B Group - 28th November

As we left the Bradbury Centre the weather was dry and very pleasant, seventeen headed through Kingston towards the river. We passed through the Canbury Gardens and along to Teddington Lock, then Ham House, Richmond Bridge, Kew Gardens and the old brewery building at Mortlake. Then it’s Barnes and up the ramp onto Hammersmith Bridge.

The weather remained kind to us, still dry, warmish and no wind yet.

Crossing over the old beautiful Hammersmith Bridge, this was a special moment for me, being able to cycle over it. Outside the pub there were secure railings for us to attach our cycles to, so it was into the William Morris.

Just before the bridge we had lost our back marker as he had a flat tyre, but he arrived before we were to depart. The pub was brilliant, everyone was served quickly, absolutely amazing value!

By the time we left the pub, the winds had arrived, causing us to battle against it all the way to Barnes, where we were caught twice at the level crossings, so taking a little time for everyone to get through and reassemble.

Onto Richmond Park, the climb up to Richmond gate was hard with the winds, unfortunately we had lost the back marker again, a repeat of the puncture problem.

At Kingston Gate, with the weather getting worse, we decided to alter the ride, and in place of going to The Pheasantry in Bushy Park we would have afternoon tea in the Local Hero café in Thames Street, Kingston, five of us stopping for tea.

Thanks to all for your good company, such an enjoyable day out! Sorry we all went home with dirty cycles!

Thanks for the ‘corner marking’ and to David for back marking, when he was with us.

Jennie

Author: Tim C

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A Blustery Day: A Group 28 November

Winnie-the-Pooh woke up feeling strangely excited.  Then he remembered: it was Wednesday, and he was going on an Expotition with his friends.  As he left Pooh Corner, there were flurries of leaves.  It was a Blustery Day.

At Kingston, Pooh couldn’t help feeling a little peckish as he looked at all the lovely cakes on offer, but he said to himself “No, Pooh Bear, you have only ridden four miles”, and he reluctantly waited till lunch.  He was pleased to see all his friends.   Rabbit asked where they were going. “Rabbit, We are going on an Expotition to the North Pole”, said Pooh, proudly.  But Rabbit said “We already went there in September.  Silly old bear.”  Pooh sighed. He was a bear of very little brain, and now he would have to think of another Expotition. 

“I know” he exclaimed.  “We will go on an Expotition to the South Pole instead!”  And so Pooh, Kanga, Tigger, Roo, Piglet, Eeyore and Rabbit, with all his friends and relations, set off to the South Pole.  On the way, they went through mini-Holland, and Roo was very excited.  “Will we see lots of windmills?” he said.    “No, dear” said Kanga, gently.  “What do you expect from Kingston Council?” said Eeyore, gloomily.

Piglet nervously asked “Will there be h-h-h-hills?”  Pooh looked at Piglet sternly.  “Do bears Pooh in the woods, Piglet?  This is the A Group.”  On they went, past beautiful lakes and village greens, and a few road works.  Eeyore was looking at the leaden sky.  “It’s going to pour down at about twelve o’clock” he grumbled.  Roo asked “Are we nearly there yet?”.  “Not yet, darling” said Kanga, in her kind and gentle voice.

The group of friends passed through Cobham and headed up Downside Bridge Road.  Tigger rushed up to Pooh and said “We’re riding straight into the wind, up a hill, and it’s almost drizzling!  This is not the kind of ride that Tiggers like!”  Meanwhile Pooh was feeling a bit despondent.  Some of Rabbit's friends and relations were muttering about how far it was to lunch, and he was feeling a bit, well, empty inside.  “Are we nearly there yet?” said Roo.  “Shut up and keep pedalling” said Kanga, in a rather less kind and gentle voice.  Eeyore announced “With all this wind, it’s a wonder nobody has been blown into a ditch”, to no-one in particular.

As they neared East Horsley, Pooh had a brainwave.  “Sod this” he said.  “The South Pole is into a headwind all the way.  We’ll go to Send Marsh instead.  They have pies there.”  Piglet squeaked anxiously “What kind of p-p-pies are they, Pooh?  Do they have p-p-p-pork p-p-pies?”.  Pooh replied “I don’t think so, Piglet”.  So Pooh Bear, Kanga, Eeyore, Roo, Piglet, Rabbit, and all his friends and relations turned right at The Drift, negotiating all the Heffalump Traps towards Long Reach.  Now they were heading downhill with a following wind.  Tigger bounded up to Pooh Bear to exclaim “This is the kind of ride that Tiggers like!”  And as Pooh and Tigger chatted about this and that, Pooh Bear missed a turning, which was just as well because it was a muddy track and Pooh would have been very unpopular.  Pooh didn’t tell all his friends about this mistake, and they all arrived at The Saddlers Arms none the wiser, and still before one o’clock.

