Ride to Windsor Great Park on Saturday the 18th June

  After a week of thundery downpours, more than in recent years in June, 15 riders assembled under leaden skies on Kingston Bridge. Luckily the weather stayed dry all day apart from one drizzly shower near Lyne, but it could not be described as "flaming "June.

  We set off along the Portsmouth road, admiring the new cycle track on the opposite side of the road.

Unfortunately, to get on and off this when going south involves dismounting and walking over a pedestrian crossing. The lane also ends at the Kingston Borough boundary just beyond the turning to Surbiton, so we stayed on the road. This sort of problem seems to defeat traffic engineers, who are reluctant to put in a proper cyclist crossing for fear of slowing down motor traffic.

  We carried on through Molesey and along by the reservoirs to the turning down to the Thames Path by Walton Leisure Centre. This path has been resurfaced recently, and makes for a good ride into Walton by the river, which was full of the usual rowers and around 50 paddle boarders heading downstream.

  After a short stop in Walton by the bridge, we carried on through Weybridge and Addlestone to Lyne and the aforementioned drizzle, before arriving at the visitor centre at Virginia Water Lake for an early lunch stop and entertainment from a Youth Group having a sing song. Away from motor traffic of any sort, bar the occasional estate vehicle, we rode past the cascade and Leptis Magna ruins to the top of the lake and turned to skirt the Guards Polo ground to the Village, where a red kite was spotted. We

were then able to catch a distant glimpse of the Queen as she passed by in a small convoy of cars on her way to the races at Ascot, where I believe her horse won a race.

  We then descended back into the traffic at Egham and Staines before joining the Thames Path and rode to Chertsey Bridge. The plan was to ride to the cafe by Shepperton Lock down Dockett Eddy Lane, but on arrival found it closed. After a near collision on the left turn in Manygate Lane with an impatient motorist, we arrived at Squires Garden Centre cafe in Upper Halliford for the tea stop. After that we went along the River to Hampton where we cut across to the Hampton Hill entrance to Bushey Park and traversed the Park to Hampton Wick and over the Bridge to Kingston.

  Many thanks to Tony for back marking throughout. With no mechanicals or flats we did 45 miles in total at a mostly good pace.

All day Intermediate ride to Windsor Great Park on Saturday 18th June.

  Harry will lead a ride to Windsor Great Park, starting from outside TKMax by Kingston Bridge at 10am. We will ride to Weybridge and then onto Virginia Water, where we can halt for a lunch stop at the Visitor Centre. 

  Afterwards we will ride around the Park, hoping to spot some Red Kites, to the famous view of the castle and then descend to Staines and the Thames Path to Shepperton Lock, where a further break can be taken. Thereafter to Kingston via Sunbury and Bushey Park, arriving by 5pm.

  There will be some riding off road and a few hilly bits and the overall distance is about 45 miles.

Ride to Osterley Park on 21st June. Led by Dawn Moriarty

Nonsuch 10am at café   - leaving promptly -  to the river at Kingston - Teddington Lock - over the bridge - to Twickenham
where we cycle along the river to Richmond - stopping at a café -  then Isleworth, Syon Park, Brentford,
Grand Union Canal to Osterley Park.  There is a nice café and also bring own lunch if required.
Then back to Isleworth via a different route - to Richmond - through Richmond and up the hill into Richmond Park
turning right to Kingston Gate and then left to the Ladderslide - and down through the opulent Coombs - Maldon and back to 
Richmond Park.  probably 30 miles although I haven't measured it.  Going at a happy sociable pace to suit who turns up.
 

Dawn

Message from Barbara Johnston

My family would like to thank Midweek Wayfarers  and Beginners Club for all the things they have done for and looking after my Les the last few years.  Les never gets enthusiastic about anything. After our 2 week guided tour of Sicily the leader said to me I have had no feed back from Les for 2 weeks. I said what are talking  about I have had none for 50 years. Les retired when he was 62. I said to him there are these old codgers meet at North Cheam on Wednesday morning are you going to go with them. No comment back!  On the first Wednesday of his retirement I mentioned it again before I went to work. When I got home that night this non committal man was full of it. They had 11ses at Cobham and some one who was eighty paid for drinks so I was told all about that. He was saying how much he enjoyed it and how lovely the scenery  was.  Full of it.  He said to me they are not called Old Codgers they are Midweek Wayfarers.  That Thursday night he took me to Leatherhead and walked me along the river to show me the scenery. So maybe you impressed him. He is nearly 86 now and has had all this years of pleasure. 

Thank you.  The Johnstons.

Ride this Saturday is cancelled.

  I am sorry to leave it so late, but due to an illness that is refusing to clear up, I won't be able to lead this ride.

  I will pencil it in for another occasion.

Harry Cole

All day Intermediate ride on Saturday the 16th April.

  This ride to London's Parks will leave Nonsuch Mansion at 10am. We
will stop for a break in Vauxhall Park and then cross the river to
ride through the main Parks to Holland Park for a longer break.
  Return will be decided dependent on the weather, either Putney or Barnes.
This will be easy paced with no significant hills, around 35 miles,
and we should be back by 4pm.

Launch 2016 Summer season

  With good publicity and a near perfect spring afternoon, I counted 40 at Nonsuch for the send off by the Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell.