The leader isn't always right. Nonsuch Beginners 2 July

By Paul J

Nigel has a nasty foot injury, and Steve W was busy at home, so Colin looked a bit relieved when someone on the list of approved leaders arrived willing to take a longer ride on a breezy but sunny Saturday.

Matthew's mechanical problem ruled him out of my ride, so eight riders joined me for a pleasant afternoon at Beginners' pace on a course so flat that Berrylands was a significant hill.  It was a perfect day for a suburban ride; it might have been a little windy on the North Downs but in Malden (Old and New) and Kingston there was plenty of shelter from the side winds.

Bushy Park

Kingston Bridge, Bushy Park and back across the river at Hampton Court with the intention of having coffee at Dish, but, dismounting on the scruffy green there, the captain faced a challenge to his authority "It's much nicer at the (East Molesey) Rowing Club" and when this challenge engendered a little tetchiness, his plans in ruins, the whole crew joined in and he had a full scale mutiny on his hands.  Eager not to be cast adrift in a rowing boat, he meekly followed.

So up river it was, to the Rowing Club, and not a single thing happened to give the captain any excuse to say "I told you so".  Van drivers stopped to let us turn right on to the riverside path, dog walkers stood aside and told us they were delighted to let us through (surely they could not have been that delighted), there was far more parking space for the bicycles, the cafe was deserted with two young ladies eager to serve, and the terrace overlooked a delightful stretch of the River and the posh houseboats on Tagg's Island and we supped an excellent cup of tea to the sounds of  cricket match being played in the sunshine.  Grrr, he thought, the mutineers were right all along.  Even the chocolate brownie was delicious.

After coffee we made our way through Church Road to Molesey, and over Willow Mead to Chestnut Avenue and the delightful wooden church by the pond at Weston Green, thence through the John Bellamy patented route back to Berrylands.  We split up at Worcester Park Station in good spirits; the ride had been about 21 miles (I only measured my door-to-door; 27 miles).

There is an epilogue; next day Helen told us she had tested positive for Covid; get well, Helen and I hope it does not delay your knee operations.  And a post script; thank you, Lorraine for taking us to the Rowing Club, and I will definitely be going there again in preference.

East Molesey Rowing Club