Easy Riders June 12th: Osterley Park & Grand Union Canal

Little more than a week to the longest day but still no sign of summer. A cool, overcast day was relieved only by an occasional glimpse of the sun. 

Elevenses were at the Kingston YMCA - incidentally, part of the site of the former Sopwith/Hawker factories where, it has been claimed, more planes were built than anywhere else in the country.

Sandy Bayliss pointed to a recent addition to YMCA facilities in the shape of a shiny new padel court. She, with husband John (unable to cycle as he is recovering slowly from a knee replacement), found Ed Sharp in good heart on a recent visit to Leatherhead hospital. It seems as though Ed will not be returning home for another week or two at least.

Bill Parkhouse was first to arrive but decided against joining our ride. Six of us set out on quite a twisting route, avoiding main roads as much as possible, via Teddington footbridge (closed this weekend) and Twickenham to Osterley Park. Great to be greeted by the rural scene inside the gates with a fine herd of Charolais grazing in the fields.

Then on to the grand house and over the M4 to the southern reaches of Southall before turning east to the Grand Union Canal. The water looked much clearer and healthier than last summer, presumably owing to the wetter weather and increased barge traffic.

The Fox at Hanwell, at the bottom end of the impressive flight of locks, has been popular with the Easy Riders as a lunch stop in the past and again did us well. We decided to eat outside, which was possibly not the wisest decision given the below-average temperature. Suffice to say it was good to return to our bikes.

Work continues on the towpath approaching Brentford and a temporary deck over the water remains in place for a short stretch. Bernard Power left us at the junction with the main road. 

Also still unfinished is the cycle path on the High Street towards Kew Bridge.

We crossed the Thames at Chiswick Bridge, passed through Mortlake (the Esso filling station regularly has some of the lowest prices in SW London) and into Richmond Park where the group, comprising Sandy, Colin Lown, Gillian Calder, John Bellamy and myself, began to split up. Thank you all for your company.