As last Sunday's ride ended up at Mortlake my planned ride this coming Sunday from Tolworth would have involved a lot of overlap.
Apologies therefore, but a complete change of direction is called for and elevenses will now be at The Edmund Tylney, Leatherhead, with lunch provisionally at The Sadlers Arms, Send Marsh (now apparently serving food again on Sundays).
I arrived at an overcast dew drenched Nauticalia to find Bob and Mark seated (but no Dave as previously announced). In time we were joined by Ed, Pam, Ray, Richard, Simon, Terry. We had no leader but I had a plan for something different. In truth parts had not been executed in years and lunch would reveal I had no maps!
Just five (me, Mark, Pam, Ray, Simon) headed off on a most familiar route (Shepperton High Street, Squires, Lower Sunbury, Hampton, Bushy Park) to cross the Thames at Teddington Lock. We climbed to Ham Cross, past the Pen Ponds cafe and out through Sheen Gate. The Ship at Mortlake (overshadowed by the 10 year derelict "Watney" Brewery) was reached at 1245. Lunch was tasty if a tad tardy.
We were off by two leaving Mark to find his own way home. After Chiswick riverside took us to Brentford. At the end of the High Street a democratic vote was for an hour long detour along the Grand Union Canal. From the Waste Transfer Facility we made the 50+ ft climb beside the Hanwell Lock Flight to pause at Windmill Bridge where the canal crosses a railway and is crossed by a road. We turned off at the next cobbled footbridge.
I knew our route was to our left but no more. And so it proved when we reached Norwood Green and the northern entrance of Osterley Park where tea was taken alfresco. Another senior moment occurred when I wrongly signalled first left after the Piccadilly Line. Across the A4 we took the first left and all was well! From Isleworth station we continued to Old Isleworth. Alone I might have taken to the riverside for Richmond - not a great option at weekends. But Simon knew of the C40 cycle route (brand new, not even in Wikipedia). For us it paralleled the busy A309 and quietish roads brought us to Twickenham station. Here Simon turned right for home; later on Pam and Ray turned right at Pope's Grove; for me it was a second crossing of Teddington Lock and a first glimpse of sunlight. Home by 1630 and around 30 miles.
Until better arrangements can be made the attendance can be viewed via this link
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wOFYODAuA53KifoBt2vePlbM2p8ICOugPaOIlAVUYqs
This runs from April 2021 to March 2022 unless advised otherwise by HQ.
Jeff highlighted a missing ride. If you can provide (double?) evidence of attendance.....
Despite a cool and overcast start ten of us (Bob, Terry, Simon, Graham, Lilian, Pam, Ray, Ed, Maureen and I) met for coffee at Caffe Capital. We all continued to lunch at Epsom although Bob and Maureen made their own ways there. The main group rode via Bookham Common, Fetcham, Leatherhead and Ashtead Common (where we were piloted by Graham).
The promised afternoon sunshine did not appear while we were enjoying lunch at Wetherspoons but it was a little brighter and not too cold to stop us using the terrace seating.
Half made their own ways home from Epsom. A group of five us continued to Hook and from there to Squires Garden Centre at Long Ditton for tea (by then, of course, we were bathed in sunshine)!
Thanks to all for your company, to Simon for back-marking, and to Graham for navigational assistance!
I'm sure that many of you will have noted that the C&M attendance record expired on 26 September, 2021. I have asked Lisa Colombo to update the template for the coming twelve months, from 3rd October 2021. I don't want to destroy it myself as a farewell reminder.
As I am now a shadowy 'éminence grise' within C&M, spotted on a ride as often as a yeti, the time has clearly come for an active and diligent C & M aficionado, to assume the privilege of monitoring our members' weekly attendance. The powers that be will no doubt be well able to manage the throng pressing to take on the rôle. To my successor I wish: 'bonne chance', and to all those whose company I have greatly enjoyed, since my first ride with C&M on 30th April, 2008 to an unknown Dragon's Green, I bid an appreciative 'adieu'.
