It was seasonably cold this Saturday but I had tested negative after a week of Covid so had no excuse not to ride to Nonsuch to ensure we had a listed leader. The temperature had dropped further along the way and I just could not get the thought of merino wool out of my head; certainly I began to regret my decision to wear fingerless gloves. As I approached Sutton, Nigel appeared from his road and, disconcertingly, we were the only two when we arrived at the Mansion.
Never mind, regulars turned up until we were eight, including the very welcome returning Mark, an erstwhile Beginner and co-founder of the Beddington rides, whose twins (now six years old) have kept him from the bike for a while. It was pleasing to hear that he found himself available for a bike ride today and looked up his alternatives on the internet; when he searched us out he had found the wording quite clear and therefore turned up at one-o-cock in hope of a ride. I report this because several regulars still find the change in times confusing.
IN WINTER THE BEDDINGTON RIDE
AND THE LONG RIDE FROM NONSUCH START AT 1PM.
Hampton Court/Bushy Park was on the rides list but in my pre-Covid state last week I had taken a group to Molesey. Now in my post-Covid state I did not fancy anything too hilly or too long. Nobody present today had been on my ride last week, so everybody was happy to go to Bushy Park and then, at the last gasp, the cavalry arrived in the form of Steve W.
We all agreed on Bushy Park but Steve offered a more exciting route through Wimbledon, Roehampton and Richmond Park. Karl, Tarantino Rob (the infamous film producer), Stuart, and Nigel went with him; Sharon, Lorraine and Mark with me. I went the Tolworth, Long Ditton route. The weather may have been a bit dull but at least there was no precipitation. My only difficulty, and one I have not solved yet, was how best to get my group from the Cycle path on the east side of Hampton Court Way to the Lion Gate at Bushy Park. The "safe" cycle route involves crossing the busy main road three times. I decided next time either just to ride over the busy roundabout up Hampton Road or to execute the route in reverse order.
We arrived in Bushy Park before the others and had finished our coffee and cake (note, next time avoid the lukewarm vegan sausage rolls at a fiver a throw) when Steve's group turned up. Forced to sit outside because less deserving people (ie those not wearing shorts) had taken all the indoor tables, we had got cold enough not to be sociable, so we made our excuses and left, as the News of the World reporters used to say.
Mark with two very cold ladies at Bushy Park
On the way out we met Carolyn, who was volunteering and cheerily told us she did not feel very well. Having just had both the vaccines and the disease, I need not have backed off so abruptly.
The ride home was distinctly colder but even so the path along Cobblers Walk to the Timothy Bennett memorial is always a joy. It is like riding through the bush; the vast open space, the lakes, the fallen trees, the herds of wild deer; one almost expects a Kangaroo to stick its head up from the long grass, or a leopard to come leaping out of it.
At Kingston Market the only thing that leaps out is a pedestrian staring at his mobile phone. We split, as usual, at Worcester Park and made our several ways home. Thanks everybody for the fine company on a cold day.
No comments:
Post a Comment