A Group 11th December

A foggy day in London Town …

Bright sunshine as I left the house, but I was soon in the fog as I went down the hill.  Foggy in Ewell, foggy in Claygate.  Never mind, it would soon clear.

We were in no rush to leave our elevenses, but, in the end, seventeen of us set off North towards Hampton Court Bridge.  There was a slight issue in this, as the pub had agreed to squeeze in twelve of us, and didn't seem overjoyed when I rang to give them the good news.  Oh well.

Some sunshine in Bushey Park, and quite bright at Kingston Bridge, but foggy again by Ham Common  and it didn't really clear as we went over the top of Richmond Park and down again to Roehampton Gate.  Up again to the Telegraph, and it was noticeably brighter, so we trooped in for our lunch in good spirits.

Despite the slightly gloomy telephone call everything was fine -  a big table for us, and plenty of room in the dining area.  It looked as if their concern was around a couple of large parties that were following us, but we were gone long before them, so nothing to worry about really.  Good food, good value and a good choice of beers, so a happy crew was back on the road before two o'clock.

Some of the Wimbledon dwellers peeled off at this point, the rest of us swooped down Putney Hill in the sunshine, slipping back into the fog on the towpath.  There were some pretty spectacular sights as we rode along - fog on the river, but buildings in the sunshine above it, and some very Turner-esque lighting at times.

Leaving the river we climbed back into Richmond Park by Sheen Gate, very foggy indeed here, but as we climbed Sawyer's Hill we got above it again.  Excellent views once more, and the deer close at hand giving a genuinely rural feel.  Hazy sunshine as we went down Richmond Hill, becoming fog again as we got to the river.  But we were in for tea by three, and while most would not be home before dark we didn't do too badly for a short day out.

23.2 miles elevenses to tea; rolling average 10.5 mph.  Not far, and not fast, but about right for the conditions.

Mark