B Group - 14th January

What a glorious day for a cycle ride!  About 20 riders set off in B Group from Walton today, heading to Old Isleworth for lunch.  The route was out through the back of Molesey before turning down to the river and joining the towpath (known as Barge Walk here) at Molesey Rowing Club.  We continued on the towpath from Hampton Court to Kingston, crossed the bridge and, staying on the road, cut across to join Lower King's Road which then became King's Road and took us all the way to Kingston Gate into Richmond Park (passing Robin's Italian cafe tea place on the way!).  After a 'comfort stop', we cycled along the road through the Park to Richmond Gate.  A short way down Richmond Hill we turned off into Nightingale Lane dropping steeply down to the Petersham Road from where we were soon able to access the towpath as far as Richmond Bridge.  Having crossed the bridge, we followed the part road/part path route of Ducks Walk and Isleworth Prom. to The Town Wharf pub.  (For those who are interested, this is now a Samuel Smith (Yorkshire) Brewery pub.)  Service was a little slow but we were made welcome, the tide was higher than on past visits and the view over the river in the sunshine  from the upper storey was very pleasant.

We were on the road again by 2.15 p.m. retracing our route to Richmond Bridge but staying on this side to take the Warren Footpath to Twickenham and on by road to Teddington Lock.  Crossing the river here, the last lap was along the towpath and back into Kingston Market Place where we had tea at Dotty's Tea Rooms, upstairs in the old Town Hall building, our bikes resting on the astroturf in the foyer below.  (The cafe said we could bring them inside.)  Thanks to John A. for being back-marker and to everyone who came out for the ride.  (Gill Finlay)

Thanks, Gill