Spring has certainly sprung! What a glorious sunny day it was and warm as well - by the end of the day most of us were probably envious of Les who must have known something and was sporting his blue shorts for the first time this year! The sunshine had also brought out a horde of cyclists for today's ride - there were 20 of us in B Group!! (Judy, Liz, Stephanie, Terry, Brian, Johns G & S, Roger, Robin, Cliff, Mick, Bob, Ray, Philip, Eddy, Les, Godfrey, Frank, Ian and me - Gill) Given the large number the aim was to separate into two groups with Terry acting as Assistant Leader for the second group in order to make a break for passing traffic. This worked better in the afternoon than in the morning when Robin punctured at the foot of Egham Hill and Terry ended up leading the puncture party of himself, Robin and Godfrey while the rest of us continued on our way.
The lunch spot was The Fox and Castle at Old Windsor and our route took us out through Chertsey, along Ferry Lane to Penton Hook, to Thorpe and Egham, where we climbed Middle Hill as far as Parsonage Road. Here we cut across to Bond Street in Englefield Green but soon turned down Blay's Lane to join Wick Lane and do a loop past the Valley Gardens, Savill Gardens, ending up at Bishop's Gate. A speedy descent down Crimp Hill brought us to the pub. Opening specially for us (lunchtime opening doesn't start again until April), we soon had our orders taken and retired to the garden to enjoy the sunshine - a first for this year. Bob and Mick, however, seemed to spend most of the lunch break mending puncture no. 2 (Bob's). The Budget was on the TV in the pub and the announcement of a Road Tax for Cyclists by one of our group saw a few incredulous jaws drop before the grin of the perpetrator gave away the show!!
The afternoon's ride was a straightforward return to Egham via Runnymede, Staines and then along the towpath to Laleham. It was on this stretch that Terry again became leader of a small group after John G. had to stop for a slow puncture. The rest of us continued to Shepperton where those wishing to go home duly departed. With the decision to go to the Walled Garden for tea having been made by those who remained, the back group suddenly hove into view and eight of us enjoyed tea and cakes before heading homewards - leaving Brian to deal with his flat tyre - another slow puncture! (For information - the Walled Garden will be staying open until 5.00 p.m. as of this weekend with the change of the clocks - last teas served at 4.45 p.m.) Gill Finlay
PS It was good to see David Salmon at Elevenses and we wish him all the best with his chemo treatment starting tomorrow.
The lunch spot was The Fox and Castle at Old Windsor and our route took us out through Chertsey, along Ferry Lane to Penton Hook, to Thorpe and Egham, where we climbed Middle Hill as far as Parsonage Road. Here we cut across to Bond Street in Englefield Green but soon turned down Blay's Lane to join Wick Lane and do a loop past the Valley Gardens, Savill Gardens, ending up at Bishop's Gate. A speedy descent down Crimp Hill brought us to the pub. Opening specially for us (lunchtime opening doesn't start again until April), we soon had our orders taken and retired to the garden to enjoy the sunshine - a first for this year. Bob and Mick, however, seemed to spend most of the lunch break mending puncture no. 2 (Bob's). The Budget was on the TV in the pub and the announcement of a Road Tax for Cyclists by one of our group saw a few incredulous jaws drop before the grin of the perpetrator gave away the show!!
The afternoon's ride was a straightforward return to Egham via Runnymede, Staines and then along the towpath to Laleham. It was on this stretch that Terry again became leader of a small group after John G. had to stop for a slow puncture. The rest of us continued to Shepperton where those wishing to go home duly departed. With the decision to go to the Walled Garden for tea having been made by those who remained, the back group suddenly hove into view and eight of us enjoyed tea and cakes before heading homewards - leaving Brian to deal with his flat tyre - another slow puncture! (For information - the Walled Garden will be staying open until 5.00 p.m. as of this weekend with the change of the clocks - last teas served at 4.45 p.m.) Gill Finlay
PS It was good to see David Salmon at Elevenses and we wish him all the best with his chemo treatment starting tomorrow.
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