub), we were all glad to see the missing Cyclist managed to find his own way to the Pub, despite suffering a nose bleed on the way, with a Photo stop at the Windmill & 2 nice Motorists moved out of the view 👍, then Poyle,- now withh a nice tailwind-, Stanwell Moor, Stanwell, Bedfont, Feltham, Hanworth Park, Leitrim Park, River Crane path, to Kneller Gdns for Tea & refreshments, Twickenham, Strawberry hill, Teddington, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 30 Miles, thanks to Chris F & Celia (again), for back marking.

Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1656189

Midweek ride to Addlestone

Wednesday 18th October, after 3 late cancellations & 2 missing a train, with very light Drizzle as we left, 11 Cyclists via Portsmouth Rd, Thames Ditton- with 1 more joining in-, Gigghill Green, Weston Green, Esher, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Brooklands Park, Byfleet, New Haw, Rowtown, to Addlestone for lunch at the delightful Pelican, also finding the pair who missed the Train, now 14 in total, also the Drizzle becoming steady Rain, but no dropouts yet…. Also making minor adjustments to a rubbing Mudguard, Woburn Hill, Chertsey Meads, Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton (Photo), Haliford, -a brief debate to stop for Tea or not, no stop this time with Rain gradually increasing-, Sunbury, Hampton, Bushy Park, Hampton Wick, Kingston Bridge to finish. Total 29 Miles, Special thanks to Celia for back marking, & others for corner marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1868983

Midweek ride to Maida Vale

Wednesday 20th September after 1 late cancellation, with a blustery tail wind, 7 Cyclists left via Skerne Rd, Kingston gate Richmond Park, White lodge, Roehampton gate, Barnes Common, Putney, a very congested Putney Bridge, Fulham, Brompton Cemetery, South Kensington, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Marylebone, to Maida Vale for lunch at the Carlton Tavern, -now with a blustery Headwind, but still dry, for a while-, Kilburn, North Kensington, Shepherds bush, Hammersmith- finally the Rain arrived, steady rather than torrential-, C9, to Barnes Bridge to see the ‘new Non-cycle path’ under the Bridge, walk the steps onto Bridge, Barnes, to East Sheen- with a hasty debate, the vote was split 50-50, to stop for Tea or not, so just 3 stopped at Palewell only to find the Shutters down, hence a detour to Roehampton gate Cafe for Tea & Bread Pudding- What, on a Wednesday ? (still left over from Sunday), Ham gate, North Kingston, to finish back in the Market place. Total 30 Miles, thanks to John E for back marking, thanks to John D for the BP. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/1691708

Midweek ride to Egham

Wednesday 16th August. A gorgeous Sunny day saw a Bakers dozen (13) Cyclists leave via Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park, Hampton, Hanworth, Sunbury, Ashford, Staines (Photo), Staines Bridge, Egham Hythe, to Egham for lunch at the very hospitable ‘Red Lion’ (a new lunch stop), then Stroude- with a a couple of Motorists outraged that we weren’t using the inadequate Cycle path-, Thorpe Green, Lyne- with 1 of our party suffering a ‘Pedal issue’, soon sorted-, Chertsey, Chertsey Bridge, Shepperton, Walton Bridge to the Boathouse for Tea & refreshments (a new venue), Walton- with a pleasant surprise, a newly resurfaced Bridleway-, Esher, Weston Green, Giggshill green, Portsmouth Road, to finish back in Kingston. 31 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Steve D for back marking. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2348333

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Midweek ride