A perfect day for cycling; the weather clearing to become bright Autumn sunshine, a cool wind mild for November. Why so few in shorts and short sleeves?
Twenty folk turned up at The Mansion in Nonsuch Park (though one, Steve H, was an hour early for the 2-o-clock show!). Steve was eventually to be joined by nine others so, with Colin doing his own thing, there were twenty eight Saturday riders out on the road.
Steve W took the usual racing crew to Teddington which left me with nine to take at a more modest pace. The rota suggested Bushy Park or Hampton Court and the popular vote was for Molesey Boat Club, because us South Londoners don't naturally go oop North.
The refusal of at least one of our band to ride the extremely poor surface of the park path towards Sparrow Farm meant we circumnavigated the park to the East in order to get to Worcester Park, but otherwise it was our regular route through Tolworth and Long Ditton.
By the time we got to Old Father, the Boat Club was resplendent in the sunshine and we supped tea outside on the balcony. I know theirs is a very different, and probably more demanding sport, but I always feel welcome there as a fellow-exerciser. And the young lady said "Have a nice ride, lads" as we left, so I am definitely going there again.
Nine on the River
The ride home through Molesey, Weston Green and Surbiton was so enjoyable that I did not stop to tip a bucket of waste over the anti-Catholic preacher at Surbiton. I know it's Guy Fawkes week, but really.....
Second-time rider Saddaf got the bus from Malden Road (she had a folding bike), and after we had seen her safely off it was getting dark; completely so by the time we got home. So, a healthy 50km door-to-door but we'll have to cut it down a bit as the winter bites deeper. But otherwise a splendid day out with excellent company.
No comments:
Post a Comment