Jeff
October 10 - Elevenses at Caffe Capital, Cobham as published. Suggested lunch stop - The Assembly Rooms, Epsom (Wetherspoons with plenty of outdoor seating). Tea at Long Ditton or Hampton Court.
October 17 - Elevenses at Nauticalia, Shepperton. Possibilities for lunch are The Perseverance, Wraysbury, The White Horse, Longford, or The Sun, Windlesham. Let me know if you have any preference.
October 24 - The intended lunch stop doesn't have any outdoor seating so I will probably change this whole ride. A possibility is for elevenses at Court Farm Garden Centre, Tolworth and lunch at Mortlake or Barnes where there are some interesting cafes to try.
If you have other suggestions for any of these rides don't hesitate to let me know.
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| Serious discussions at 11s |
If you haven't yet commited yourself to join us for the Annual Lunch next week, on Wednesday 6th October, please contact Jennie by email a.s.a.p.
To see the invitation with full details see this item in the blog:
https://midweekwayfarers.blogspot.com/2021/09/annual-lunch-6-october.html
~ Tim
We have seemed to go from strength to strength recently, and today saw no fewer than fourteen of us (Bob, Mark, Simon, Tony, Geoff G, Keith, Terry, Graham, Pam, Gemma, Lilian, Ed, Ray and me) meet for elevenses at The Vineries.
All except Bob, Tony and Geoff continued to lunch, and we took a route with plenty of off-road sections. With rain forecast from tomorrow onwards, this may be the last time before next spring we use some of these tracks and paths.
Many thanks to Simon for the photos, and for back-marking, to Graham for leading after lunch, and to everyone else for your company.
Elevenses will be at Vineries Garden Centre, Effingham as published. Provisionally, we will continue to lunch at The Kings Head, Guildford with plenty of off-road sections, but nothing we are not already familiar with!
This is a ride and a route which will not be remembered for a long time! Dull all day with patchy rain; plenty of traffic.
Improving Met Office forecasts encouraged me to brave half marathoners on Kingston Bridge and enter Bushy Park where the rut (at least for roe deer) has started. In Hampton I passed Tony on his way home (he'd reported in sick). Beside the Shepperton Studios extension drizzle started though never enough for action. In Lammas Park Simon was seated under a covered pergola later to be joined by Pam and Ray. As the rain increased we talked vaguely of Dorney, Black Park, etc. By 1140 the vote was go west or go home.
Wraysbury roads were dry(!) and Datchet's gridlocked with closed crossings. Approaching the playing fields of Eton, drizzle turned to rain so waterproofs were donned and lunch was switched to the Cinnamon Cafe Windsor. It was packed but with prompt service. Next door Cafe Rouge was almost empty.
After lunch we voted again go west; not the best as the obvious way led only to the top of a six storey car park well to the west of the station! Down we went followed by a traverse of the coach park - no problem with Windsor still well short of visitors. Datchet (busy), Old Windsor, across the meads to Egham and Staines bridge brought us to a final vote outside Notcutts - Nauticalia for tea reached via a right turn at Shepperton's fish stop. 45+ miles door to door
It was a sunny and warm Sunday morning for a change and ideal for a very pleasant elevenses on the cafe terrace at Clandon Park Garden Centre. Simon, Mark, Terry, Graham, Keith and I found it hard to drag ourselves away, but eventually managed to struggle off towards Merrow, from where we 'roughed it' over the downs to One Tree Hill Road. Then it was the rollercoaster Lane to Chilworth, followed by another climb up to Blackheath. After Wonersh we headed for the 'Sewage Works Path' towards Farncombe. This is usually a rutted and nettle-strewn obstacle course, but today it was disappointingly well kempt! It would have been an easy ride from here to our lunch stop, but I had the bright idea, as it was still quite early, of leading us up Munstead Heath and then attempting to find the bridleway we used to use regularly, going back to the '90's, until the long-lamented Ram Cider House at Catteshall closed for business.
