Midweek Wayfarers CTC: Group B Ride Report 15th March from Egham

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Group B Ride Report 15th March from Egham

On a gorgeous sunny but cold morning we meet up at Egham Day Centre. I was pleased to discover that everyone rode from home to the start. The group was spilt into 3 subgroups with Tim Gibbons leading the first away at 10.40, Ray Youlden the second at 10.50 and finally Tim Court the 3^rd away at 11.00. The route we took followed NCR4 to Maidenhead and then back along the Jubilee River until Eton and then on for tea in Ashford. At tea we decided to combine the remnants of groups 2 and 3 and I would lead them to Upper Halliford from where Steph would then lead to Hampton Court.

1st Group, Tim Gibbons Report

A clear and dry morning led most of us to cycle to our new meet-up venue in Egham rather than use the train.

Six of us left the day centre and cycled via Runnymede and Windsor to join the river towards Dorney. Few of us had cycled any further west than this and once we crossed the river using a zigzag foot bridge we were on our way towards Bray. We passed by the ‘Hind’s Head’ pub and restaurant famed as a Michelin three-star establishment run by Heston Blumenthal.

On via Maidenhead and Taplow we were the first to arrive at the ‘Lake House Cafe’ for a welcome lunch. Service was prompt and efficient and we were comfortably accommodated.

Sorry about the last group who had to sit outside!

Following the Jubilee River, we enjoyed a scenic ride back towards Eton and Windsor using the well maintained and relatively dry path. Heading east via Datchet and Horton we negotiated the least scenic part of the ride under junction 14 of the M25, avoiding debris left by fly tippers, to emerge safely on the other side.

On to Ashford we enjoyed a tea stop at the ‘Chaii Cafe’ then faced a wetter journey back via Charlton and Sunbury to disperse at Hampton Court.

Thanks to everyone in the group for their patience and enthusiasm and to John A for back marking. A good day out exploring some new territory.

2^nd Group, Ray Youden’s Report

Liz, Gill, Pam, Clive and I set off across the meads on our way to Taplow via Old Windsor, Datchet and Windsor, Bray and Maidenhead. After crossing the Thames we entered a zip zag path that took us down to the Thames and stopped to look at the portraits that have been painted on the concrete overpass wall before moving on towards Dorney and Bray. Just after Bray we stopped once more to take some photos of a large wood carving located approximately halfway along a long straight path that led us into Maidenhead and then onto lunch.

When we arrived at the Lake House Café the interior was almost empty apart from the earlier group who were halfway through their lunch. So, we joined them and sat inside and were quickly served. Unfortunately, several customers then arrived and took the remaining places which left the 3^rd group were left sitting outside.

After lunch we set off down the Jubilee River on our way to Ashford. The path is mainly gravel and was remarkable dry considering the amount of rain we have had recently. On the path we were greeted with a few spots of rain, a sign of what was to come. Along the way we lost Pam and Liz who had things to do that night, so that left 3 of us at Chaiicoffee tea stop. Clive decided to carry on to Leatherhead, while Gill and I went in to join the 1^st group for tea and cakes.

3rd Group, Tim Court’s Report

We'd been expecting a frosty ride out to Egham, over 20 miles for some, but there was enough sunshine to warm us up and we arrived in good spirits to check out the cake and coffee at the Manor Farm Day Centre. We were not disappointed, and we hope that the centre will become a regular fixture in our rides programme. Pam seems very keen on the idea!

Our group of six left on time and crossed the Meads to Runnymede and passed through Old Windsor, Datchet and Windsor to cross the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and drop down on to Route 4 (EV 2). After Dorney and Dorney Court we rode back onto Route 4, stopping for photos on the Summerleaze Bridge over the Thames. After crossing the Thames again in Maidenhead, we escaped from the main road to cross the Jubilee River into Mill Lane which shook us out of our dreamy expectation that the whole day would be entirely flat.

We slightly overshot the entrance to the Lake House Café on Taplow Lake but were soon joining the other two groups. There wasn't room for us indoors so we had our aperitifs on the terrace but when Tim G's team departed we rushed in to grab their table. We were amazed by the extensive menu at this little place, including speciality teas and a list of Belgian beers, but most of us opted for the toasted paninis which filled us up nicely.

We rumbled along the Jubilee River for four and a half miles then turned sharply down towards Eton on Route 461 to pass alongside the sequence of arches supporting the old GWR railway line into Windsor & Eton Central station.

It became colder during the afternoon and by the time we reached Ashford for Tea the permadrizzle had settled in to blight our ride home. It is fair to say that the cycle and pedestrian path that links the two ends of Horton Road across the M25 is in a worse state than I can ever remember, although it might have been a little better for us if the leader had followed Ray's route more carefully, as we approached the wrong exit to the labyrinth.

Chaiicoffee was a most excellent choice of Tea stop with its first-rate beverages and tasty cake to set us up for the damp ride home.

Thanks to my cheerful team for braving the elements and enduring a couple of small faux pas. Thanks to Dave for back marking. Thanks To Ray Youlden for organising our day out.