Ride Report: A Group 22 October, Bushy Park to Lightwater

 Dave W had publicised a 25 miles ride from the Pheasantry at Bushy Park to our lunch stop at an old favourite The Red Lion at Lightwater. He advised that although it has its undulating moments, the route was much flatter than typical for an 'A' ride with the route back to tea at Walton Bridge even less hilly and only about 12 miles. 

Unfortunately having done all of the hard preparatory work,  Dave was unable to attend and enjoy the ride,  but remained our virtual or spiritual leader. Thankfully 3 willing volunteers bravely agreed to sub lead from .gpx. History suggested that this task was unlikely to be a doddle. However, no one was quite as keen to volunteer a ride report, so you are stuck with this attempt from me, at least as a starter for 10. Others may want to add their photos or text.. 

Dave’s rides historically have been characterised by a variety of adjectives including, novel, intricate, fiendish, interesting, twisty-turny, different and scenic and this proved to be no exception.  The route from Bushy Park was another magical mystery tour that weaved is spell around various seldom visited leafy lanes, cycleways and byways. For the first 7 miles to Shepperton it hardly seemed it was an urban ride!

Dave had also kindly arranged for it to be one of the nicest Wednesday for cycling for quite some weeks, a chilly start yes, but dry and amazingly the sun did shine to warm our souls from time to time. At times we were cycling through magnificent arches of adjacent bushes and trees with dappled light highlighting the autumnal colours. On the downside sub leaders can struggle with sat nav screen glare at this time of year.

As advertised it was longish stretch to lunch, but groups were pacing themselves carefully to arrive at the DW designated arrival slots. I lost count of the suitable lunch pubs we passed after 30 or so until we finally found the one that suited. 

The Red Lion was as efficient as ever, with the landlord practicing his own version of “how many people can you get in a mini” but with bikes in his tiny, gated courtyard. It was inevitably a bit of a game of Jenga for the first to leave after lunch to extract theirs.

Lunch was served extremely efficiently, with the small price to pay for pre-preparation meaning the “hot” options were somewhat less than hot, but tasty and generous non the less. It very much remains an A group approved pit stop. We were all suitably refreshed and good to go within about 45 minutes.

The pm trip provided for a slightly brisker pace, but with the Wild Brunch slamming the hatches shut at 15:00, the third wave failed to make the cut for refreshments there.

As others have already shared on Watts App, huge thanks to Dave W for organising and for those stepping up to sub lead and back mark. 

Dave V has kindly sent this report for his sub group:

A cool but thankfully dry morning brought all 20 A’s to the Pheasantry in Bushy Park in good spirits and good time for the punctual start requested by Dave’s meticulously detailed instructions. My group included Simon L, Karl, Brian, Clive and enthusiastic back-marker Steve to whom many thanks.

I have learned to expect the unexpected on Dave’s routes and today did not disappoint. Without the benefit of a recce, I was relying on the Garmin to guide me. It coped well with the initial excursion through the hidden by-ways of Hampton and Sunbury. Only on the busy section of A30 did Garmin encourage me to think that Basingstoke rather than Lightwater was a suitable destination for lunch. Thankfully my group had enough of uphill A30 and showed me the correct route, which rewarded us with a long descent to the Red Lion.

We arrived within one minute of Dave’s forecast time, and were welcomed, as previously, by the ever helpful staff, who served our pre-ordered food as we stepped through the door.

The afternoon was straightforward, the sun was out, with autumnal colours everywhere and we made good time to Walton Bridge. Thankfully we arrived before The Wilde Brunch called time on serving customers. Unfortunately our last group on the road were not so lucky.

A good day’s riding, with thanks to Dave W for masterminding it all, including the perfect cycling weather.