We left in three groups from Walton on Thames and took the track to Weybridge where we went round the back streets to Weybridge Road, following this onto Woburn Hill. At the top we took the track to the right and followed it through to Chertsey Bridge after which we turned left along Thameside. We turned right along Ferry Lane and right again into Abbey Drive to stop outside the gates to Laleham Abbey (built 1803-6). As I was about to start on the history of the Abbey, one of the residents drove out of the gates and gave our small group the history lesson I was about to give. As we showed an interest he generously gave the code **** to open the gates for us to have a look around. "If any body questions you just say that you are friends of Mike". This worked as an oriental lady did question us. After we convinced her that we were harmless she gave us further information about the property. Don Elms questioned why anybody should want to build such a grand property so near to the noise of the M3 - fortunately she didn't hear this questionable aside. Getting out through the electronic gates proved a small problem but we managed to sort it out.
It was a brief ride along Shepperton and Laleham Roads to our lunch venue at The Goat which all the groups managed to find. After lunch we took Halliford Road to Sunbury and then the pleasant paths round the back to join the Lower Hampton Road and on into the quietness of Bushy Park. It was then onto Hampton Court, Thames Ditton and home.
John
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