It was to be a 'scenic river ride' for B Group this week, from Molesey to the Town Wharf at Old Isleworth. What a pity it was such a grey and damp day!
It had been a bit tricky finding the Molesey Centre for Retired People which turned out to be in School Road, not Hansler Grove as indicated by the Post Code, even some of the locals were unaware of its existence. Still a goodly crowd turned up at the right place and added some interest to those people waiting for their New Year Lunch of fish and chips.
After a false start occasioned by this change of location to School Road (which turned out to be a cul-de-sac!), B Group eventually set off in the right direction to join the towpath at Molesey Boat Club. There were ten of us - Stephanie, Liz, Pam, Brian, Norman, Bernard, Cliff, Les, John and me, Gill. (It was good to see Les out with us again and John had joined us by accident as he had missed the departure of A Group.) The route to Old Isleworth was along the towpath to Kingston, roads through Teddington to Twickenham, back to the river along Warren Footpath, past Marble Hill House, to Richmond and finally a mixture of paths and roads to our destination. We had noticed that it was high tide and this was borne out by water lapping over the path in one place! Speaking for myself, this was the first time that the tide had been anything other than low when visiting this pub, with mud flats and stepping stones across to the island usually being visible. It made a nice change!
The staff at the Town Wharf looked after us very well - a table was laid in readiness for us, prices for food and drink were extremely reasonable and we were served in good time. However, while we were having lunch the rain started again in earnest but did ease off later. We retraced our outward route back to Richmond (no problems with the tide this time), crossed the Bridge and climbed up Richmond Hill into the Park. Taking the road past Pembroke Lodge, the party split with four going direct to Kingston Gate while the leader and the remaining five left the Park at Ham Gate and returned to the river and towpath at Teddington Lock. Four of us had tea at the YMCA Hawker Centre (very reasonably priced!) and at Kingston everyone headed for home. Not the pleasantest of days for a ride but a good day out all the same. (Gill Finlay)
It had been a bit tricky finding the Molesey Centre for Retired People which turned out to be in School Road, not Hansler Grove as indicated by the Post Code, even some of the locals were unaware of its existence. Still a goodly crowd turned up at the right place and added some interest to those people waiting for their New Year Lunch of fish and chips.
After a false start occasioned by this change of location to School Road (which turned out to be a cul-de-sac!), B Group eventually set off in the right direction to join the towpath at Molesey Boat Club. There were ten of us - Stephanie, Liz, Pam, Brian, Norman, Bernard, Cliff, Les, John and me, Gill. (It was good to see Les out with us again and John had joined us by accident as he had missed the departure of A Group.) The route to Old Isleworth was along the towpath to Kingston, roads through Teddington to Twickenham, back to the river along Warren Footpath, past Marble Hill House, to Richmond and finally a mixture of paths and roads to our destination. We had noticed that it was high tide and this was borne out by water lapping over the path in one place! Speaking for myself, this was the first time that the tide had been anything other than low when visiting this pub, with mud flats and stepping stones across to the island usually being visible. It made a nice change!
The staff at the Town Wharf looked after us very well - a table was laid in readiness for us, prices for food and drink were extremely reasonable and we were served in good time. However, while we were having lunch the rain started again in earnest but did ease off later. We retraced our outward route back to Richmond (no problems with the tide this time), crossed the Bridge and climbed up Richmond Hill into the Park. Taking the road past Pembroke Lodge, the party split with four going direct to Kingston Gate while the leader and the remaining five left the Park at Ham Gate and returned to the river and towpath at Teddington Lock. Four of us had tea at the YMCA Hawker Centre (very reasonably priced!) and at Kingston everyone headed for home. Not the pleasantest of days for a ride but a good day out all the same. (Gill Finlay)
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