Flooded roads and the threat of rain have jinxed this ride in the past two years
so I did hope for better this time, but the very large puddles I had to dodge
after risking life and limb to cross the Pru Ride London route did not bode
well! Nevertheless, Tony, Ray Wren and Graham were not deterred and joined me
in the sunshine at Sunbury. We took a quirky route close to the western
perimeter of Heathrow, and Tony helped us cut off a corner into Harmondsworth,
from where it was a straight road to Uxbridge. Several members were missing
with cast iron excuses, but Pam, Irene, Lillian were already ensconced in
Wetherspoons when we arrived.
The route to Hedgerley was not a long one but the
clouds were gathering all the while and we had to to struggle through
undergrowth on the Denham roundabout and minor floods at Tatling Lane. Despite
this, we made it to the shelter of the White Horse just in time to miss two very
heavy showers.
After a good lunch we toiled up Hedgerley Hill where Ray
detected bottom bracket trouble. He bravely soldiered on with us past the
Genevieve ford and many splendored Pinewood and through the eastern outskirts of
Slough. Tea was not possible at Vermeulens, the obvious stop, as it was closed
for the day, so we soldiered on to Shepperton's Cafe Mocha, avoiding the centre of Ashford
thanks to Graham this time. Rain threatened again but we made it to tea in the
dry. Thanks to all for good company and we'll hope for better weather next
year!
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