2019 The Shortest Day

I'd promised the pub that we'd arrive around noon so the shortest day demanded the shortest (well almost) route of the year.

Wisely Bob had arrived early at Squires Upper Halliford. The rest faced long queues but nine were almost ready at 11 for more. After Shepperton station we turned left at the chip shop into Sheepwalk and right onto Chertsey Road. It was too fine a day to ignore the towpath so I turned right at the Kingfisher and waited. Unfortunately some continued over the bridge but quickly rejoined. The beach beside the Laleham campsite was under water and a full width puddle was our intro to the muddy towpath. There were plenty of walkers so progress was slow until Staines railway bridge where I switched to the roads thinking it would be quicker. Bt it wasn't! Once past Two Rivers the last three miles were stress free and only ten minutes late we arrived at an empty Perseverance.

After much discussion the ladies had soup, the men roasts. Following the Trencherman's example, Pat and Ray elected to share a rather small Christmas pudding, a source of great merriment.

After a visit to the "windmill" we headed north to Horton and Poyle. Kids were go-karting on the Junction 14 cycle path so we opted to stay on the bridleway only to discover a very muddy exit onto Horton Road!. We shed Pam, Gemma and later Dave and Daniel before continuing to Hanworth and Hampton Hill where our ways parted. After a quick wipe off we were off for a Christmas in Kings Lynn

The 9: GFH, Daniel Dave Gemma Pam Ray Simon Steve Vic