Well, find it we did, but time has not served it well and it was not at all as remembered! For much of its length it is now, in effect, a dried-up steam bed. There were sandy patches, deep ruts, and treacherous rock steps where small waterfalls must flow in times of rain. As such, it was only partly rideable. Never mind, as I said last week, you have to try these things, and at least this one wasn't too overgrown!
Once we regained tarmac we were not only very relieved, but also very close to our lunch stop, the somewhat eclectic 'Hector's Bistro' at Farncombe Boathouse. The proprietor is somewhat eclectic too! On arrival he popped out to tell us there was no room if we hadn't booked, but this proved to be just his little joke! Anyway, all was well and there was a very varied menu. We our enjoyed our lunches while we sat on the bank of the Wey.
By the time we left it had clouded over and turned threatening, and having been traumatised by our bridleway experience before lunch (!), Graham, Mark and I headed for Guildford station, while the rest made their own ways home. Thanks to all, and apologies for subjecting you to yet another challenging off-road experience!
For what seemed like the first time in many weeks, a pleasant summer day was forecast! Simon, Bob, Tony, Terry, Ed, Lilian, Maureen and I met for elevenses at Walton Bridge. Ed, Maureen and Bob made their own ways from there, while the rest of us set off for Callow Hill. We managed to lose Tony before even leaving the car park, which did not augur well, but fortunately caught up with him again at the other end of the path from Walton to Weybridge via Broadwater.
We bypassed Addlestone by Coxes Lock footbridge, then I showed the group the new route off the Addlestone to Chertsey cycle path which neatly avoids the railway footbridge. Hardwick Lane was very busy with traffic but we were soon on quieter roads again, and, from Thorpe Green, embarked on a traffic-free, off-road route of several miles all the rest of the way to lunch. The culmination of this was Hollow Lane, a bridleway from Stroude to Callow Hill. None of us seemed ever to have done the first section before, and it is not easily forgotten - a shady, steeply sloping track with high-banked sides which winds its way precipitously up the thickly wooded hillside. We bravely proved it is rideable on road bikes, but only just!
The Rose and Olive Branch, our lunch stop, was conveniently near the end of the track. We lunched in the lovely, shady garden. Food and service were both excellent, and a full menu, including filled baguettes, is available on Sundays, a rare thing these days!
The planned route had also included the Monks Walk track from Thorpe to Chertsey but somehow we had all had quite enough of off-roading for one Sunday, and an on-road route was quickly substituted! Tea was at Shepperton Lock. Thanks to all for your company and to Simon for back-marking.
C&M hasn't been on the Alton Line since 2015 so yesterday four "trainees" (GFH, Ann, Ray and Terry) were met at Bentley by Dave who'd ridden from home.
We travelled west then south to Binsted (no time for Monty) and Oakhanger where 11s was at the Chocolate Frog tea rooms. A closed road at Blackmoor caused few problems as we eased past the southern outskirts of Bordon to Standford and over a nascent branch of the Wey South.
Around these parts the word Hill in several streetnames explains why the next three and half miles were an continuous uphill grind to Grayshott where lunch was the Village Cafe, a greasy spoon well suited to our needs. Here Dave left us for Haslemere.
For the survivors the next section (Hindhead to Elstead) was much appreciated as the route drops almost 750 feet. There remained one(?) more obstacle, Charles Hill, before tea could be taken at Tilford Village Shop. We dispersed at Farnham station.
As for the Atlantic Wall it didn't featured. Apart from the author all were on smooths.
Last week only buses ran on the Amberley line so no survey was possible. Hence my proposed trip to the seaside will have to wait a little longer.
Sunday's (29/8) ride will be train assisted to Bentley and from Farnham. In the morning there's only 0930 (Surbiton) to Bentley (1020). It's half hourly for the return (xx.00 and xx.30 from 1400 onward).
The provisional stops are 11s: Oakhanger Chocolate Frog (6+ miles), lunch: Grayshott all services (15+ miles) and tea: (Tilford Tea Rooms(25 miles).
