An even easier ride than usual planned this week, with coffee at Chessington and lunch at the Railway in Teddington. Yet despite a delayed start from North Cheam, our more experienced leaders were all elsewhere; Frank had an early puncture, Liz and Dawn were held up, Helen was on a call from our lunch destination for final confirmation of arrangements! No Lynda, no Sandy, no Godfrey, and no Ed this week. Thank goodness for Paul James, joining our band after recent illness, who took the lead and saved the day.
Helen caught up with them on the roundabout at Chessington just a few minutes before the turn-off for King's Centre; Liz was with us and Dawn arrived - with reindeer antlers! - a little later; Frank 10 minutes after that. So by 11.30 we were all coffee'd and ready to depart, just as John Bellamy arrived.
It was a lovely morning for a pretty relaxed tootle through the Dittons to Hampton Court Bridge. We dawdled around the walls of Hampton Court and crossed the busy road to enter Bushy Park. By this time it was about 10 past 12 but we weren't due at the pub until half past so we did some circuits of the lady on the lake. Liz and Dawn headed off towards Kingston for a change of scene, while the rest of us continued directly to lunch along Chestnut Avenue.
Lovely warm welcome at the Railway; the dining room was cosy and we settled by the fire to enjoy our lunch, our party of 15 was complete. Service was excellent, the food delicious and we all enjoyed the occasion. Our party broke up as people left between 2 and half past, as many were keen to get home before the light went.
Thanks all for a short and sweet ride, lovely company and jolly Christmas Lunch together.
~ Helen
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