Phew! Wot a Scorcher!

The hottest day of the year so far:  Ten of us went to Chertsey for elevenses, but only eight found the Chertsey Café.  We found Ed and Bob in a café just up the road, which might have been a cooler option, as the Chertsey Cafe is in an arcade which is built a bit like a greenhouse.  Margaret & Bill, Bob, Ed, and Alan were not joining us for the ride, leaving just five of us to brave the heat.

We headed across to Lyne and then around Virginia Water, seeking shade, emerging from Blacknest Gate to climb up to the mighty Peanut roundabout.  Then downhill all the way to Fifield, and across the Thames to Dorney, where we cycled along Dorney Lake and mostly tarmac'd cycle track towards Eton.  Irene suggested a quicker route into Eton itself which worked well and got us to the Waterman's Arms a couple of minutes after one.  We found tables reserved for us, outside but with some shade, and after a lengthy wait to order our drinks and food, the food came very quickly and we were away by just after 2pm.

Still, it was still a still, hot, sticky day (see what I did there?) - 32 degrees in fact - so we took it easy along the river and along the cycle track back to Windsor Great Park.  There was a glimmer of hope that we might stop for ice creams at the village shop, but it's shut on Sunday afternoons, so we enjoyed the views over Windsor and pedalled on.  Graham suggested a diversion to Runnymede for tea and ice creams, which worked out very well.  After tea Irene took us to see the nearby sculpture (or is it an installation?) called The Jurors, marking the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.  And I now know where it was signed.  At the bottom, of course.

The Jurors, at Runnymede