Easy Riders Sept 3rd

In Linda’s absence recovering from eye surgery, I lead about a dozen C group riders from Cobham to lunch at Ye Olde Swan in Thames Ditton.  More than half the route was off-road (apologies to those on racing tyres) and on one narrow path we were delayed for five minutes or so by tree-cutting operations.  At Claygate we passed the house where Sue had her first job as nanny to two small children who must now be in their twenties. When we arrived at the pub at about 12.30, we found Fuzz, who had started behind us, had come by a more direct route and was already waiting for us. 

As the day was warm with sunshine we wanted to sit outside, but were put off by the loud banging of workers dismantling (or may be assembling) scaffolding on the footbridge to Thames Ditton Island.  The pub manager somehow managed to persuade the scaffolders to suspend operations for an hour; so we were able to eat outside by the river in a calm and relaxing atmosphere.

The food was served promptly. But there was a hiccup when Norman, who had ordered a jacket potato with king prawns, started eating Judy’s tuna jacket potato instead. Last to be served was Les and it took him some time to consume his usual gammon steak with pineapple, chips and two fried eggs. Nevertheless we were able to leave Ye Olde Swan at about 2 p.m.  Ron, Mark and Brian decided to visit 87 years old ex-wayfarer Derek Robinson who lives in Thames Ditton, and others decided to make straight for home. The remaining group proceeded via Hampton Court, Bushey Park and Teddington Lock into Richmond Park at Ham Gate.  We left the park at Roehampton Gate, and took a short cut through Queen Mary’s hospital to Putney Park Road and along Telegraph Road to Tibbett’s Corner. By the time we reached our intended tea stop at the Windmill on Wimbledon Common there were only five of us (Judy, Sue, Les, John Bellamy and me); so we decided to give the windmill café a miss and to go to my home for tea instead.

John