Bushy Park - Part Deux; Nonsuch moderates 4 April

 

Karen writes...... 

After some cogitation on the delights (or otherwise) of open-air refreshments at Teddington Lock, a decision was made to return to Bushy Park.  So, with the sterling assistance (and photography skills) of Sue, nine of us set off from NSP.

It wasn't as cold as anticipated but certainly windy as we made our way through Worcester Park towards Kingston, where a strong gust caught us as we turned towards the bridge.  We all made it safely to the end of the cycle lane where a considerate driver (thought I was in Spain for a second) gave way for us to rejoin the carriageway.

I was aware that my bike chain was making a bit of a racket throughout the ride so, upon entering the park, Tony and Colin tried to identify (and hopefully rectify) the cause. After much head scratching, we resolved to have a closer look at The Pheasantry. 

The venue is undergoing some renovation but it didn't detract from our victuals. We considered returning via Teddington but, as it was quite late by this point, Sue suggested a more circuitous but far more appealing route back to Kingston, with some goslings thrown in. By this time, it was agreed that my chain mechanism was out of alignment and not something that could be rectified without tools.

On a happier note, I'm pleased to report that the goslings are thriving and the whole family seems utterly unfazed by the attention.  After much ah-ing and aw-ing, we reluctantly left the geese and headed home without incident.  Thanks to Sue and Tony for ensuring group stayed together.

ALL DAY SATURDAY RIDE: 11 APRIL 2026

Evening All

Next Saturday as mentioned in an earlier blog, posted 26 March, will be an all day ride to Leigh.  In case there was any difficulty with downloading the route in my aforesaid post which might be because I forgot to make it public, apologies, I am providing a new link.  Hopefully this will now allow you access to the route and to send it to your navigation device:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53904069

If you still experience any problem getting the route then you are welcome to contact me at,

de_prado@hotmail.co.uk

I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter and tucking in to plenty of Easter Eggs...

Bernard P

Nonsuch 1-o-clockers to Garson's Farm 28 March

Saturday was a bright morning but there was a chilly and brisk Nor'Westerly.  The forecast threatended intermittent showers.  Twenty four hours earlier the rides list had carried a "tbd" but the new rides list was out before I left home and suggested Hampton Court or Bushy Park.  That was where we went last week so I had a look down the programme and, seeing that Garson's Farm was not due until May and I hadn't been there since before Christmas I opted for that.  Posh garden centre chains packed with every kind of good except what you need in the garden are not my favourite venues but the rides there and back are enjoyable and that is what I needed.

Selling it to the others was not difficult especially as most of the healthy number who turned up at the Mansion wanted to go on a longer, faster ride.  So off I set with just Ken, Nigel and Karen in tow; two experienced riders plus an electric bike, so we had the advantage of not having to hang around too much.  

Ken was fretting about his battery usage but it seems to me that battery indicators on a bike are about as accurate as fuel indicators on a car, so he had ample mileage in the tank.  But he has discovered the accelerator on his machine, so he was right behind me as we made our way at Beginners lickety-spit pace and got to the garden centre in about an hour and a quarter, despite that headwind.

There were only four of us, so we found a table indoors where it was a bit too warm for those who had to go out again and brave the elements.  When we did emerge there were, as forecast, some evil looking clouds on the horizon but the choice was to get on with it or stay there for the night so off we legged it up Lammas Lane and down le Col de Sandown, pausing only for a quick photo outside the school where Ken used to teach music.

Good memories for Ken

The indigo clouds were tailing us but we fooled them with a few little shimmies round the back paths of Thames Ditton.  And that would have been that but for the tunnel on South Lane where it was flooded, and upon emerging on the southern side we had a perplexing slow moving collision in which poor Karen was all but crushed by the hippopotamus which settled as if in slow motion on top of her.  A passing zookeeper kindly parked her car and helped us lift the great beast, which had to be sat down on a wall but insisted it could carry on.

Karen got home safely but was not, it turned out, unbruised and felt a bit unsteady after half a dozen gin and tonics.  I escorted the hippopatamus back to its enclosure.

So, a splendid ride but our thoughts were somewhat concentrated on the lessons to be learned from its ending.  After all, passengers on board the Titanic enjoyed three days of wonderful luxury cruising before their mishap, but everybody forgets that bit.

Nonsuch 2-o-clockers to the Pheasantry, 28 March

Sue B writes

Sue shows true leadership in Bushy Park

Today was a cold bright day for my first official ride leading.  There was just myself, Michael T and Colin L. We went to Bushy Park via South Lane and through the slightly flooded underpass under the A3! It was being cleared on the way back, but still flooded!

We went through Kingston Town centre into the 1^st entrance to Bushy Park. I introduced them to the family of 12 Egyptian Goslings in there! We then went to the Pheasantry for coffee. Our return trip was via the River Thames towpath which we had to ourselves for most of the time and Kingston  Don’t know where everyone was!

A very pleasant afternoon even if there was a biting wind at times! Managed to get them safely back to Green Lane in Worcester Park, where we then all parted company.

Not a warm day at the Pheasantry

Last 1pm ride is this Saturday March 28th

From Saturday April 4th all the beginners rides will be at 2pm from Nonsuch and Beddington Parks.

ALL DAY SATURDAY RIDE: 11 APRIL 2026

 Hi fellow cyclists

On 11th April 2026 there is an all day Saturday ride which I will be leading and hope you enjoy.  We will leave from our usual Saturday starting point next to the cafe in Nonsuch Park at 11 am.  We will then cycle to The Old Moat (where we will briefly stop to allow me to load the rest of the route onto my garmin) and head on to lunch at The Plough Inn in Leigh.  We then head on to Leatherhead for our finish and coffee/tea at a place to be agreed by us all once we get there.  Having recci'd the ride it is a very pleasant country ride in the Surrey Hills and we will go at a gentle pace ensuring no one is left far behind and we all have a great Spring bike ride.

This is the link to the gpx route from Nonsuch to the Old Moat:

 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54395306?privacy_code=IUHeNhEwPgcoHIa03Bdnh2dKI1DjdRnu

And this is the link to the gpx route from the Old Moat to Leatherhead via Leigh, ie the rest of the ride:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53904069

If anyone has any queries or problem with the route or its downloading you can whatsap or telephone me on: 

07453912049

Or e-mail me on

de_prado@hotmail.co.uk

Have a great weekend

Bernard P

URGENT - new Hon Sec required

 

From Sue F

Following on from my blog post last month, we have not yet had any applicants to take up the role of Hon Secretary which will become vacant when Dave F steps down after the AGM next month. This is an extremely worrying situation as the Hon Sec role is one of the official roles required by Cycling UK and without a secretary we cannot function as a club. I quite understand that most of us, despite being largely retired, have lots of other commitments so with that in mind I have asked CUK if the role could be shared which they have agreed to. If this puts a different complexion on your thoughts about applying, please email me ASAP and remember, ‘a job shared is a job halved’, as they say!

Dave has kindly agreed to handover / assist / mentor his successor for their first full year cycle of duties so there will be plenty of support available.

A full description of the role can be found here

Secretary's toolkit | Cycling UK

With best wishes

Sue F

sue.foster39@gmail.com