A group 22 July: Shepperton - Bourne End - Laleham

We had a return to more usual numbers in the A group today with 15 turning out at Shepperton.  Maybe now the school holidays are starting, we have all finished or suspended our trips away?   A prompt 11.05 start (thank you all) was followed by what seemed a flowing ride through Chertsey, Virginia Water, Egham, Windsor Great Park, round the peanut roundabout, down Drift Lane to Fifield and through Bray to Maidenhead, where we picked up Mark, who is recovering from the recent loss of his appendix and was probably attracted to this ride as it was advertised as "almost all downhill".  Well - maybe not, but it was nice to see him anyway.  We headed up past Boulter's Lock and Cookham to Bourne End Station where we had to carry the bikes across the bridge to The Bounty, a pub without any road access which was introduced to us by Jeff a couple of years ago.

Somewhere along the way Tony tried to eat a wasp, which led him being stung on his lip.  By the time we reached the pub, it had swollen up to equally worrying and comical proportions.   (The lip, not the wasp.)    An anti-histamine seemed to stop it getting worse luckily.  Speaking of wasps, Jeff couldn't be with us due to a recent altercation with another wasp of dubious nationality, which has led to an infected wound on his Achilles tendon and having to brave his local GP again, which seems to involve a very long wait for an appointment.   The wasp was thought to be from inside the EU so it had the legal right to be here, but no passport was provided, and it was angry because Jeff was destroying its nest.  Jeff will no doubt explain all on his return: I just hope he doesn't provide photos as it all sounds rather nasty.

Anyway...  the Bounty.  It is an idiosyncratic pub right with a beer garden right on the Thames.  Beer is delivered by rowing boat.   On a sunny summer's day, it's an unforgettable place to while away a lunchtime watching the marine world go by.   Unfortunately, yesterday wasn't one of those days, being rather overcast.   We sat outside with several Grumpy Cows(*) until it started to rain, and then retreated into a handy marquee, where we were served quickly with generous portions of good food.  The rain had stopped by the time came to leave, so we were feeling quite pleased with ourselves as we headed back across the bridge.  Then it really rained - chucked it down - while we sheltered under the bridge or under trees, but not for long.  After 10 mins we were on the road again with only spits of rain to keep us cool as we headed to one of the short non-downhill sections, Hedsor Hill.  Mark left us at Cliveden to head back to Maidenhead: we were now back on the downhill track to Burnham, Dorney, and the great open plain of Eton Wick with the wind behind us, something which has never happened to me before.

Across the bridge for a close view of Windsor Castle before heading through the town and out through a rather busy Runnymede, making use of the new pedestrian island to turn right across the field to Egham, and via Staines to Notcutts at Laleham by 4pm.   45 miles and 1000 feet of ascent from elevenses to tea, not bad for almost all downhill.   Some will have managed approaching 75 miles by the time they got home.  Thank you to Mike Barrett and later to Colin who back-marked and kept the group intact.   Nice to be out with a good bunch of friends - thankyou all.  And we hope Mark, Jeff, and Tony have a speedy recovery.

* Grumpy Cow is a type of beer.   I expect you guessed.