The total distance is under 30 miles
Just back from measuring the miles under the watchful eye of men with guns. Definitely military but none had beards. A visit to the "Atlantic Wall" on Hankley Common could be one of:
1) 1.20 sandy miles out and back from western edge;
2) 1.20 concrete + 0.6 sandy and back from eastern edge;
3) 0.6 concrete + 0.9 sandy (east to west or west to east);
Assume sandy miles are unrideable unless you have a gravel bike or better.
And before I forget there's nearly 2000 feet of climbing.
Pam, Ann, Graham, Bob, Simon, Tony, Terry and I met for elevenses at Nauticalia, Shepperton. Choices were somewhat limited by a lack of bacon, but we managed to compromise! Terry and Bob wisely went their own ways while the rest of us pursued a somewhat quirky itinerary to lunch, taking in the remains of a disused ford at Shepperton, Europe's largest women's prison at Ashford, and the impressive causeway between the two Staines reservoirs, beloved of twitchers, but today bereft of them! There weren't many birds to spot anyway, but plenty of activity visible at Heathrow. The gate to exit the causeway on the west side is not bike-friendly, but we managed by team effort, continuing then to Stanwell Moor and close to Horton to reach The Perseverance at Wraysbury.
This is a terrific pub with really friendly staff and a lovely garden. The one drawback is that Sunday lunch choices are a bit limited. Unfortunately, it was only me, who wasn't eating, who noticed the availability of child's roast meals at £6.95. Never mind, home-made minestrone soup and somewhat larger bowls of chips kept people happy!
Unfortunately, it came on to rain as we were about to leave, but it soon stopped and gradually grew sunnier and warmer as we headed via Staines Bridge and Thorpe for a long-overdue tea stop at Great Cockcrow railway (photo courtesy of Simon). Fortunately, the railway and tea shop still just the same as on our last visit two years ago - except that they now take card payments! Thanks all for your company.
Although many of our number were away on holiday, we still managed to muster six members (Tony, Graham, Keith, Bob, Brian B and me) at our meeting point for the day at Squires Garden Centre, Stoke d'Abernon. This must have been our first visit there as a group in 18 months! It was raining while we were having our elevenses but had miraculously brightened up by setting off time. Tony had devised a route to Woking, but had to return home before lunch. Bob didn't join us for the ride and Keith eventually went off his own way, leaving Graham, Brian and I to continue to Woking.
Our lunch stop was at the The Herbert Wells. Again, it is so long since we visited this old favourite haunt that we were flummoxed to find no trace remaining of the railings to which we used to lock our bikes! Brian set off straight away for home, while Graham and I installed ourselves outside the pub. Being a Wetherspoons app user, I didn't even have to walk to the bar! Lunch over, it was a straight ride home, Graham leaving me at Walton Bridge. Thanks all for your company.
Due to the Melton Mowbray trip, a few of the regulars will be away this weekend and numbers obviously depleted, especially as lunch was planned for moss End.
Therefore I have changed 11's to Squires at Stoke D'Abernon, the lunch venue will be decided on the day.
Tony..
I recently email highways England re the bridge and have just had this reply.
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Due to recent rain I postponed a survey of Amberley and other points south and instead choose to head northwest. The good news the bridge has reopened and has been resurfaced (mostly). The barrier nearest to the industrial estate is still padlocked. Many feet have trampled a path on the the left hand (west) side of the barrier so no obstacle at all!
Word of warning: don't try the bridleway that starts opposite the A4 cafe and continues beside the Colne unless you're a fan of ferocious nettles, brambles and a fallen tree which hasn't moved for at least 460 days.
Tea 'n cake are now available at...
Brockham Church hall every Sunday afternoon to October 24th.
Capel Church 15th, 29th, 30th August, 12th September, 3rd October, 7th and 28th November, 12th December..
Ockley Church (new) !st Sunday of each month - but no end date quoted.
A wet start and not the best of mornings, but the Cheam and Morden are made of sterner stuff than another local cycling club (not worth their salts, if you see what I mean) who apparently cancelled their ride because of the weather. These flighty thoroughbreds! Admittedly, we did have a few apologies but Mark, Pam and Graham still joined me for elevenses at Fairoaks. It was dry when we arrived so the outside seating was preferred, but the rain soon set in again and we retreated inside to save my sausage, egg and chips from getting too soggy!
