Sunday May 28 2017

A very warm and very humid day saw several of us arriving before Upper Halliford's opening hour. Naturally we dined alfresco and the headcount eventually reached 11.

Ed must have been in nostalgic mode as we were treated a tour of Ashford (his birthplace, his primary and secondary schools). Toss in a roadblock(unsuccessful pursuit of four youths); it's not often we see warrant cards  flashed from unmarked cars. But after the railway we're back to the familiar through Stanwell Moor and over the M25 into Poyle. A surprise left in Datchet saw us crossing from Windsor into Eton where Alan departed. Finally Eton Wick led us to Dorney and The Pineapple.

Manfully we set about the customary and enormous sandwiches but most failed to clear their plates. The return was along the Jubilee river and through Datchet and Wraysbury for a visit to North's of Staines. A hint of what was to come saw the garden furniture hastily packed away and a move indoors. A repeat in Bushy Park saw me reaching the waterproofs but so close to home they were never donned. Just under 50 miles door to door.

All  the way: Ed, Chris, Dave, Don,Graham,Irene, Lillian, Paul, Ray W, Tony.

Sunday the 28th May

Upper Haliford-Dorney-Staines

 Our leader Ed's Tour de Ashford.

Rosemary Gardens Ashford

 

 Clarendon School

 

Thomas Knyvett College

Ed had planned a cunning route to pass his house where he was born in Ashford and his school and college with a photo stop at each.

Sunday 21st May

                                                        Lunch at Rusper

 

After 11s at Tanhouse Farm seven of us (including Angie and friend John) headed north to Newdigate, turning right into Church Road then via Parkgate to Charlwood. It was good to note the Aircraft Museum (under new management) is now open more frequently. There will be a Shackleton engine run on August 5. Keeping to the lanes we soon reached Ifieldwood and passed The Lamb at Lamb's Green. This was my first choice of lunch stop but on my recce I learned the pub would have limited accommodation due to renovation so we carried on, via Wimlands Lane, to The Plough and Attic Rooms, Rusper.  

 

Here we chose from the children's menu and the food appeared pretty quickly. We had a leisurely lunch, near the end the chef came out for a chat - apparently in the future they are going to cater even better for cyclists.

 

The Frog and Nightgown at Wimlands has reopened but only serves pasties and sausage rolls on Sundays.

 

After lunch Paul headed for home (thanks for backmarking), the rest of us set off along East Street and the gentle climb up Langhurst Lane then via Partridge Lane to Parkgate and onwards to Brockham cakes - well up to standard. 

 

A very enjoyable day, endless sunshine, negligible wind, dry roads and good company, thanks all.

 

Terry

May 21st Lunch Venue Change

P l e a s e  N o t e

 

The lunch Venue for next Sundays ride has changed to the Plough & Attic Rooms, Rusper.

Sunday the 14th May

Addlestone - Jealotts Hill - Shepperton 

Don and Dave were already seated in the Golden Café when I arrived just after 10am.  No Bob or Margaret and Bill this week?  By eleven o'clock Tony, Alan, Simon, Terry, Ray and Vic had arrived, and after their refreshments were ready for the off!
Don had other plans, Alan stayed with us to Englefield Green and Dave peeled off just before the lunch stop.
Our exit from Addlestone was via Green Lane to the two roundabouts.   From there we passed through Thorpe Green, Great Fosters and up Prune Hill to Englefield Green and into Windsor Great Park.  Our exit via Cranbourne Gate took us to the 'Peanut' roundabout, a short stint in Drift Road before turning off towards Winkfield.  Bishops Road, plus a few more lanes to our lunch destination, The New Leathern Bottle.  Our lunches were good but we did have to wait rather along time before the last lunch was served.  We arrived at one o'clock and it was two thirty before we were ready to leave.
Off we went on a route well known to some. A left turn after Moss End, past Warfield Church where a right turn took us to the A3034.  Mill Ride Golf Club now has a security gate but luckily one can just get through the side gate (with bike).  On to Ascot Race Course, Nine Mile Road, Cheapside then passing Blacknest Gate we continued to the A329, A30 , turning right at Virginia Water.
We were now heading for Chertsey then  Shepperton as we would not have got to Notcutts before 'last orders'.   Shepperton Lock came into my mind for tea........and that is where we enjoyed tea, cakes and chat...then it started to rain!!!   Not heavy for me on my way to Egham but I believe others may not have been so lucky!!!
Thank you Tony for the photo, and my thanks to all for joining me, making for an enjoyable day..... Pam :)
PS...Best wises to Simon when he returns to Scotland on Tuesday to continue with his 'Big Bike Challenge'!!!!

Pam

Sunday the 7th May

Great Joint ride today with South Bucks CTC who lead us from Black Park to Tylers green village hall where they had a buffet lunch waiting for us.

Many thanks to John Capel for leading and the crew at the village hall and those who made the cakes and sandwiches, a special thank you to Cilla for the home made Ginger biscuits.

Afternoon tea was at Norths of Staines, thank you Irene. A nice 76 miles into the Chilterns and a nice Sunny afternoon.

Photo courtesy Simon Lambourn.

Tony.

Sunday the 7th May

J O I N T   R I D E

This coming Sunday we will join South Bucks CTC at Black park for 11's then they will lead to Tylers Green village hall for lunch.

Meet at Hampton Court main gate toilets for an 8.30 start.

Lets have a good turnout.

Tony..

Where We Went Last Sunday Afternoon

Missing out most of the boring bits

30 April, 2017

Long Ditton - Leatherhead - Long Ditton

 It is a long time since I embarrassed everybody with a photograph, so I thought that I should pick up the camera where I left off and closed the shutter cap, in more ways than one,  in April 2015. As no more than an historic record of the lads and lasses who assembled for a packet of seeds,  a fortifying  pre-ride cup of coffee and congenial company at Squires, Long Ditton for Tony's enjoyable rearward assault on Leatherhead via Little Switzerland and to remind us that the camera may lie, here is the evidence.

Banksy

 How many can you count?

Jeff