Ken and I last cycled to Wimbledon Common in November before the current lockdown. It had been busy then and we were under no illusion that it would be less crowded today but we'd both had the first Covid vaccine a month ago so had some protection from whichever variant was out there!
It was a cold afternoon but no snow or rain were forecast. Immediately we were cycling on the grass through Beddington Park as families milled across the path and youngsters happily meandered on their new bikes and scooters. We left the the park to cycle over the bridge by Hackbridge Station and turned left at the mini roundabout onto Hackbridge Road planning to join the Wandle Trail at the Hack Bridge. I could see there was a problem ahead as a cyclist was facing tall barriers where the path joins the road. Imagining we were going to have to rethink the route we cycled down Riverbank Way just in case there was an exit onto the path. Thankfully there was a new short, narrow path leading us onto the trail.
It was an afternoon for families to be out with their children and it was lovely to see. Children, some of them really quite small on their own bikes and babies in seats in front or behind their parents'. We repeated the route of November ending up climbing the hill and making our way through muddy puddles on Wimbledon Common before stopping briefly at the windmill cafe for a comfort break. The cafe was too crowded so we cycled back to Eastfields for tea.
The Windmill at Wimbledon Common
The temperature had been dropping and when Ken took his gloves off his hands were blue. We quickly downed our drinks and set off back along the Wandle trail to return to our warm houses. As I left the Wandle trail I was behind a young boy of about 5, with his Dad, returning from cycling to the Thames! I wonder how far he'll be going in a few years.
We're anticipating warmer weather soon and also possibly returning to cycling in groups of six around Easter. Let's hope so!
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