The B's get into Deep Water

 

Rain was forecast but I think we just met the results of the rain. It's always hard to plan a different route rather than the same old, same old. Having lived North of Kew bridge for many many years, heading Northwest was a regular option.

19 had signed up to join the ride but on the day only 15 trusting Wayfarers met (in socially distanced groups) at Cowey Sale (Walton Bridge)

It had been difficult to get sub-leaders as some had been tempted away to a mundane cycle to Ali Pali, more fool them. We set off at intervals in 3 groups heading for Heathrow and the western perimeter road which has a very decent cycle track. We emerged at Longford and took the Bath road West for a few hundred metres before tuning right onto a cycle track heading North and onto Harmondsworth Moor. It's a lovely area to cycle, when we've had a dry spell, and we passed a memorial to a Canadian bomber crew who crashed during WW2 with no survivors. 

Parts of the Moor can get a tad wet (an under statement) but we were lucky until we took the path under the M4, it's a shame we did not have swimming costumes, but no one drowned at least (see pictures) and no one complained, mind you I did have to cycle fast and ahead of my group for a while after, just so they couldn't catch me. 

 They had calmed down by the time we got to West Drayton and I decided not to take my original route along the canal (I think they had seen enough water and didn't want to risk anyone getting wet again by falling in!)

 

It's been a few years since I had cycled the Colne Valley Trail but I managed to find it and it had been really improved from the narrow muddy track to a wide, well surfaced track, it crosses the Slough Arm of the Grand Union canal and we emerged onto Packet Boat lane and a left turn into Old Mill lane for about a mile to Iver lane and a left turn took us to lunch at the Malt Shovel pub which is situated right on the Grand Union canal.

 

The Malt Shovel is a lovely old Pub and now part of a chain of Vintage Inns. Service was quick and we sat outside in the Sun, yes Sun! The food was good as was the banter. Soon it as time to head South, but the puncture fairy had obviously dinned a the same pub and taken a fancy to Pam's front tyre. Pam being the Wayfarer stalwart that she is insisted that we head off as she knew the area and was happy to make her own way home, Gill decided to keep her company (to be honest I think they thought I was heading for more water). Also at this point Brian Bent had eaten his sandwich's away from the pub and took his own route home. (does no one like water?)

So a reduced group headed South to Hillingdon and the cycle crossing of Falling lane, this is the best cycle crossing of a main road that I have ever seen! You pull up to the Red light and it changes virtually instantly stopping all motor traffic on the main road, we need more like this!

On South and over the Gand union, onto the underpass of the M4, Sipson, Harlington, Cranford and the short section of off road East of Heathrow, at which point Madi left us, more off road across Hounslow Heath and along Hanworth road to yet more off road on the little used West side of the Crane river, onto Fulwell and back roads to tea at the Pheasentry in Bushy park. Some of the first group were still recovering and coffee and a chat took place before Ray W and myself headed home into a very strong headwind.

Thank you all for suffering what the North had to offer, with special thanks to the 2 sub-leaders, John and Steph. Pam and Gill got home okay. No one was traumatised by events of the day and I think all will still venture out on a bike again.

 Tony..