A lazy ride by the river. 25th April

From Roger It was ideal cycling weather – warm with a fresh breeze as we met at the Mansion. It was the day of the “Hilly 50” so some regular riders were missing, Caroline decided to take the short ride to Telegraph track. No one seemed eager to lead a longer ride, so I suggested Eight on the river with the prospect of good coffee and relaxing in the sun terrace above the boathouse overlooking the Thames. We welcomed Liz, who had not cycled with us previously so we were a group of eleven as we set off on the usual route to Worcester Park and on to Kingston. The market at Kingston was heaving with people waiting to graze at the food stalls, as we wound our way through them and up onto the cycle track across the bridge, and into Bushy Park. The track through the park had its fair share of suicidal young rabbits dashing out almost under one’s wheels and the track was bone dry and seemed to have lost none of its potholes, though many had been partly filled with gravel. There were few people enjoying the sun until we neared Hampton Court. At the palace we took the usual route across the bridge and then turned right to head alongside the riverbank and onto the rough track leading to the clubhouse. The rowing club was packed and the available space littered with racing shells with the pursuit boats on trestles while crews manoeuvred the long racing shells in and out of the water. We sat out in the sun enjoying an Iced coffee and cake and could have stayed longer, but the café was shutting early at 4pm. I decided that I would like to return via the path past Hampton Court palace and along the Thames leading to Kingston Bridge – it was a lovely sunny day and I thought the view of the river and craft to be more interesting than backroads and high roads. Frank left us here deciding to make his own way home. We retraced our steps back across the bridge on the shared cycle path and crossing on the pelican crossing opposite Hampton Court, we set off alongside the river heading for Kingston. It was a lovely relaxing ride with even the river looking pretty and not too many pedestrians or other cyclists. At Kingston we retraced our steps on our usual route via Berrylands and on crossing under the Kingston bypass Jackie and Dee indicated they knew the route back to Nonsuch and they were joined by Liz. While the rest carried on towards Worcester Park and Green lanes. Nigel was backmarker but unfortunately, his chain came off bringing him off with it. Unhurt, he was soon back in the saddle, but the main group lost contact with him and waited for quite a time, at Green Lane in case his chain had slipped off once more, or he had come to grief. When calls to his mobile went unanswered messages were left and contact was eventually made with him. He had discovered Liz who had become lost and he decided to accompany her back to the Mansion. Despite some concerns at the end of the ride, it was a pleasant easy ride of about twenty miles through a lovely park and back alongside the river, while other hardy souls toiled on the Hilly fifty.