A long, short ride to Hanwell - 30 October

The Fox at Hanwell

Twickenham to Hanwell is a piffling four miles as the crow flies.   But - as the Graham rides: that's a completely different proposition.  Graham was unfortunately unable to lead today's ride but he kindly sent us his route, and since David had led last Sunday and last Wednesday, it seemed only fair that I offered to lead.  How difficult could it be for me, a local?

All was well at elevenses, where a healthy crowd of Bob, Mark, Diane, Tony, Pam, David W and David V, Ray and myself indulged in an unhealthy amount of unlimited coffee, before eight departed, leaving Bob to make his own way.

I think it's through here ...

And then through there ...

Graham's route promised walking over two London bridges, and the first of these was Teddington Lock, on the way to Ham gate of Richmond Park.   But Graham's ingenious and, it has to be said, adventurous route caught me out half a dozen times in about half a mile, as we twisted and turned over muddy bridleways and lumpy rabbit tracks in Ham Common.   Sighs of relief were breathed when we emerged back onto tarmac.  In Richmond Park we were held up by a large herd of deer stag-ing a sit-in on the cycle path for a while, but eventually they decided to move on.  After crossing Richmond park, the second river crossing was Hammersmith bridge, (where Dave V left us); route-finding a bit more straightforward but still requiring plenty of concentration along the back streets of Chiswick, Acton and Ealing.

Oh, deer!

We reached The Fox at Hanwell a bit after 1.30pm.  It was extremely busy, and we fretted over whether we would finish our meals by nightfall, but the service was excellent and we were away by around 2.15pm, a relatively (for Graham) straightforward route south through the highlights of Osterley Park and Mogden sewage works.    

I narrowly escaped being put in here at lunchtime
for my poor route-following.

By 3.30 we were saying goodbyes to Pam and Ray (Dave W having departed at lunch time), and the remaining four went into Squires Garden Centre, Fulwell for tea.   Three of us ordered scones with our tea, but Tony, to be different, ordered a six-foot Christmas tree, which had the waitress a bit bemused.   After a dry ride, I think it rained just as we were having tea, so I hope you got home OK and not too wet, Pam and Ray.

Thank you to Graham for his enjoyable and, at times, very exciting route.  I'm doubly sorry that you weren't able to join us - now I know how much work you have to put into leading one of your lovely intricate rides I will appreciate them even more in future!   Thanks also to David W and Tony for back marking, and to all for your forbearance with the various missed turns, sense of humour, and great company as always.

Sunday 30 October 2022

After an extra hour in bed Sunday's ride is as appears in the newsletter and elsewhere, that is, Spoons Twickenham to Fox Hanwell. A notional teastop is Squires Fulwell after 25 miles but some might wish to continue to say Bushy Park. Sunset is around quarter to five.

We'll be crossing two London bridges on foot. The only lengthy offroad is along the Canal to Norwood Green.

Expect to be in bed with flu or cold. Feeling miserable. Next update: probably Sunday am

Still coughing so I've emailed my route to Dave if he wants to use it

Ride Report - Sunday 22 October 2022

It was the wettest start to a Sunday morning for many months and only a hardy few (Simon, Graham and I) met for elevenses at The Watchman, New Malden.   Fortunately, the forecasts were right for once, and by about 11.00 am the sky looked markedly brighter and the rain started to ease off, so we decided to proceed with the planned ride to Canada Water.

My route was a little quirky and took in such unusual sights as the Wombles' bench outside AFC Wimbledon and the other Albert Square, before we began an unofficial attempt on the record for passing under railway arches in south London!

It was considerably brighter by the time (1.00 pm) we eventually reached Decathlon, Canada Water.  Bikes were safely stowed in the bike park inside the store.   It was important to do things in the right order here - by doing our shopping first we obtained till receipts to get a 10% discount in the upstairs cafe.   The cafe, like my route, was a little bit quirky, but the food and drink were fine.   The problem was with the loud music blasting from a fitness class next door!   Eventually it stopped but it wasn't a comfortable experience while it lasted!

Eventually, we made our way back the short distance, under sunlit skies, to Waterloo station where carriages awaited us!  I am rather glad I decided not to ride the whole way home as I hadn't been indoors long when the skies blackened over again and torrential rain resumed!

Thanks to Simon and Graham for their company and for loyally turning out on such an unpleasant morning, and to Simon for the photos!

Plans for Sunday 23 October 2022

This Sunday's ride will begin from Wetherspoons (The Watchman), Fountain Roundabout, New Malden.  You may remember that it was scheduled for earlier in the month but had to be postponed because of rail strikes.

The lunch stop is the Lodge Cafe, Decathlon, Canada Water.   The route to lunch (about 13 miles) is an interesting and surprising cross section of south London, pretty much all on cycle paths of one sort or another, and takes in such magnificent sites as the Wombles' bench and Albert Square (no, not that one)!

Posters in Decathlon say that a till receipt will get you a 10% discount in the cafe so it may be worth doing your shopping first (after checking the small print), but remember that Decathlon only take card payments.   There is limited cycle parking inside the store, but a goodish lock is still advised!   Toilets in the basement.

After lunch the route  https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/134333128 takes us on three more miles of quiet roads and cycle paths to Waterloo station, where carriages will await us, although it continues another eight or nine miles to Richmond Park for those who wish to cycle home.