Pooh made sure that Piglet wasn’t nearby and ordered a sausage sandwich, which nearly filled the empty space inside him.  Soon all the friends had eaten their fill and it was time to leave. Eeyore was sure that it would be raining when they left the pub, but there were still only a few spots.  The ramshackle group of friends set off again, in a roundabout way to get to Pyrford, where Rabbit and all his friends and relations turned off to head for home.  The wind was even more blustery now, but the much reduced Expotition was riding downwind and even Eeyore was almost enjoying himself.  Pooh was still feeling a little hankering for something filling, and when they arrived at the Walton Riverhouse Barn he was greeted by the largest piece of Victoria Sponge that he’d ever seen.  He rode home a little slower, with a warm glow in his tummy.  It had been a truly exciting Expotition.

Many thanks to David W for the photo, to Mike B for back-marking, and Peter B for taking over after Pyrford.   Grateful apologies also to A.A.Milne.

Author: Simon L

10 Comments:

PaulKelly 28 November 2018 at 18:07 GMT

I'll have one of whatever you are on please!

Mark G 28 November 2018 at 18:59 GMT

Simon, it would seem that you are a bear of little rain ...

Jeff 28 November 2018 at 19:17 GMT

Brilliant, Simon.

What more can I say. Next lead to the Ashdown Forest, I trust.

Tony 28 November 2018 at 20:34 GMT

Ride report of the year, more like this please.

mike morley 28 November 2018 at 21:04 GMT

I have to say I agree with everyone's comments Brilliant report Simon. Sorry I did not make it! I had the best of intentions but on awaking in the cloud of the North Downs and the very heavy rain and wind I retreated back indoors. From Walton le Hill Kingston is a sod to get to and while I was more inclined to go with the "B's" I did not fancy all the muddy trails predicted.

Tim C 29 November 2018 at 09:39 GMT

A truly great report. I think I've identified Pooh and Tigger in the photo, and possibly Kanga, but still thinking about the rest.

Dave F 29 November 2018 at 13:22 GMT

Pooh, The name is Ferrett not Rabbit. Otherwise a work of true genius.

Unknown 29 November 2018 at 18:42 GMT

A-maz-ing! Super Simon 😊😊...

Mike Barrett 30 November 2018 at 08:22 GMT

A.A.Marvellous!

Unknown 04 December 2018 at 18:46 GMT

Simon, it's absolutely brilliant. I loved it. Certainly deserves to be Report of the Year! Any copies available? Gill

A Group 28 Nov

We will be escaping from Kingston via mini-Holland and Cobham for a fairly gentle ride to The Saddler's Arms at Send Marsh.   21 miles and a few pimples on the way there, and then back to Walton for tea.   The good news is that the weather is forecast to be mild, but that might not be the whole story.

Author: Simon L

Advice for B Group ride - 28th November

For Wednesday’s ride from Kingston we shall follow the towpath all the way to Hammersmith Bridge and on to lunch at the William Morris pub in King Street, a Weatherspoon’s. This will mean that almost all our ride to lunch will be ‘off road’/ along tracks.

After lunch, a much smoother surface, along to and through Richmond Park and then into Bushy Park for afternoon tea at The Pheasantry.

Have just watched the weather forecast on Countryfile; Wednesday could be wet and windy.

Look forward to seeing you all.

Jennie

Author: Tim C

21 November A ride from Leatherhead

I started planning this ride, not so long ago, when we could sit outside for lunch or tea. The idea was to explore some of the quieter lanes and unsurfaced tracks on the way to Sidlow. Then it rained, and rained, and the tracks were ruined. Then it was cold with rumours of snow on the downs.

So plan B was an all road ride, 20 flattish miles to lunch, 17 hilly-ish miles to tea. Important was to get to Banstead before 4.00 when Pistachios started putting away their cakes.

Sixteen of us left Leatherhead just after 11, in welcome sunshine. We were unlucky when the puncture fairy struck just before Newdigate, so to keep to schedule we diverted direct to the pub, arriving in good time. The Three Horseshoes gives you a warm welcome, good beer, and good value food, so unsurprisingly we lingered a bit, despite the sunshine outside.

It was well after 2 when we left, and the sun and temperature were clearly going down, hence the hurried picture. Mark and Ken opted for direct routes home. The rest of the group rode a couple of lesser known lanes before tackling the three climbs to get us to Banstead, where we arrived, suitably warmed up, with 10 minutes to spare. Tea and cakes for some, direct routes home for others.

We had met and briefly mingled with the B group at Merstham, who were recovering from a particularly gruelling ascent of Farthing Down, and managed to peel off Alan Imeson to tea, and briefly Mike Morley.

Thanks to all for their company and support, especially to Jennie for back marking, assisting with puncture repair, and keeping the B’s at bay.

33 Miles to tea, 2000ft of climbing, 13.8 mph before lunch, 12.1mph on the hills afterwards.

Author: Dave Vine