B Group May 20th

B Group's ride was a river ride - the Thames, Wraysbury R., Jubilee R. and back to the Thames - and as such was a flat ride apart from bridges! A group of 15 set off from the Greeno - Judy, Stephanie, Sue, Johns G & M, Harold, Harry, Robin, Norman, Ray, David, Mick, Nev, Pete B and me, Gill. Conditions were good - bright if not sunny all the time and thankfully the wind had died down, though we seemed to have a bit of a headwind on the return journey in exposed areas. With The Greyhound at Eton Wick our lunch destination our route was along the Thames to Staines, Moor Lane to the path beside the M25 and the Wraysbury R., then westwards through Horton and Datchet to the Jubilee R. before turning off and approaching the pub from the North. By this time there were 12 of us for lunch. Sitting outside, a very cheery lady looked after us, ensuring we had all the right meals according to our names and the necessary condiments! Setting off again at 2.30 p.m. towards Eton along Cycle Path 4, we had excellent views of Windsor Castle. We crossed the Thames four times on the way back - Windsor, the back road to Datchet (twice) and finally Chertsey - with our route taking us through Old Windsor, Runnymede, Egham and Pentonhook to the Ferry Lane path into Chertsey. Afternoon tea was at The Walled Garden in Sunbury with 10 of us indulging in tea or cold drinks and cakes.

Apart from being by water, this ride was notable for all the wildflowers (especially white daisies, wild roses, pink clover, yellow irises) and wildlife (couple of herons, bunnies, moorhen chicks, a duck family, terns doing 'touch and go' getting drinks from the Jubilee R.) to be seen - or perhaps I was the lucky one at the front!! (Gill Finlay)