A group Wednesday the 11th

20 left Hersham bound for the Rose & Crown at Kew bridge. Along the Moseley road and left onto the A244 detouring  into Riverside road for a brief spell then back into the A244 then left and sharp left again at the roundabout  into Riverside drive and the private estate where, as a lad Graham tilled the soil! We exited the estate at  Esher green then left into More lane then onto Hampton court via Douglas road, Grove way and Ember lane.

At Hampton court we took the scenic river route along Pavilion terrace to Kingston bridge. Broom road took us to Teddington lock where we dismounted and were still told by a lady pedestrian that bicycles should not be on the footbridge and onto another Riverside drive and past the front of Ham house and onto Petersham road. Just for good measure we went up Star and Garter hill and into Richmond park and along Sawyers hill, left at Sheen lane and left again into Fife road and Christchurch road leading to Upper Richmond road and a left across the level  crossing where Frank’s rear wheel required adjustment.

We detoured through Sainsbury’s to miss the awful roundabout on the A316 and took side roads to the River Thames and lunch.  Tables had been reserved for us. Lunch was ordered and very quickly served, a brief photo call for the Handlebar club and we were off along the towpath to Chiswick Bridge, under and over the bridge bought us to Dan Mason drive along the river were we passed the “B” group (with a few waves and cat calls) going the other way. Then along by Dukes meadows and the Bandstand, where I used to play as a lad and then an alley led us to Old Chiswick cemetery and a brief look at the graves of  Fredrick Hitch a veteran of The Zulu wars and Rorkes Drift,  he was awarded a  VC  for his bravery. Also to the tomb of William Hogarth, Painter, engraver, satirist.

Then along the riverside by various alleys and paths to and under Hammersmith bridge and on past Fulham football ground and through Fulham Palace Gardens and right over the awful Putney Bridge and back along the riverside before turning left and past the Wetlands centre, Barnes Pond and  Priory lane to Afternoon tea at the Cafe at Roehampton  gate where a small fracas took place. Still a very pleasent day.