Thanks all for accompanying me on my quest to see the amazing interior of the barn. Ian - well done for determination to get there after missing us at Kingston. Thanks to Tony Hopkins for excellent off road route alternatives and Tony Hooker for back marking.
It was a lovely day with a good turn out. The off road section was improved by avoiding the tunnel by the old marshalling yards nature reserve and heading northeast for Hounslow Heath through better surfaced off road . A leisurely lunch ...mix of picnickers and Crown pub. Such was the improvement to the route we arrived before opening time but were able to confirm our orders and order a much needed drink. The village is pretty and the barn impressive. Some took in the church with the gravestone of Mr Cox the grafter of Coxes Orange Pippins and testament to the orchards and market gardens that once occupied the fertile soil beneath the concrete runways of Heathrow. The memorial down the road to Barnes Wallis and his bouncing bombs was visited by John who was then accosted by a lady with news of a time trial shield for West London Cycling club with names engraved on it from the 1950s. She had picked it up out of a skip but was reluctant to hand it over.
The return route joined the Grand Union via another section of Tony Hopkins inspired invention. The notable sign at Balls Bridge informed of the mileage to Paddington if anyone wished to return by train. We exited the canal into Osterley Park but it being Sunday and busy we kept to the perimeter bridleway. Soon cruising down Church Rd into Isleworth we kept north of the Thames enjoying the Twickenham riverside with teas and ice creams and finally a viewing of the massive Carrera marble statue of mermaids and webbed hoofed horses hidden away in the shrubbery.
A great day out.
I was a bit reluctant to roll out of bed on Saturday morning because I felt it was a repeat of Wednesday's ride, but I am really glad we bothered, because it was a brilliant day out, we spent time in Harmondsworth (not just the amazing barn) and Tony's detours through the heaths and off-road tracks eliminated the Heathrow Urban Jungle bit of the ride. Thanks, Steph, for a different ride which must have taken quite a few miles of preparation.
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