The worst of the rain was over by the time we were ready to set off, although the weather was hardly cheery! I was rather looking forward to trying my ingenious (I think) route to Windlesham, which after the backwaters of Woking and Hook Heath, would have taken us to Brookwood, then to Bisley and West End using a few roads and paths new to me. However, the fickle finger of fate had other plans for me and, for reasons unknown, my rear mech suddenly plunged into my rear wheel during a gear change, and was wrecked. Fortunately, the wheel was intact.
There was only one solution. I saw it done about 1988, and I have always remembered it lest I should ever have the need! The trick is to remove the derailleur, then break and shorten the chain with the aim of it running on one cog only of the cassette. With help from the others we pulled it off. My Wolftooth missing link pliers weren't of any use in breaking the chain, but the chain tool on my Topeak multi-tool did the job in breaking, shortening and refixing the chain (just as well I had realised much earlier that the Topeak tool needs a separate hex key to operate it - there is one of the right size built into the tool, but it can't be removed to work the built-in chain tool - design fault or what).
It all seemed to take ages, but actually it didn't take all that long. I would describe it as a get you to the nearest station fix, rather than get you home. To make it work properly, you really need old-style dropouts with a bit of adjustment in them, otherwise it's difficult to get enough tension in the chain and it jumps about, gradually working its way onto the smallest cog then off!
Anyway, the others kindly rode with me towards the nearest train and I got home without too much trouble, although I won't be looking to repeat this experience if I can avoid it!
Graham, Pam and Mark took to the towpath after leaving me and eventually found some lunch, although not as planned. Thanks to them for their company and their help, and we'll try my route again another time!
So finally C&M's year19-21 has been laid to rest. At Old Moat there were a surprising number of mourners (Anne, Bob, Dave W, Ed, Elliott, Gemma, GFH, Irene, Jeff, Maureen, Pam, Terry, Tony).
For Bob and Maureen this was far enough. The rest crossed over into trees and the first stop was the Pete Mitchell bench(in use). The trackbed of the long vanished Horton Estate Light Railway led us finally to tarmac in Rollesby Road. Beside the Bonesgate Stream we reached the Kingston Road A240 where traffic was stationary just as it had been more than an hour before! Seeking an escape a procession of at least 20 mourners (cars) trailed us on the short rise to Old Malden. Here they turned left as we went right and down into Worcester Park and first left after the station. After the edge of Morden Cemetery came more suburban roads on the way to Raynes Park. C31 (and its continuation) delivered us to Elm Road and home.
Here Irene and I stopped to pick up supplies (largely unneeded); the others were sent on ahead to Richmond Park. Just inside the park they discovered the toilet card machine out of commission and two fallen logs which were to serve as the forum for the AGM. 13 miles
Our ride on Sunday 8 August 2021 will now start from the Hanger Cafe, Fairoaks Airfield, Chobham, lunch stop to be confirmed, but Windlesham is a distinct possibility.
The planned ride to the London area will now take place in October with slightly changed arrangements.
At lunch last Sunday we agreed that the 2019-2021 AGM should be a picnic in Richmond Park weather permitting.
Leaving the Old Moat garden centre Epsom(KT19 8PQ) no later than 1130, the ride will be largely off-road but there'll be no muddy sections! ETA at Richmond Park around 1300.
Pembroke Lodge and Roehampton Gate have both cafe and toilet but are very busy at weekends. Other places have one or the other, or none at Ham Gate. Kingston Gate has a toilet (charge 20p card only) and a small "garden shed" selling snacks and drinks.
Our rallying point will be the solitary tree in the middle of the grassy area marked on the map by an "X". Elsewhere might involve a significant climb (for example 100 feet to King's Clump, site of the 1948 Olympic Village). Also shown are my house and ASDA Kingston (charge 0p).
