B Group - 21st December

Eighteen B Group stalwarts got up early and braved the light drizzle to come to Walton for Elevenses. Three of these had other appointments so rode just a part of the morning route before peeling off. We set out and turned onto the river path by The Swan. Anticipating a rather mucky section of the towpath we turned up onto the paved road at the Walton Rowing Club and carried on to the car park by The Weir where we rejoined the route along the river. Despite the earlier drizzle the path was in pretty good shape and nobody suffered from too much mud between wheels and mudguards.

We crossed Hampton Court Bridge to join the riverside path to Kingston, said goodbye to Pam and crossed the bridge to meander through Canbury Gardens and up into Richmond Park. Some had taken an alternative route to get to the Ham Gate where one or two others decided to turn left by the pond inside the gate and ride along the trail towards Petersham. The offical ride took the rest of us across the park to the Pen ponds Café, left past the Ballet School to Sawyers Hill and out at the Richmond Gate. In Richmond we turned off Friars Style Road into Mt Ararat Road then left at the bottom towards the bridge. Over the bridge we turned onto the Warren Footpath and followed the river all the way to the Barmy Arms in Twickenham. Some people reflected that the route was more barmy than the pub but the efficient and helpful staff delivered our wholesome assortment of victuals with great cheerfulness and, with no proper afternoon ride planned, we lingered until after half past two before heading off into the sunset. I'll call it that because we emerged into a feeble but warmish glow from the actual sun. By sundown the thing itself was nowhere to be seen.

We have had a great lot of good rides so far this Winter, thanks to many sunny days and an absence of the really severe weather we might have expected in November and December. Thanks to everyone for coming out for a ride today and to David Cox for riding as back marker.

Have a Happy Christmas and keep safe on the roads

~ Tim

As seen on the recce: