New Year's Day ride

(l to r)Yasmin, Diane, Sabrina and Bernard at Roehampton gate café, Richmond
Park on New Year's Day 2019.

Three of our Saturday afternoon regulars, Yasmin, Diane and me,  met at Spring Tavern in Ewell at 9.30 this morning for our first ride of the year.  We headed through Stoneleigh and Worcester Park to Motspur Park, where we met Sabrina and Bernard, friends of Diane, out on their first ride with our group.  What a great start to the year!

We headed through Raynes Park and up to Wimbledon Common, making a brief detour to say happy new year to the lovebirds and cockatiels in Cannizaro Park's aviary.  The common was beautiful in the gentle sunlight this morning and we enjoyed the mild weather and our easy route past the windmill and down to Roehampton, following the cycle paths all the way.  Downhill to Richmond Park is always fun and we arrived at the café more than ready for our coffee and snacks. 

It was lovely to meet up with other members of our CTC; there were two tables of mostly Midweek Wayfarers already there and more friends arrived while we enjoyed our break.



A nice gathering and good turnout for our first event of the year...some 25 in all over two hours was reported by Tony on the Midweek Wayfarers blog.

Our little group headed home across Richmond Park via Ham Gate, Teddington Lock bridge and Bushy Park.  Here Sabrina and Bernard peeled off for Kingston, while the original three headed over Hampton  Court bridge, through the Dittons, Hook and Chessington and via the Bonesgate and Hogsmill greenway back to Ewell.

Diane clocked 24 miles for us at Ewell Court Park, a respectable morning ride for we three to start the year.



Invitation to enter the 2018 Photo Competition

Please see the full details of how to enter the 2018 Photo Competition on the Wayfarers blog or click on this link which will take you there.

We'll look forward to seeing your creations. If you have any queries please contact me.

~ Tim
(Secretary)

Beddington Park ride to Morden Park 17/11/18

We are still used to the summer and the day felt cold enough to make you think twice about going out, but it was Beddington Park Saturday and Colin could not take charge; we had promised to take his place.

We had reconnoitred one of the original Quemby routes (#2) the previous day; paths rarely ridden in recent times.  Roy and John, Anna and Roger, Paul and Maggie; six of us turned up and after passing through the young lads doing their wheelies we cycled downstream on the Wandle Path.  This is familiar but today it raised the spirits.  Jays, the clear, racing water of the river, the wet, golden leaves (take care!), and the beauty of a cold, autumnal day in brilliant sunshine.  We shared the pavement for a short while with the men and boys walking to their football at Tooting and Mitcham.  At Ravensbury Park we began the lesser pedalled route, crossing Saint Helier Avenue, Central Road and the London Road  and entering Morden Park by Links Lane on its North Eastern corner to take the narrow, fenced track which we have not ridden before and which comes out at Lower Morden Lane, a few yards from the garden centre there.  The tarmac of the path has deteriorated, the carpet of leaves was deep pile and the low winter sun was bright in our eyes (a problem we had not experienced during the drizzly recce!), it needed a couple of gears below what you would expect.

Merely a pleasant saunter in the fresh air, perfect for Roy, who was feeling just a tad below his best, and for John, recovering from his cataract operation, yet we all really enjoyed it, rediscovering an old route.  And who should we meet at tea but Shirley, Richard and Lynda, enjoying their own afternoon.

Homewards as the sun went down and the chill wind began to set about our fingers and our faces.  We split up at Angel Bridge and Maggie and I rode home through a quintessential late South London autumn Saturday, the cheers as Carshalton Athletic scored a goal coming to us over the houses.  Home to a change of warm clothes, a mug of tea and a buttery crumpet; what more can you ask of a Saturday afternoon?

Paul

2018 Annual Report

You are cordially invited to read an unexpurgated final draft version of the 2018 Annual Report which will be discussed and, if all goes well, approved at the AGM.

From our website's home page hover over 'Information Hub' then click 'Reports and Minutes'. Double click on 'Annual Reports' and select the '2018 Annual Report (final draft)' by double clicking on it.

Numerous people have contributed and it is a good read. Your reward for coming to the AGM will be your very own printed copy.

Time to get excited, the AGM is coming!

~ Tim C

Notice of 2018 Annual General Meeting

CTC South West London will hold its AGM after Elevenses
at 11:00 am Wednesday 14th November.

Please be on time.

The venue is the same as last year, just a short walk from the Queens Road exit from the Day Centre.

All Saints Hall
All Saints Roman Catholic Church
13 Queens Road
Hersham
KT12 5LU
 
 















The hall is located at the back of the premises. There are two halls with a shared entrance. Our meeting is in the Small Hall.

There are no bike racks but there is plenty of space to park bikes against the buildings near the hall entrance. Please bring your bikes to the hall rather than leave them at the Day Centre.

There are normally plenty of spaces on the premises in front of the church for anyone arriving by motor vehicle, with access from Queens Road.

Our Treasurer, Simon has advised that due to the current low annual subscription rate (£1 p.a.) we will not be hiring a bouncy castle this year.

~ Tim

QUIZ: How are your group riding skills?

Just for fun - we are pleased to announce an ANONYMOUS quiz about how you ride in groups. You get to give a score for yourself, and also for the others in your group, We don't ask for any names and don't store any info about you personally. We will attempt to summarise the results in a future Sou'Wester. It should take about ten minutes to answer the questions, and another two hours to discuss the results with your friends, should you choose.


If you'd like to do the quiz, click here. Please don't enter any names in the comments either!

Tony's All Day Ride - 13th October

Five riders left Waterloo Station for Little Venice on a lovely October sunny day. We followed the Regents Canal on its way to the Limehouse Basin.

On the way we stopped for tea at Wetherspoons in Camden Lock, Victoria Park for lunch and the final tea stop was at the Imperial War Museum where we viewed the poppy display, very impressive.

Onto Clapham Junction for our trains home.
A short ride, not many miles, approximately 20 but very interesting.

Thanks for the company

Regards,

Tony