A beautiful sunny morning suddenly turned to threatening grey in the minutes before our meeting. Was it an omen?
Far from it. For various reasons I had not ridden with Saturday riders for a while, and Maggie was back, testing her shoulder for the first time in what seems ages on a full ride. And she had the idea that we could meet up with the Nonsuch Saturday riders, who were scheduled to go to Merton Abbey Mills. Needing a short ride, darkening skies and meeting everybody; a treble whammy of the best sort.
It was just the old faithfuls today, me and Maggie, Ken, Anna and Roger, and apart from Roger doing his level best to end up under a tram, it was a really enjoyable ride. Nobody wanted to dawdle because of the cold, brisk wind, so we got on with it. There was a fair on Figges Marsh, typically English, roundabouts and sidestalls garish in the cheap lighting, fairground music blaring out, hardly anybody there on a freezing cold day. But soon enough we were rounding the curve to the William Morris factory and homing in on M.E.D, where it was full inside and sheltered just enough outside that we could sit there.
And, aligning perfectly with Maggie's cunning plan, along came Carolyn and the short ride riders fron Nonsuch. Lots of old friends now.
....sat on the MED bench like bookends.
Home south on the Wandle Trail and the rain, which had held off all day, came about half an hour after we had got indoors (via another tea stop, at the Pavilion Cafe in Beddington Park).
Old friends, Maggie's shoulder tested, kept dry, had a good ride, two tea stops, Roger survived to tell the tale. Can you envisage a better Saturday? Thanks everyone for the company, and Anna for taking up the role as back marker.
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