I've found that train assisted rides Northwest of the Wayfarers catchment area can get a good turnout and I have organised a few in the past. The numbers were slow to pickup, but eventually hit 18. So 2 groups set off from the Nibbles cafe at Datchet, 1 group at 10.45 and 1 at 11. As seems to be a growing trend, each group got a name, as we past through Eton. The Eton Mess was one, and as we were heading to Henley, The Hooray Henley's was another.
I have cycled the route a fare few times in the past, so it was straight forward. We stopped briefly at Bray for a photo and a brief chat to some of the staff going into The Fat Duck, on to White Waltham and NCN4 across the lovely tarmaced track just south of Littlewick Green. The easy way across the Bath road and up past Velolife at Warren Row, the preivious Sundays C&M lunch stop. And down to Aston following Remenham lane to Henley.
The Catherine Wheel, Wetherspoons, pub has a nice, large outside seating area, food was soon served and the Eton Mess group soon arrived to join us. While eating lunch the rain started, but only briefly.
After lunch we headed towards Wargrave on the Wargrave road which for a few miles is very undulating. Eventually back arcoss the Bath road at Hare Hatch and onto Waltham St Lawerence, with remnants of the Coronation celebrations still in existance. See Ray's photo.
Paley Street, Fifield and a brief stop to view the giant heads of the old Queen and the Duke. We were soon at Clewer, and onto tea at the Garden cafe, a real tourist hotspot. We sat in the Sun to consume tea and cake and were soon joined by the Eton Mess. Soon it was time to move on with some people heading to the station and overs onto the next leg of the ride to journey home.
It was great to get a large group into unknown territory for most and the weather held off making a very pleasant day's cycling. Many thanks to Ray for leading the second group and to Gill F for back marking the Hooray Henleys.
Tony..
The Second Group
The second group away was the Eton Mess that consisted of Dave Fixie, Carolyn, Chris H, Arwyn, Julie B, Diane, Alan, Mick, and me. We left Datchet and quickly found the route that Tony had provided that lead us out to Eton; it was remarkably quiet, the public schools having already broken up for the summer. Carolyn left us here.
So 8 of us proceeded on towards Dorney, Bray and White Waltham, where yours truly missed the left-hand turn and our first U turn of many was performed. On through some wonderful wheat fields that made us all think of holidays we have had, but unfortunately not in Britain. We were all enjoying the scenery so much that I missed Tony’s route down Bottle Lane and ended up doing another U turn and rode up to Bath Road using Knowl Hill Common Road. There was very little traffic, so rather than use the foot bridge we dog legged straight across.
We entered Henley, following the course of the Thames passing the remains of the grandstands and tents all used at Henley Regatta. On reaching Henley we were accompanied by numerus emergency vehicles on call. So, the ride to the Catherine Wheel pub for lunch was a bit hazardous but we all made it safely.
After lunch we cycled across the bridge and took the right-hand road to Wargrave, where a right turn gave us a relatively a traffic free ride to Waltham St Lawrence where we meet Madeleine, who was waiting for us at a convenient pub. She soon had us organised as a group and had our photo taken at a stand in a photo prop of King Charles’ coronation. With the wind behind us we then made swift progress through the outskirts of Windsor, along Barry Avenue and a right turn into Windsor Park for tea.
After much discussion, it was decided that I should carry on leading until Shepperton. At Staines we almost caught the first group up but due to the traffic did not quite make it. What we didn’t know was that cunningly, they had deviated from their route, left Tony to cycle home and reappeared at the back of our group! On entering Shepperton we all pulled over and it was decided that it would be best if Liz took over leading to take the remains of the group to Bushey Park.
A big thank you to Tony who devised the route and to everyone else for their company and conversation along the way. I apologise for the number of U turns performed but it all added to our mileage!
Ray.
Ray.
No comments:
Post a Comment