21 March - Dinosaurs in London!

Today was the annual London Ride, and I decided to string together several parks to form a ride to Greenwich.   We were lucky: the Beast from the East has gone away and we had sunshine for much of the day, with a fresh breeze.   Thirty riders amassed at North Cheam, and another two joined us later.   Quite a throng for an urban ride, but thanks to our excellent corner markers, we didn't get split up and managed without too many stops to regroup.

After navigating through Sutton, we followed the Wandle Trail almost to the source of the Wandle, high in the Beddington mountains.   Croydon was swiftly dealt with, thanks to a route donated by Mark, and soon afterwards the TV transmitter of Crystal Palace came into view, reached through South Norwood Park and a stiff climb up Anerley Hill to elevenses at Cadence Performance, Crystal Palace.  I was uncertain if it was big enough to accommodate us all, but I needn't have worried: it was a Giant shop.

After elevenses we spent some time exploring Crystal Palace park:  the remnants of the buildings used in the 1851 Great Exhibition still give an idea of its grand scale:  and further down the hill, the collection of dinosaurs lurking around the ponds.  We then joined the Waterlink Way which follows the River Pool north from Penge through increasingly nice parkland (that is to say, the beginning is a narrow strip of grass beside a concrete drainage ditch - but it turns into expansive parks beside a decent enough river).  Unfamiliar places (to me) such as Sydenham, Catford and Lewisham are linked by this greenish corridor with the odd residential street and industrial area thrown in, but surprisingly, almost no busy roads.
 
From Lewisham, the Waterlink Way continues to Greenwich but we crossed the railway and headed up to Blackheath, a lovely open green space, with a cycle track right across it to Greenwich Park.   Approaching the observatory from the south, you are presented with an amazing panorama of London, the Royal Naval College at your feet and Docklands in front of you.    We lingered for a bit, annoying all the tourists who had come to take selfies but didn't expect to have a load of lycra louts in the view.  Then it really was downhill all the way to lunch at Wetherspoons in Greenwich.

All 30+ of us were fed, watered, and ready to go in just over an hour, and we followed Deptford Creek inland a little way (it seems to turn into the Ravensbourne River after about a mile, and then later into the River Pool) before turning west to Peckham Rye Park, Dulwich Park and Brockwell Park.    Unfortunately the BMX track was in use for a schools training session, so we couldn't try our skills on the berms and those other things they have.   From there it was berms back on saddles, for a surprisingly short distance to Clapham Common and tea by the bandstand.   Some people sat outside, proving that Spring is definitely here.

We were blessed by the weather, not too much traffic, and being able to get round at least four road or path closures.   Special thanks go to all the people who marked every corner to keep the ride moving, to Dave Vine for back marking, to Neil and Steve who stopped to help with a suspected puncture at one stage, and to Mark for route guidance and the photo.   What teamwork! About 32 miles, and 1400 ft of ascent, from Cheam to tea.