Autumn ride to Bagshot - 16 October

In these difficult times, it is good to know that at least two things are in abundant supply.   One of these is acorns.   It's been a good year for acorns.   We know this because the roads are peppered, nay, piled high with them in some places.

Full inside

And two more outside

We started the day with an excellent turnout at Addlestone's Golden Cafe, which was standing room only by the time we were ready to leave.  Several were only out for elevenses, having heard that David W had been called for duty elsewhere, perhaps helping talks at Chequers?   But a hardy four companions set out along the acorn-infested roads.   We rode a panoramic tour of the autumn colours of Foxhills, Stonehills, and Coxhill Green (strangely all fairly flat), before the day's highlight, the ford at Pennypot.   None were brave enough to risk it, although we did establish that the water was less than a foot deep.

Where was David W when we needed him?
(Photo: Pam)

The ever-changing menu at the Kings Head gave us new choices and we were served promptly, just warm enough to sit outdoors.   Tony suspected his coffee was made with acorns, in a development which could have been a Green initiative, or simply cost-saving.  After lunch we were entertained by riding past the large mansions in upper Windlesham and Sunninghill, passing Hatton Hill, Benjamin's Mount and Mount Pleasant on the way to Windsor Great Park.   Despite all this, the hill-o-meter was still registering "mildly hilly" and never even reached "undulating", until we reached Breakheart Hill on the way to the Guards Polo club.

Breakheart Hill

Reaching the summit (Photo: Tony)

The other thing that is abundant at this time of year is U-turns.  Unfortunately I contributed to the surplus as I whizzed down a lovely hill towards Wick Gate, not where we wanted to be at all.  I suggested a dodgy looking path through the trees to the loyal followers.   Pam even confirmed that she had full confidence in the leader, so I knew I was in trouble.   But after a bit of fairly mild off-road, bumping across a field of grass, a bridge and a track, culminating in a sign saying "No Cycles" pointing to where we had just come from, we emerged on the broad sunlit tarmac uplands of the path round Virginia Water lake.   It was swarming with people.   And acorns.   But we managed to find our way to the exit, and without further drama, made our way via St Ann's Hill to Nauticalia at Shepperton, whereupon a lively and enjoyable discussion sprang up, covering such diverse topics such as the culinary uses of quinces, and a multitude of ways to prepare porridge.

It's a pleasure to be part of such a sociable and fun group of riders.   Thank you to all who came along.

Ride plans for Sunday 16 October

In line with the re-jigged rides list for October, elevenses will be at the Golden Cafe, Addlestone, with a delightful fifteen mile ride to lunch at The Kings Arms, Bagshot.   Tea at Shepperton.  The official weather forecast is "Nice with a few autumn colours".  I hope you can join us.

Ride Report - Sunday 9 October 2022

 

Steve D, Diane, Tony H, Graham, Pam, Robert, Terry, Maureen and Ed joined me for elevenses at The Queen Stage, Effingham   Their peak trade on Sundays seems to be between 10.00 am and 10.30 am with a large queue forming then, but it was much quieter immediately before and after this period.   It was a cold but sunny start and far too cold to sit outside in my reckoning, but the constant passing of other customers between the two outside areas meant it wasn't much warmer inside in the otherwise comfortable area we occupied!

All except Maureen and Ed joined the ride to Woking.   We meandered about a bit, and there were a few cycle paths, but, for a change, virtually nothing we rode on was unsurfaced!    After pausing to admire some of the rather frightening sculptures of looming figures in Woking town centre we proceeded to Wetherspoons, a very apt place for Robert to enjoy his final lunch with us before his return to Canada.    We hope to see him again in next spring.

By the time we left lunch it had warmed up considerably and we our short, bog standard ride to Walton Bridge was punctuated by frequent stops for successive items of outer clothing to be removed.   Enjoy it while you can.

In summary, a fairly unexceptional sort of ride (none the worse for that) on a pleasant day.   Thanks all for your company.

Ride Report - Sunday 2 October 2022

A wet start did not deter Simon, Tony, Pam, Graham, Robert and I from meeting at Morrison's, Weybridge.   Morrison's is good providing you allow enough time to negotiate the rather long queue which can develop for coffee and food!   So it was that some of us set off for Windsor with thirsts slaked and on full stomachs,  others not!

By the time we were on the road it had stopped raining and even showed signs of brightening up.   We took a slightly quirky route to Egham where my plan for us to climb Prune Hill was foiled by closure of the level crossing.   Curses!   Even worse, other level crossing closures  in the area were causing traffic to back up in Egham town centre!  Birthday Girl Pam came to the rescue and led us adroitly through a car park and a warren of back streets to bring us out near the bottom of Middle Hill, which today had to stand in for Prune Hill.  After gliding down Crimp Hill, our route into Windsor took us along the path of the Queen's funeral cortege, at least as far as the Long Walk.   Crowds were out in force in Windsor but we easily found a table in the haven which is the courtyard seating behind the Cinnamon Cafe, where things were as excellent as ever!

Dehydration and malnutrition staved off, we headed via Datchet, Staines and Laleham for tea at Shepperton Lock.

Many thanks to all for your company, and to Simon for back-marking, and many happy returns to Pam!   I must say that going out on one of my rides would not be my idea of a birthday treat!