Cold and damp for the start of today’s ride, so I was pleasantly
surprised to see 18 Wayfarers, including a couple of escapees from the ranks of
the B’s, willing to ride across west London to Harrow Hill. To reduce the
impact of too many boring suburban streets I had planned to take in as many
green spaces as I could, as well as a few interesting former villages which had
retained some of their character, such as Isleworth and Brentford.
This required some intricate navigation, thanks to Garmin to
reduce the mental strain of having to remember it all. Thanks also to the very
willing corner markers who helped to keep the ride moving and reduce the need
for regrouping.
We crossed the A40 at Perivale with its pretty wooden church
and scaled Horsendon Hill before crossing Northwick Park. The sting in the tail
of this generally flattish ride was the climb up the north face of Harrow Hill,
rarely attempted by anyone of sound mind. Mark rated it steeper than the Bec
hill climb. Most rode, some walked the last bit of uneven tarmac, but all made
to to the top, where we were assured on a clear day you could see as far as
Whitchurch in Hants, around 60 miles away, and the tops of office buildings in
Basingstoke. More scholarly Wayfarers noted that Lord Byron had expounded
poetically on the view from here, though he omitted to mention Basingstoke.
Lunch at the White Horse, rated by CAMRA, where we were made
welcome with a table near the open fire. A few commented on the small portions,
unsuitable given the exertions of the morning, though nobody complained about
the prices.
Refreshed, we descended to Greenford and took the canal path
to Southall, cutting across the railway line along Glade Lane to Norwood Green
and Osterley Park. Tea was at The Pheasantry in Bushey Park, though by then
some of the Twickenham/Richmond based Wayfarers had elected to go directly
home.
Many thanks to Mike, a willing volunteer for back marking
throughout. As leader the sight of his fluorescent orange jacket behind
reassured me that all was well with the peloton. Thanks also to Mark for the
stats.
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